Oklahoma
Should Oklahoma State football be concerned about defense? Mike Gundy says ‘it’s fixable’
STILLWATER — In addressing his team’s defensive issues from the 39-31 win over Arkansas on Saturday, Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy kept coming back to coaching preparation.
The Cowboys allowed 648 yards, but came up with some clutch takeaways and big plays late to help pull out the victory.
“The majority of the problems was we got outcoached,” Gundy said Monday at his weekly news conference. “Then our players were put in the wrong positions. (Arkansas players) were running wide open. The good news is this: it’s fixable.
“If players don’t have schemes that give them an equal opportunity or a better opportunity than the opponent, you’re exposed.”
The Cowboys were at a bit of a disadvantage, considering Arkansas — which has several new players and a new offensive coordinator — did not have to use much of its offensive playbook in its season-opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Gundy said over half of the Razorbacks’ first 15 plays had not been seen on tape.
The Cowboys made halftime adjustments that didn’t slow the wave of Arkansas’ yardage, but held them to 10 points in the second half and overtime.
“One was pressure, and two, we made minor adjustments concept-wise with their run game, which was better,” Gundy said. “We had (quarterback Taylen Green) eight times and we didn’t get him down.”
Here are a few more takeaways from Gundy’s news conference:
More: Oklahoma State football bowl projections 2024: Where are Cowboys entering Tulsa game?
Run game remains a concern
After averaging 3.8 yards per carry in the season opener, the Pokes averaged just 2.3 per rush against Arkansas, which will continue to be an area of concern until they get back up to Gundy’s preferred mark of 4.2.
“They had more people in the box than we could block,” Gundy said of the Razorback defense. “You have to have the ability to throw more passes, which we did in the second half.
“Our offensive line play has been average. Hasn’t been bad. Pass protection has been excellent. Their play in that area has been really good.”
The Cowboys have yet to allow a sack through two games.
More: Oklahoma State football vs Tulsa: TV channel, betting line, scouting report for Week 3
No change on Collin Oliver’s injury status
After the game, Gundy wasn’t fully definitive in saying Collin Oliver would be out for the year because of the broken foot he suffered Saturday, and nothing had changed by Monday afternoon.
Oliver suffered a Jones Fracture, a break in the fifth metatarsal, according to his father’s social media post. That will require surgery, but it is unclear exactly how long his recovery will last.
Gundy said more should be known in a month about the length of Oliver’s absence.
But Gundy also mentioned that middle linebacker Justin Wright will be out for a significant period of time. Wright has not played this season, after missing most of last year with a torn ACL.
More: Oklahoma State football unveils game time, TV for Cowboys’ Week 4 game vs. Utah
De’Zhaun Stribling overcame illness
OSU receiver De’Zhaun Stribling had 38 receiving yards on four catches Saturday, but Gundy said the redshirt junior was playing through an illness that resulted in him being sick on the sideline.
“He made some plays,” Gundy said. “He had a couple balls that we feel he’ll make those catches. But he didn’t feel well. That’s one of the things about athletics, college football and daily life. There’s times we don’t’ feel well and we gotta go to work.”
More: Oklahoma State football’s Mike Gundy voices frustration with SEC officials vs. Arkansas
Martin, Ezeigbo get Big 12 honors
Despite allowing over 600 yards in the 39-31, double-overtime defeat of Arkansas, the Oklahoma State defense pulled in a couple of Big 12 awards.
Middle linebacker Nick Martin was named the league’s defensive player of the week after logging 16 tackles, his second double-digit tackle effort in as many games. Nine of his tackles came in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Defensive end Obi Ezeigbo, who stepped in after Oliver was injured in the first half, finished the game with nine tackles, 2.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss to earn newcomer of the week honors.
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
Iowa State wrestling’s first commitment of the Brent Metcalf era will be a transfer portal addition.
The Cyclones added Oklahoma State transfer Brayden Thompson, who announced his commitment on April 18 via Instagram. Thompson is a one-time NCAA qualifier at the 2024 NCAA Championships, doing so as a true freshman. He redshirted in 2024-25, but competed in open tournaments at 184 pounds and was 9-0. He did not wrestle a match in 2025-26 and will have at least two years of eligibility remaining.
