What Are Steve Sarkisian's Thoughts on Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is back in the Big 12 Championship for the second time in three years, and it will take on Texas on Saturday at 11 a.m. at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.
The Cowboys rely on one man on offense; Ollie Gordon. The sophomore running back leads the nation in rushing yards this season, for he's rushed for 1,580 yards this season.
Gordon is also No. 9-ranked in the country in yards per carry, averaging over 6.5 yards a rush. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Gordon is an example of what Oklahoma State is all about.
"Ollie Gordon is a heck of a player," Sarkisian said. "They've done a great job offensively of leaning into him. He really signifies who their team is.
"He gets stronger as the game goes on, like a lot of physical backs do. He has the hard yards. The tough yards in between the tackles. But yet, he has the big play explosive playability to create those long runs."
On defense, Sarkisian praised the linebackers of Oklahoma State, which is well deserved.
Nick Martin leads the charge at linebacker for OSU, for he has 120 tackles on the season. Martin has been consistent all season, averaging 10 tackles per game for OSU, including double-digit tackles in five of the 12 games.
Sarkisian said it's not just Martin, it's a multitude of linebackers that get the job done on defense for the Cowboys.
"It's probably the best group we have faced all year," Sarkisian said. "They've got three very good linebackers, who impact the game.
"They rush the quarterback extremely well. They tackle really well. They force turnovers really well. Those three guys, (Colin) Oliver, (Xavier) Benson and (Nick) Martin are big-time players."
Sarkisian knows how dangerous Oklahoma State can be. The Cowboys once rallied off five straight victories this season, including wins over Kansas State, Kansas and Oklahoma.
"We played all three of those teams and didn't win all three of those games," Sarkisian said. "I know what they're capable of. They're capable of being a very dangerous team that can play at a very high level."
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