Oklahoma

Will Oklahoma State football offense show new life at BYU? Here’s a look at key matchups

Published

3 hours ago

October 18, 2024

Will Oklahoma State football offense show new life at BYU? Here’s a look at key matchups

PROVO, Utah — While Oklahoma State’s struggles during its three-game losing streak have become predictable, the Cowboys come into this week’s game with at least a little mystery.

Who will be quarterback? What schematic changes were made during the bye week?

OSU (3-3, 0-3 Big 12) needs something to look different when they take on No. 13 BYU (6-0, 3-0) at 9:15 p.m. Friday at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Can the Cowboys pull off another midseason turnaround, like they did after a 2-2 start last year?

It’ll take a significant reboot, but coach Mike Gundy and his staff have often shown a knack for shaking things up during a bye week.

Here’s a look at the matchup breakdown:

More: Mike Gundy ‘got head-butted’ by cow on Oklahoma State football bye week

When OSU runs the ball

BYU isn’t the best run defense around, so maybe Ollie Gordon II can find a few holes. Gordon has begun to show signs of breaking loose, but still is looking for his first run of at least 30 yards this season. The offensive line needed the extra week of preparation as much as anyone and must show a consistent ability to open holes for Gordon. Opponents are averaging 120 rushing yards per game against the Cougars.

When OSU throws the ball

The bigger question remains, who will be throwing the ball? Gundy said he and his staff would make a decision after Thursday’s practice, though redshirt sophomore Garret Rangel seems the likely candidate to run the show. Rangel has never had two consecutive weeks to prepare for a starting assignment — with the exception of the bowl game in 2022 after a dozen teammates had entered the transfer portal.

More: Oklahoma State football unveils game time, TV for Cowboys’ Week 9 game vs. Baylor

When BYU runs the ball

Here’s the question that looms over the OSU defense like a plague. The Pokes rank 129th nationally against the run, giving up 235.0 yards per game. Though BYU hasn’t been wildly impressive, it has shown efficiency when it runs the ball. And for opponents of the Cowboys so far, that has turned into big plays. With linebackers Nick Martin and Collin Oliver out for a considerable amount of time, defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo has to adjust within the framework of the talent he has to make the run defense more effective.

When BYU throws the ball

BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff isn’t a world-beater, but he’s an adequate passer and a veteran who understands how to operate the Cougars’ offensive scheme. He’s completing 60.3% of his passes for an average of 237.7 yards per game. The OSU secondary has been better than it was last year at limiting big pass plays, but there’s always room for improvement.

OSU at BYU

KICKOFF: 9:15 p.m. Friday at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah (ESPN)

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma DL David Stone , WR Deion Burks Statuses Updated in SEC Availability Report

Published

11 hours ago

October 18, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma DL David Stone , WR Deion Burks Statuses Updated in SEC Availability Report

NORMAN — Oklahoma freshman defensive lineman David Stone was upgraded to active on the Southeastern Conference’s Thursday night availability report.

Stone had been listed as probable on the Wednesday availability report ahead of OU’s home game against South Carolina. His name was not listed Thursday.

Receiver Deion Burks’ status remained as questionable, while running back Sam Franklin and tight end Kade McIntyre were downgraded from questionable as doubtful. Burks, despite having missed two-and-a-half games, leads the Sooners in every receiving category with 26 catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns.

If Burks plays Saturday, it will be his first appearance since he exited the Sooners’ 25-15 loss to No. 7 Tennessee on Sept. 21. If he does not play, quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and/or Jackson Arnold will be without their top five targets as Jayden Gibson, Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson and Andrel Anthony remain inactive with injuries of varying timelines.

Defensive backs Gentry Williams and Kendel Dolby and offensive lineman Geirean Hatchett remain inactive.

The Gamecocks will be without receiver Jared Brown, who caught eight passes for 103 yards in four games. He left the Sept. 14 LSU game at the half with an apparent lower-body injury and returned against Ole Miss on Oct. 5 but left early and has not appeared since.

South Carolina offensive lineman Jakai Moore; defensive tackle DeAndre Jules; and defensive backs Jalewis Solomon and Kevin Hunter are out.

Any updates to the availability report must be made public before 10:15 a.m. Saturday, 90 minutes before kickoff.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma parents and teachers sue to stop top education official’s classroom Bible mandate – WTOP News

Published

19 hours ago

October 17, 2024

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Oklahoma parents and teachers sue to stop top education official’s classroom Bible mandate – WTOP News

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A group of Oklahoma parents of public school students, teachers and ministers filed a lawsuit Thursday…

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A group of Oklahoma parents of public school students, teachers and ministers filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to stop the state’s top education official from forcing schools to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12.

The lawsuit filed with the Oklahoma Supreme Court also asks the court to stop Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters from spending $3 million to purchase Bibles in support of his mandate.

The suit alleges that the mandate violates the Oklahoma Constitution because it involves spending public money to support religion and favors one religion over another by requiring the use of a Protestant version of the Bible. It also alleges that Walters and the state Board of Education don’t have the authority to require the use of instructional materials.

“As parents, my husband and I have sole responsibility to decide how and when our children learn about the Bible and religious teachings,” plaintiff Erika Wright, the founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition and parent of two school-aged children, said in a statement. “It is not the role of any politician or public school official to intervene in these personal matters.”

The plaintiffs are represented by several civil rights groups, including the Oklahoma chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice.

The suit also notes that the initial “request for proposal” released by the State Department of Education to purchase the Bibles appears to have been carefully tailored to match Bibles endorsed by former President Donald Trump that sell for $59.99 each. The RFP was later amended at the request of state purchasing officials.

It is the second lawsuit filed in Oklahoma seeking to challenge Walters’ mandate. Another lawsuit filed in June by a Locust Grove man currently is pending in Mayes County.

Walters said in a statement posted to his account on X that he will “never back down to the woke mob.”

“The simple fact is that understanding how the Bible has impacted our nation, in its proper historical context, was the norm in America until the 1960s and its removal has coincided with a precipitous decline in American schools,” Walters wrote.

Walters, a former public school teacher elected in 2022, ran on a platform of fighting “woke ideology,” banning books from school libraries and getting rid of “radical leftists” who he claims are indoctrinating children in classrooms.

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