UTSA @ Oklahoma State preview
Boone Pickens Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2014 ) Texas-San Antonio 13, Oklahoma State 43
No. 25 Oklahoma State has a list of things to work on when the Cowboys host winless UTSA on Saturday to make an explosive offensive even more potent before Big 12 Conference play begins. Cowboy coaches keep track of rush yards per carry, explosive plays, turnovers and negative plays for each game - and there is room for improvement despite a 2-0 start.
"(We had) too many negative yardage plays (last week)," Cowboys offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich told the media. "We've got to stay ahead of the chains and we've got to be better on first down." Mason Rudolph had plenty of explosive plays in his 401-yard passing performance last week but 16 negative plays and a 4.5 yards per rush average through two games aren't good signs. UTSA's young defense is allowing an average of 36 points and 5.5 plays that go for at least 20 yards through two games. Roadrunners senior tight end David Morgan II gives defenses fits with his size and ability.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Oklahoma State -24.5.
ABOUT UTSA (0-2): Morgan (6-4, 260 pounds) leads the Roadrunners with 13 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown and carried a Kansas State defender on his back for more than five yards while picking up a first down in last week's 30-3 loss. "They've got an NFL tight end and that guy lines up everywhere," Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer told The Oklahoman. "I don't know if anybody we face this year has got that guy." The Roadrunners have struggled offensively in losses to Kansas State (42-32) and Arizona (30-3) and are the fourth-most penalized team (22) in the country.
ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0): Rudolph is ranked 10th nationally at 333.5 passing yards and has three touchdowns to one interception and David Glidden (two TDs) is averaging 24 yards per catch. Chris Carson (36 carries for 131 yards) and Rennie Childs (13 carries for 86 yards) have gotten the bulk of the rushes for the Cowboys, who have beaten UTSA 56-35 and 43-13 the past two seasons. Ends Emmanuel Ogbah (3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks) and Jimmy Bean (four TFL, two sacks) power an Oklahoma State defensive front that is allowing 85 rushing yards per game.
EXTRA POINTS
1. UTSA coach Larry Coker, who started the program in 2011, was the Oklahoma State offensive coordinator when Cowboys coach Mike Gundy played quarterback there in 1986-89.
2. Oklahoma State is ranked fifth nationally in net punting (45.4 yards), allowing one return of minus-3 yards in 10 punts.
3. After having the largest senior class (36 players) last season, the Roadrunners have the smallest senior class (six) in FBS this season.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 41, UTSA 10