Oklahoma State heads into Saturday’s trip to Morgantown with more than just a Big 12 opener on the line. The Cowboys are trying to keep a winning streak alive, and they’re also staring down an 18-game conference losing streak that has stretched all the way back to the final week of the 2023 season, when they beat BYU.
At 2-1, Oklahoma State is on a three-game run for the first time since opening the 2024 season 3-0. West Virginia brings a perfect 3-0 mark into the matchup after taking down No.
25 Virginia in Charlotte on Saturday. Rich Rodriguez, now in the second year of his second stint as the Mountaineers’ head coach, has West Virginia moving in the right direction behind quarterback Michael Hawkins and running back Cam Cook.
There’s also a little ranking juice attached to this one. Both teams got votes in the AP Top 25, and the winner could make a move into the poll on Sunday depending on how the rest of the weekend shakes out.
Oklahoma State also released its updated depth chart for Week 4, and there are several spots worth noting as the Cowboys prepare for the Mountaineers.
Up front, the offensive line lists 54 Johnny Dickson III and 76 Desmond Magiya at one spot. Another line shows 54 Johnny Dickson III with 11 Rodney Harris II, 45 Morgan McPhaul, 81 Donovan Green, 23 Oscar Hammond and 8 Broderick Vehrs as options.
The defensive front features 95 Jaleel Johnson, with 11 Keviyan Huddleston, 92 Jerry Lawson, 94 Braylon Rigsby and 45 Enai White also listed.
At another position group, 10 James Williams is joined by 19 DJ Jackson Jr. and 31 Billy Walton III. The next line shows 20 Taurean Davis, then 18 Mose Phillips III with 27 Vincent Holmes and 8 Kollin Lewis behind him.
The final spot on the chart lists 37 Lachie Pozzobon.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State Faces A Bigger Injury Concern Than Fans Wanted
Mike Gundys injury update ahead of Oklahoma States Week 4 matchup with West Virginia offered a little relief and a little more uncertainty in equal measure. The Cowboys are still sorting through a group of players whose availability is being monitored closely, with names like Chris Barnes, Oates, Rigsby, Hammond, Hanson and Nelson all in various stages of concern as the week moves on.
The biggest setback in the mix remains up front, where Jacob Sextons season-ending lower right leg injury leaves a hole at left tackle that will have to be managed for the long haul. Barnes is expected to be back this week, but several others, including Oates, Rigsby and Hanson, still look unsettled as Oklahoma State heads toward Wednesdays injury report and a game plan that may need some late adjustments. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Enters Big 12 Play With One Real Readiness Test
Before Oklahoma State opens Big 12 play at West Virginia, Eric Morris is treating the trip as more than just a conference debut. The Cowboys have spent the week focused on the kind of details that can get lost on the road, especially when a team is stepping into a tougher environment and trying to stay sharp through the noise and routine changes that come with travel.
There is also some good news on the roster front. Sophomore receiver Chris Barnes is back after dealing with a shoulder injury, and several injured offensive linemen have been practicing as the Cowboys try to build some continuity up front. Morris also said the depth chart in the backfield figures to stay active, with all four backup running backs expected to get into games this season. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Is Counting On One Newcomer In A Brutal Spot
Oklahoma State has turned over almost everything this fall, with 91 new players reshaping the roster and a heavy dose of transfers giving the Cowboys a very different look. Among the newcomers, cornerback Mo Horn stands out because he arrives with real Big 12 mileage from Texas Tech and the kind of experience this team needs as it tries to steady itself early in conference play.
Horn is expected to be part of the solution in a spot where Oklahoma State cannot afford much learning on the job. The Cowboys open league play in Morgantown, a place Horn already knows from his time with the Red Raiders, and his early production has only strengthened the sense that he can help a defense that badly needs reliable veterans if the conference losing streak is going to end. [Read more 🡒]