The transfer portal and NIL have dramatically changed the nature of college football. And nobody has been impacted more in 2023 than the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Head coach Mike Gundy faces mass College Football betting defections that have fluxed his roster. Yet, if one coach can overcome these challenges, it is Gundy. The former Oklahoma State QB is the greatest coach in program history. Since taking over in 2005, Gundy has a record of 156-75. He has produced two top-7 or better finishes and a conference title.
College Football Team Preview 2023 Oklahoma State Cowboys
2023 Oklahoma State Cowboys Schedule
- Aug 26 OPEN DATE
- Sept 2 Central Arkansas
- Sept 9 at Arizona State
- Sept 16 South Alabama
- Sept 23 at Iowa State
- Sept 30 OPEN DATE
- Oct 6 Kansas State
- Oct 14 Kansas
- Oct 21 at West Virginia
- Oct 28 Cincinnati
- Nov 4 Oklahoma
- Nov 11 at UCF
- Nov 18 at Houston
- Nov 25 BYU
2023 Oklahoma State Cowboys Preview
As recently as 2021, Oklahoma State went 12-2 with a bowl win over Notre Dame. In 2022 Oklahoma State bolted out of the gate to start 5-0 and reach the #7 ranking in the nation. But a rash of bad luck and injuries blew apart the season. Oklahoma State finished 7-6 with a bowl loss to Wisconsin. Thus, there is a lot of sports betting concern heading into the 2023 season.
Since Mike Gundy’s rookie season 2005, Oklahoma State hasn’t had a losing season. That College Football Betting streak will be tested in 2023. Consider the Cowboys have significant question marks on both sides of the ball off a team that went 7-6 last year. Former Michigan and Texas Tech quarterback Alan Bowman is expected to start under center. At the same time, the offense will likely lean a little more on the ground game led by Ollie Gordon II.
On the other hand, Oklahoma State’s defense is a mystery. OSU has just two returning starters and a new coordinator in Bryan Nardo. However, the schedule isn’t too daunting in Big 12 play. If the pieces fall into place, Gundy’s squad could surprise again.
For Oklahoma State to thrive on offense, the responsibility mostly falls on new quarterback Alan Bowman. The Cowboys pulled a bit of a transfer portal trade. To show, OSU added Bowman from Michigan. Following the loss of four-year starter Spencer Sanders to Ole Miss. The Pokes are hoping for a repeat of his early college years at Texas Tech.
A long list of questions begins with a new quarterback and defensive coordinator accompanying this team. In turn, that puts Gundy’s streak of 17 consecutive winning seasons and bowl appearances at risk. But Gundy has a record of being at his best when expectations are lowered.
Overall, Mike Gundy has a career-winning percentage of .675 in 18 seasons as the Oklahoma State head coach. That is the best performance since Pappy Waldorf in the early 1930s. Since 2006, Gundy has led the Cowboys to a bowl game every season. Gundy has led OSU to seven double-digit win seasons in the past 12 years. Starting with 2008, the Cowboys have finished nine times in the final national top 25 rankings.
Despite operating as the little brother of Oklahoma, the Cowboys have had plenty of great players come through their program. Barry Sanders won the 1988 Heisman Trophy and starred for the Detroit Lions.