Lamar @ Oklahoma State preview

Oklahoma State will try to return to making news on the field Saturday when the No. 11 Cowboys host Lamar in their home opener. Oklahoma State is the subject of an ongoing series in Sports Illustrated that alleges numerous NCAA violations from 2001-11, including payments to players. “We're all committed to playing by the rules and doing things the right way,” said athletic director Mike Holder, adding that “for people to say that is not what's happening is very disturbing.”

The cloud over the program has taken some of the attention away from last week’s record-breaking performance by sophomore quarterback J.W. Walsh. He completed 24-of-27 passes, a program record for efficiency, for 326 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-35 victory against Texas-San Antonio. Lamar wide receiver Kevin Johnson, a transfer from Oklahoma State, tied the school record with 13 touchdowns last season and has two more this year.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox College Sports. LINE: Oklahoma State -46.5.

ABOUT LAMAR (1-1): Johnson hasn’t been the most productive receiver for the Cardinals this season. Jordan Edwards has stepped up with seven catches for 164 yards and three touchdowns through the first two games, giving quarterback Caleb Berry two deep threats against Oklahoma State. Size could be a problem on defense, however, as Lamar's leading tackler is 5-8, 175-pound defensive back Tyrus McGlothen.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0): The Cowboys also have a pair of receivers off to fast starts, including Josh Stewart, who caught 101 passes as a sophomore last year and has nine more this season. Jhajuan Seales, a freshman who grew up 15 minutes from Lamar’s campus in Port Arthur, Tex., caught seven of his eight passes this season in Saturday’s win against UTSA. Caleb Lavey is another Texas native who anchors the defense at linebacker.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Cowboys have won 17 consecutive home openers, the longest such streak in program history.

2. Eight different players have accounted for Oklahoma State’s 11 touchdowns this season.

3. The Cowboys have forced 134 turnovers since the start of the 2009 season, second in the nation to Oregon (137).

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 56, Lamar 7