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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.  



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Oklahoma

Neighbors sift debris, help each other after suspected Purcell tornado

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Neighbors sift debris, help each other after suspected Purcell tornado


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PURCELL — Jennifer Fox had just fed the pigs behind her house early in the morning Thursday, Jan. 8, and began getting ready for work before she and her two sons heard something hit her bedroom window.

“I said, ‘Is it hailing?” she said. “My oldest looked out the window and he saw our awning across the back. He said, ‘Mom, the awning’s gone.”

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Fox looked out the window and saw debris everywhere. She said she didn’t hear tornado sirens, but she and her sons immediately took shelter in a closet. By that time, the suspected tornado had already passed through her neighborhood off of Johnson Avenue in Purcell.

At first, Fox didn’t think there was a tornado and attributed the damage and debris to strong winds.

But just one street over, the roof of one house had been destroyed. When she looked at the house behind hers, Fox said she knew a tornado had hit her neighborhood.

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“I was thankful at the time,” she said. “I told my kids, I said, ‘It could’ve been a lot worse.’ We weren’t prepared, obviously. I really felt like it just barely missed us.”

Severe weather passed through central Oklahoma early Thursday morning, bringing reports of damage from a possible tornado in Purcell. The National Weather Service in Norman reported on social media that survey teams have found at least EF1 tornado damage in the Purcell area.

The Purcell Fire Department reported a tornado touched down in the city, causing roof damage to nine homes, a semi truck rollover accident on Interstate 35 with one injury and widespread power outages, downed trees and powerlines.

On Norte Street in Purcell, the suspected tornado wiped out the roof of a newly-built home, throwing debris onto the road, including a Christmas tree and blue ornaments. The houses across the street and next door were untouched.

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Community members and local high school students gathered pieces of trash, plywood, insulation and other debris and hauled them off.

Next door to Fox, a man and a woman removed debris from their yard that appeared to have blown over from Fox’s house. Like a puppy, a tall brown horse followed the man as he picked up each piece of trash. Across the street, cattle laid in the middle of a field and watched as one person after another drove into the neighborhood to lend a hand.

About five miles northeast of Fox’s house, the suspected tornado knocked over a few powerlines near Purcell’s football stadium. A tree fell onto a small white house and took the tin roof off a large warehouse.

Ron Musgrave, the warehouse’s owner, lives six miles north of Purcell. He said he learned his property was damaged through a local news broadcast.

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“They had the people out front and they had the helicopters, so I could see it,” Musgrave said. “They were flying over here. There’s a football field, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh. If that’s the football field, that’s my warehouse.”

The retired home builder and property owner said he keeps building supplies in his warehouse and a black and white cat who’s in charge of exterminating any trespassing mice.

The cat was happy to see Musgrave as he surveyed the water damage inside of the warehouse. Though there was some wet spots, the roof took most of the impact.

“It’s a project,” Musgrave said with a smile. “I am down for it.”

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Severe weather damage reported in Shawnee, Norman

Tree damage was reported in Cleveland County at 156th Street and East Tecumseh Avenue, according to Alyse Moore, Cleveland County communications director, along with damage to a car port and barn at 800 Moffatt Road north of Lexington.

Storm damage was also reported in Shawnee. Social media posts show damage to the Holiday Inn Express and Walmart Supercenter off of Interstate 40.



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Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster

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Oklahoma Sooners add transfer portal offensive lineman to the roster


The Oklahoma Sooners made an under-the-radar transfer portal addition on Wednesday, bringing back a player who spent two seasons in Norman before transferring out last year.

Former Central Oklahoma offensive lineman Kenneth Wermy will be returning to play for OU out of the portal. Wermy played for the Sooners in 2023 and 2024 before spending 2025 at the NCAA Division II level with the Bronchos. He’ll add depth to an offensive line group that is in need of it after recent portal departures.

Wemry is a local product from Cache, Oklahoma, and he stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 315 pounds. The Sooners have been busy adding big names in the transfer market, but with a week and a half left until the portal closes, the focus may soon turn to retention and building back depth on the roster.

Oklahoma had a busy portal day on Wednesday, adding Wermy and former Michigan linebacker Cole Sullivan. However, Oklahoma also lost three players to the portal, in linebacker Sammy Omosigho, defensive back Jaydan Hardy, and wide receiver Zion Ragins.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.





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Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries

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Oklahoma bill aims to ban obscene materials in public school libraries


A local lawmaker is introducing a bill to prohibit obscene materials in Oklahoma public school libraries.

Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, filed legislation this week, House Bill 2978, that would update state law and prohibit the acquisition of materials that meet Oklahoma’s legal definition of obscenity.

The bill removes references to subjective community standards and relies on established statute, according to Banning.

“This legislation provides a straightforward statewide rule that helps ensure school libraries stay within the definition of education,” Banning said. “According to Black’s Law Dictionary, education is defined as providing proper moral, intellectual and physical instruction.”

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