LAS VEGAS — Perhaps no quarterback brings more maturity to the table in the Big 12 than Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman.
He’s a seventh-year player, and he’s finally entering his last year of eligibility. Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy couldn’t think of a better player to trigger his offense this season.
But, when Bowman arrived as a transfer before last season, Gundy said he needed the former Texas Tech quarterback to do one thing before he could hit the field.
“We needed him to earn his position,” Gundy said.
Bowman did just that. He threw for 3,460 yards with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Yes, the picks need to come down. But Gundy loves his maturity and how he’s bought into OSU’s culture and program.
“He’s got a year under his belt, he’s very mature, he’s engaged to be married, he already has two degrees, he has a good feel for us and for our system,” Gundy said. “He’s been around a long time, and I think the experience that he brings to our team and the respect the players have for him make us better.”
Oklahoma State was 10-4 with a 7-2 record in the Big 12. The Cowboys lost to the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship Game and then beat Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.
The Cowboys boast one of the most experienced teams in the Big 12 with 18 starters returning. None looms larger than running back Ollie Gordon II, a potential Heisman hopeful who rushed for 1,732 yards last season. Gundy said that Gordon will play this season and he was in attendance at media days to talk about his recent DUI arrest.
On offense the Cowboys also return leading receivers Brennan Pressley and Rashod Owens, along with the entire starting offensive line.
Oklahoma State also returns starting linebackers Collin Oliver and Nick Martin, the latter of which led the Cowboys in tackles (140) last season. Oliver and Martin also combined for 12 sacks. Eight starters return with a goal of improving against the pass, where they were No. 123 in the country and gave up 275 yards per game.
Oklahoma State hosts two-time defending FCS national champion South Dakota State on Aug. 31 to open the season and then hosts Arkansas on Sept. 7. The Cowboys travel to Tulsa on Sept. 14.
Oklahoma State’s Big 12 slate starts two critical games, first at home against Utah on Sept. 21 and then at Kansas State on Sept. 28.
OSU opens October at home against West Virginia on Oct. 5, followed by back-to-back road games with BYU on Oct. 19 and with Baylor on Oct. 26.
The Cowboys host Arizona to start the final stretch on Nov. 2. After that, OSU travels to TCU on Nov. 9, followed by a home game against Texas Tech on Nov. 23. The Cowboys end the regular season at Colorado on Nov. 30.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