Out of high school, Thompson was ranked the No. 3 pound-for-pound wrestler and No. 1 at 182 pounds in the 2023 recruiting class by Flowrestling. He also won Powerade and Ironman titles, two of the more prestigious high school tournaments in the nation. Assuming Thompson returns to 184 pounds where he last wrestled, he should fill in nicely as a potential replacement for Isaac Dean after his graduation.
Thompson is Iowa State’s first transfer portal addition after several departures, including Anthony Echemendia and Christian Castillo, who also entered the portal.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners liked their wide receiver room a year ago. They want 2026 to be even better.
Isaiah Sategna’s return helps that desire. Earning experienced pass catchers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone via the transfer portal gives you added play makers. But after the Sooners Spring Game on Saturday, an unlikely hero emerged.
When Jahsiear Rogers flipped from Penn State to Oklahoma last December, he drew the usual excitement that comes with a new commitment. But few expected him to climb the depth chart this quickly, even with the injuries that hit Emmett Jones’ room.
Rogers did just that and more on Saturday. He led all pass catchers with five receptions for 70 yards in Oklahoma’s annual Red/White game.
“I knew it was time to showcase,” Rogers said after the game. “It was amazing to see the fans and get used to the OU way. I’m a playmaker. They really want to put the ball in playmakers hands. I pretty much knew I had to lead the white team.”
Rogers got the ball rolling early. On the second offensive play for the white team, backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer rolled to his right wide, then stopped and looked towards the middle of the field where he saw Rogers running open. Newbauer connected with Rogers for a 39-yard gain.
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With Rogers on the white team, he is running against (most of) Oklahoma’s starting defense. As fate would have it, on that 39-yard reception, Rogers beat his favorite teammate to compete against — Reggie Powers.
“He is just a leader, good guy,” Rogers said of Powers. “Me and him go after it every day in practice. Reggie is strong. When I come at him, I have to really come at him.”
Rogers’ big play over Powers was the second-longest catch of the spring game — Sategna’s 50-yard reception that appeared to be a touchdown before coaches pulled it back to set up a red-zone rep. The other four catches weren’t flashy, but they were important in their own way, and Rogers looked like he belonged on the field.
“I love it. As long as I can get the ball, I can be me. I love it,” Rogers said. “When I am on the field, I am ready to go. I am ready to be a playmaker.”
The season is still months away, and Rogers hasn’t earned a spot high on the depth chart yet. A strong spring and an encouraging Red/White Game can only lead to early playing time if he carries that momentum into summer and fall camp.
More experienced players will return from injury and receivers who’ve been in the program for a few years will have an extra leg-up.
But Rogers is taking everything in stride and leaving no stone unturned in his development.
“Just learning from the older guys,” Rogers said. “Manny Choice, Isaiah Sategna, Trell Harris, Mackenzie Alleyne. Really all of them. We lean on each other, learn from each other. That is kind of how our room is.”
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The Oklahoma baseball team is back in the mix and trending upward.
After a rough few weeks in Southeastern Conference play, the 14th-ranked Sooners have won three of their last four games to get to .500 at just beyond the halfway point of the league slate. Friday’s 9-6 win over Missouri allowed Oklahoma to move to 8-8, tied with three other teams for eighth in the standings.
Friday’s win wasn’t truly that close, even. OU took a 9-3 lead into the ninth before Mizzou made it somewhat interesting with three runs in the frame. Two of them came with two outs, though, and Mason Bixby induced a groundout with the bases empty to hold on.
The large edge came via a home run-happy night. The Sooners popped four over the wall at Kimrey Family Stadium, including three in a four-run seventh inning that gave OU a four-run lead.
Jason Walk, who hit one of the four homers, had the best day at the plate. He went 2 for 5 with the shot, three RBIs and a run. Camden Johnson, who also homered, went 2 for 3 with a walk, a double and two runs, and Dasan Harris went 2 for 4 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs. Trey Gambill hit the Sooners’ other jack.
Oklahoma jumped out to a four-run lead in the second behind four hits and a walk. Missouri helped the Sooners out with an error that resulted in a bases-loaded situation and three unearned runs registered to Tigers starter Josh McDevitt.
The runs were more than enough for Oklahoma’s LJ Mercurius, who pitched six strong innings, giving up three runs on six hits with no walks and nine strikeouts.
Game 2 in the series is set for 4 p.m. Saturday and the finale will be played Sunday at 2 p.m., weather permitting.
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