Oklahoma State gets a chance to keep building momentum Saturday night, and Deion Imade thinks the setting could matter just as much as the matchup itself.
The Cowboys will host Texas Tech at Boone Pickens Stadium in a night game with a blackout planned, and Imade said the atmosphere should be a major factor.
“Bro, it’s gonna be intense. And momentum is going to be very, very important,” Imade said.
Imade, Oklahoma State’s sideline reporter, joined Jeremie Poplin on the latest episode of Oklahoma’s Own OSU Update to talk through the game, Caleb Hawkins’ rise and what the future could look like under Eric Morris. He came away expecting a game with plenty of fireworks.
“This could be a shootout. This could be a game. This could be something that the fans and the football world wants to see,” Imade said.
For Oklahoma State, the formula starts with the basics. Imade said the Cowboys have to protect the football, because turnovers could easily swing a game where both offenses can score in bunches. He also said Oklahoma State needs to hit at least two or three explosive plays downfield and stay on schedule on third down.
Terrence Lewis is one name Imade believes could matter if Texas Tech loads up on other targets.
“Terrence Lewis is a guy who not enough people are talking about,” Imade said.
Defensively, Imade said the Cowboys need at least three stops to give their offense more chances. He also pointed to tackling on the perimeter as a key area, especially with Texas Tech quarterback Thomas Castellanos and running back Jacoby Williams able to stress the edge.
One of the biggest developments for Imade this season has been Caleb Hawkins, especially the way he has grown as a receiver.
“A lot of people were sleeping on Caleb Hawkins,” Imade said.
Hawkins arrived from North Texas after putting up big numbers as a freshman, and Imade said there were questions about whether that production would carry over into Big 12 play. He believed another year of training and experience would help Hawkins take another step.
“The biggest jump in college football that you make as a player is from your freshman year to your sophomore year,” Imade said.
Hawkins has given Oklahoma State another weapon in an offense that keeps generating big plays, but Imade also noted that style can put pressure on the defense. A fast-moving attack can send the defense right back onto the field, which makes stops and turnovers even more valuable.
The conversation also turned to the bigger picture in Stillwater and how Oklahoma State is trying to shape its identity under Morris. Poplin and Imade discussed different ways to build a consistent winner in the Big 12, including Texas Tech’s roster spending.
Imade questioned whether that is the best long-term path and said Houston’s focus on investing in its offensive and defensive lines is a better blueprint.
“I think that’s more of the model that I think everybody should be looking for,” Imade said.
He said programs can find success by targeting a few key position groups instead of trying to spread resources across the entire roster.
And while the long-term questions remain, Imade said the immediate effect of winning has already changed the mood around Oklahoma State.
“Man, winning solves all. Winning solves all,” Imade said.
He said the energy around the program has picked up again, from the fans to the players and staff, after a tough stretch for Cowboys football.
“And now we’re having fun, baby. We’re having fun,” Imade said.
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