Three Things to Know About Oklahoma State’s Week 3 Opponent, Tulsa

In a college football world where geography is no longer relevant, Oklahoma State has actually kept it regional for its last two nonconference games, and now its first road game of the season is the shortest trip possible.

The Cowboys will get away from Stillwater to play Tulsa at 11 a.m. Saturday for what’s been deemed The Turnpike Classic. Tulsa has the closest Division-I campus with football to Stillwater. But, similar to Arkansas, despite the proximity, it’s not a program OSU fans often keep up with, even if they live in the 918. Here are three things to know about the Golden Hurricane before Saturday.

1. State of the Program

I know we already went over this program is also in Oklahoma, but the different kind of state.

TU is entering its second year under Kevin Wilson, who was previously the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. His other head coaching stint included Indiana in 2011-16, and he also had a stop in Norman as Oklahoma’s OC from 2002 to 2010 before leaving to be a head coach.

The Golden Hurricane went 4-8 in Wilson’s first year. TU is 1-1 so far this season after a loss to Arkansas State last week. TU hasn’t struggled just under Wilson, though. The Golden Hurricane hasn’t posted a winning season since going 7-6 in 2021, which was also the last time these two programs met.

2. The Other Presley

OSU receiver Brennan Presley has a brother.

Both of the Presley brothers graduated from local powerhouse Bixby before heading to Stillwater. But while Brennan has been at OSU for five years, Braylin, the youngest of the two, transferred even closer to home after only one season.

Braylin’s numbers were lackluster in his first season at TU last year while the Golden Hurricane shuffled through quarterbacks. He played in every game as a sophomore and started seven while catching 11 passes for 122 yards. He scored his first touchdown with TU Week 1 against Northwestern State — a 19-yard rush. So far, he has six receptions for 48 yards.

3. Quarterback Situation

Have you ever heard of a football coach rotating three quarterbacks through their nonconference schedule?

Obviously Wilson doesn’t keep up with OSU to see how a three-QB rotation worked out for the Cowboys last year. He has yet to name an actual starter, but unlike how Mike Gundy handled things last season, the same guy has technically been starting and getting most of the reps.

Kirk Francis, from Metro Christian in Tulsa, has essentially been TU’s QB1, even if Wilson hasn’t admitted it. As Marshall pointed out, Francis, according to Pro Football Focus, has played 113 offensive snaps, compared to Cardell Williams with 12 and Cooper Legas with 10.

Francis, a redshirt freshman, has 498 passing yards and five TDs while completing 67% of his passes this season. Williams and Legas have primary been used as runners so far.

Still, here in Week 3, Wilson wouldn’t say who would get the most snaps against OSU.