Oklahoma State Football 2022 Season Prediction, Preview, Awards, Bowl Game 2022

Oklahoma State Football narrowly won the Big 12 a season ago, but Mike Gundy has the Cowboys eyeing the crown again in 2022.

What could have been for the pokes. Oklahoma State Football was literally three feet from wearing the Big 12 crown last season, but the Cowboys have been a consistent presence under head coach Mike Gundy, and that seems to be proving itself again in the 2022 season.

How good are the Cowboys this year? There’s a chance they can recoup that one yard.

Arrives at #20 FanSided’s Preseason Top 50 Rankingthe Oklahoma State Cowboys!

Oklahoma State Football 2021 Season Recap

On the surface, when you see the 12-2 overall record and 8-1 Big 12 mark for the Cowboys a season ago, most fans would look at the numbers and be happy with the results. Still, it’s hard not to believe that the pokes were a little un-Oklahoman, as they left some meat on the bone.

As previously mentioned, Oklahoma State had a chance to win the Big 12 Championship Game against Baylor, but came up with a questionable play call that left them close to the end zone and second in the conference. That ruined an outside shot in the College Football Playoffs, but they still found their way into the New Year’s Six and edged out Notre Dame in comeback fashion to take the Fiesta Bowl crown.

Oklahoma State Cowboys offensive preview for the 2022 season

• Returners (7): QB Spencer Sanders, WR Braydon Johnson, WR Brennan Presley, CW Braden Cassity, OT Caleb Etienne, OG Hunter Woodard, OT Jake Springfield
• Newcomers: 4-Star WR Talyn Shettron, OG Tyrone Webber (New Mexico Military Institute), OT Jason Brooks Jr. (Vanderbilt), OT Casey Collier (USC)
• striker: Spencer Sanders

There’s a lot to like about the Oklahoma State offense for the 2022 season, with more than half the starting offense, two receivers and quarterback Spencer Sanders returning this season.

While Tay Martin, the team’s lead pass catcher a year ago, has left, Braydon Johnson and Brennan Presley have been productive and naturally appear poised to step up to bigger roles. More importantly, the depth at the location is as good as ever. That’s a similar case for the running back group, even with the loss of playmaker Jaylen Warren, as the group has players ready to move up.

But really, that offense will go as far as Sanders, who earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors last season, can take it. He accounted for over 3,400 total offensive yards with 26 touchdowns last season, but he’ll need to be more consistent, especially as a passer, to really help the Pokes hit their cap.

Oklahoma State Cowboys defense preview for the 2022 season

• Returners (5): DE Brock Martin, DE Tyler Lacy, DT Brendon Evers, DT Sione Asi, DE Trace Ford
• Newcomers: LB Xavier Benson (Texas Tech)
• striker: EN gauge Ford

It’s going to be an intriguing season for the Cowboys defense and that really starts with coaching. Longtime defense coordinator Jim Knowles is now at Ohio State, who paved the way for Derek Mason to take over at Stillwater. It’s a big transition, but Mason’s track record is strong and should give fans a lot of confidence in the work he can do.

However, there is no denying that he has his work cut out for him. Oklahoma State’s defense was elite last season, but now, off the defensive front, it has a lot of holes to fill. That front could be the driving force behind success, however, as all the prolific starters return and the push from Trace Ford, who dominated as a freshman and sophomore, finally returns to the field after two injury-plagued campaigns.

It’s the linebacker corps and secondary with real questions as the Cowboys replace every starter from that group. The good news is that Knowles has given many players quality replays and experience over the past season, so it’s not an entirely green group, but it still leaves question marks about whether or not the substitutes can fill the big shoes.

Clock for Oklahoma state football players for the 2022 season

Numerous Cowboys have been included in the preseason prize watchlists, but these three stand out as prime contenders.

