Oklahoma State is heading into the season with plenty of outside noise, and not all of it is flattering. One CBS analyst called the Cowboys “overrated” in the Big 12, arguing that the real question is what they have beyond the quarterback. The criticism centered on a roster that was badly depleted and now leans heavily on transfers to fill holes across the board.
The analyst’s case was blunt: the quarterback can elevate things, but the rest of the roster has to hold up for that to matter. He pointed to Oklahoma State’s reliance on what he described as the North Texas import at key spots - at all three levels of the defense, on the offensive line, and at the skill positions - and questioned whether that can really function as plug-and-play in a deep Big 12.
That take drew a pushback on social media from Rico Rico, who wrote, “Most talking heads are saying OK State is just UNT in the BIG12, they’re sadly mistaken. OK State has 53 transfers, they’re not just UNT…They’re the avengers. I saw the same thing from Indiana in 2024 (when I predicted they would start the season 9-0, after a 4-win season).… pic.twitter.com/B5XTUY5uWe”
Not everyone is buying the skepticism, though. HCS says the Pokes are one of three teams in the league expected to exceed expectations.
There’s also some offseason optimism around the program beyond the roster talk. Fans can look at a projected depth chart before the official one is released early next week, and Oklahoma State is also offering brunch at the stadium the morning after home games, with somebody around the program set to speak.
In Other News...
Oregon State Faces A Troubling Decision On Two Defensive Regulars
Oregon State has opened camp with two defensive regulars still in the middle of serious legal uncertainty. Cornerback Exodus Ayers and linebacker Aiden Sullivan are both practicing while facing pending felony charges, leaving the Beavers to navigate a situation that extends well beyond football as the season approaches.
Ayers and Sullivan have both pleaded not guilty, but the school has not said whether either player will be cleared to appear in games. Athletic director Scott Barnes and coach Trent Bray have not confirmed their plans, and the coming court dates add another layer of pressure as Oregon State tries to sort out a sensitive roster decision with the season drawing near. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Enters Season With Two Key Beavers Still In Limbo
Oregon States preseason work has included a pair of familiar fifth-year seniors still moving through drills even as their status hangs in the balance. Jaheim Patterson and Van Wells remain with the team while their eligibility is tied up in a pending NCAA appeal in a federal court case, leaving the Beavers to prepare as if they may have them while still facing the possibility that they will not.
Neither player has filed a separate lawsuit in Oregon to try to restore eligibility, and the next phase of the legal fight could move into briefings soon. The situation adds another layer of uncertainty for a roster already dealing with the usual late-summer questions, with the Beavers watching for clarity on two veterans whose availability could matter once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Is Reshaping The Jobs That Could Define Its Future
Oregon State athletics is in the middle of a significant staffing reset, one that goes well beyond a standard offseason hire. The Beavers are interviewing finalists for a new chief sports performance and operations officer role that will serve as the programs COO, a job designed to help manage the day-to-day demands of a changing college sports landscape, from revenue sharing and NIL compensation to facilities oversight.
Athletic director Kevin Griffin is also adding another layer to that restructuring by planning to hire a marketing and commercialization executive focused on revenue growth. The idea is to build out the administrative side of the department as the business of college athletics keeps expanding, and Griffin said a formal 15-point plan will be unveiled in September, giving Oregon State a clearer look at how all of these pieces are meant to fit together. [Read more 🡒]