Four Downs: Is Oklahoma State football in line for another upset as home underdog?
STILLWATER — Looking for back-to-back wins, Oklahoma State is once again on the home turf, playing host to No. 23 Kansas at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Trying to build on the momentum created by last week’s 29-21 upset of defending Big 12 champion Kansas State, the Cowboys have a chance to reinsert themselves in the conversation to be in the upper half of the conference.
Kansas will be without starting quarterback Jalon Daniels, but Jason Bean has been a more-than-adequate backup when he’s been called upon.
Here’s a look at some keys to the game in this week’s edition of Four Downs:
More: 43 for 43: Oklahoma State football set to induct Terry Miller into Ring of Honor
Cowboy in the Crosshairs
Tight end Josiah Johnson: We’re going a little bit outside the box for this one, but Johnson is becoming a more trusted figure in this offense. He finished with three catches for 31 yards and erased a chunk of another long gain when he was flagged for a facemask on the run against Kansas State.
And the Cowboys put the ball in Johnson’s hands on a crucial fourth-and-1 late in the game when they were trying to extend a drive. Johnson, who began his college career as a quarterback at UMass, motioned from his tight end position, going under center to take the snap on a quarterback sneak.
So the coaching staff clearly has a belief that Johnson can make a positive impact. And more importantly, Johnson’s run and pass blocking have been on a steady incline each game this season as he adapts to the increased physicality of Big 12 football.
More: Rashod Owens' versatility is key for OSU football. He needs to 'stop eating the biscuits.'
Against the Spread
OSU plus 3: Coming off an upset win as a double-digit underdog, the Cowboys are not in quite as big a point-spread hole this week. Yet their trend suggests they’re the right play again this week.
The Pokes have won eight of their last nine games when entering as underdogs at home, according to Brett McMurphy from the Action Network.
Three questions with…
Justin Kirkland: Oklahoma State nose tackle Justin Kirkland was one of the most impactful defensive players on the team in last week’s win. But don’t bother looking for his statistical output.
The 6-foot-4, 346-pound Kirkland didn’t record a tackle, force a fumble or knock down a pass. Yet he impacted the game in a significant way. Without him, Nick Martin’s 17-tackle performance probably wouldn’t have been possible. Here’s what Kirkland had to say about that and other topics:
Q: Was this the epitome of the nose tackle position, affecting the game significantly, but still finishing with no stats to speak of?
A: Yeah, I love that. I like coming off of a game and I feel like I did really well, and I’m like, “Oh what stats did I get?” And it’s like, Justin Kirkland played. Awesome. I’m good with that. Nick Martin, he had 17 tackles right? Flying around. I love watching him be successful. We had the back end getting interceptions, putting points on the board from the defensive side. If my stat is “Justin Kirkland played,” and we play like that, I’m in every time.
How did you enjoy your first blackout of BPS?
That was awesome. There was one point in the game I was standing over the ball and I started pumping up the crowd. Oh my gosh, it was so loud. Me and the center, we try and have conversations. I couldn’t hear him, he couldn’t hear me, which made it even funnier. It was an awesome experience.
Is there a lot of trash talk in the trenches?
No, I think so many people see the O-line/D-line and see that it’s a super-physical and nasty place. There’s a certain harmony in there, people looking out for each other. People have hurt their knees and stuff like that. No one wants to go through that. If you can pancake a guy or throttle a guy and everybody around him is safe, then do it. But if you’re gonna put your own team at risk, most of the time people won’t do it.
More: OSU 3-2-1 kickoff: Will Oklahoma State Cowboys solve their red-zone TD issues vs. Kansas?
Uni-Guess
Orange-orange-white: It feels like a day for a throwback vibe, with Terry Miller set to go into the Ring of Honor. The Cowboys have done this before in honor of the Miller-era uniform style from the mid-1970s, so they might opt for a different look.
But on each of the previous Ring of Honor inductions, there has been something special with the uniform style tying to that player’s era.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football eyes another upset as home underdog vs Kansas?