Collin Oliver, Bronko Nagurski/Bednarik

Oliver isn’t one of the returning starters on the defensive line, but he’s getting plenty of love for what he can potentially do as a sophomore heavily involved in the rotation after posting an impressive 10.5 sacks as a freshman a year ago has set up.

Spencer Sanders, Maxwell/Davey O’Brien/Walter Camp Player of the Year

Spencer Sanders’ talent and athleticism has never been in question, but as mentioned, the key is that he pulls it all together in the 2022 season. If he does, he’ll have the guns around him to do something special in Stillwater.

Hunter Woodard, Outland

As one of the returning starters in an offensive line that dominated last season, Woodard should be an elite protector in the trenches, which should give him a solid argument to fight for Outland this season.

Biggest football game in Oklahoma State on schedule for 2022

The planning gods have a sense of humor as the Cowboys will emerge from their open week immediately after their non-conference schedule and will travel to Waco to face the team they narrowly fought in the Big 12 title game, the Baylor bears.

Given how this game ended and that they will start conference play with this matchup, it’s a no-brainer as this is the biggest game on the schedule for Oklahoma State this season. Both teams should be strong contenders to make it back to the conference championship game, but this is also an opportunity for the Pokes to get the bad taste of last season out of their mouths and into the big feeling good after exorcising some demons 12 game to board .

Oklahoma State Football Best Case Scenario

After a comfortable 3-0 start with a soft schedule outside of the conference, the Pokes head to Baylor after a week’s rest. I have more questions about the Bears this season as they’ve lost a lot of defensive and offensive weapons, so at best this is a surefire win for Oklahoma State.

They can continue that run against Texas Tech and TCU in their next two games to start the year the Pokes would roll 6-0. And if we’re talking about how OSU might look best, that means Texas is still doing the Longhorns thing on Oct. 22 in terms of disappointing expectations, so that’s win #7 for the Cowboys.

Every other game on the schedule should be considered a victory for Gundy’s team, with the exception of the trip to Norman. Even though the Sooners are going through massive changes, Bedlam tends to favor the home team, so I give Venables a clear win in the rivalry game. Still, after an 11-1 regular season and an 8-1 conference run, Oklahoma State should be back in the Big 12 title game with perhaps a chance of a rematch against the Sooners.

Oklahoma State Football Worst Case Scenario

Unfortunately, there is a significant discrepancy between the best and worst case scenarios for the Cowboys. A 3-0 start is basically a given, but a loss at Baylor could set the tone for some trouble spots in the future.

Oklahoma State should still be up 5-1 before welcoming Texas to Stillwater, but if things go badly for the Pokes, the Longhorns’ potentially productive offense could give this defense with second-level questions nightmares. And if that’s the case, then the sluggish Kansas State offense could spell trouble in a game in Manhattan and drop the Cowboys to 5-3.

Wins over Kansas and Iowa State would stop the bleeding, but the loss to Oklahoma would still be ahead before ending in a win in West Virginia.

All things considered, a worst-case scenario of 8-4 isn’t the worst for many programs, but it would far exceed expectations for Oklahoma State Football this season.

Oklahoma State Football Season Prediction 2022

The end result is likely closer to the best-case scenario for the Cowboys. I believe it’s Oklahoma, possibly Texas and the state of Oklahoma, who will end the season at the top of the conference because, as mentioned, there are serious doubts that Baylor will continue what they started last year.

However, I doubt the Cowboys will get past both Oklahoma and Texas this season. With the weak areas of an Oklahoma state’s transitional defense, both the Sooners and Longhorns have the personnel to meet them. That’s going to take a lot from Spencer Sanders to keep up, and that’s too much in my opinion.

Therefore, the final record for the pokes will end at 10-2 with a 7-2 mark in the conference.

Oklahoma State Football 2022 Bowl Game Prediction

College Football News also has high hopes for the Cowboys as Oklahoma State is expected to make it into the AllState Sugar Bowl for a date with Georgia.

Next: No. 19: Wisconsin Badgers

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