Texas Longhorns Big 12 Championship Preview: Oklahoma State Cowboys

The Texas Longhorns have College Football Playoff hopes and have one more task to check off the list before they can do that - winning the Big 12.

The No. 7 Texas Longhorns handled business in the regular season after suffering a loss to Oklahoma, as they went on to finish the rest of the year without dropping a single game.

This allowed them to reach the Big 12 title game for the first time since 2018, which means they also have a chance to win their first conference title since 2009. However, they have a bigger goal in mind which is of course making it to the College Football Playoff.

In theory, they are one win away from reaching that goal, but they will also need some games around the country to go their way as well in order to really give them the best chance. Standing in their way in a game that they can control, are the No. 20 Oklahoma State Cowboys, who have won the last two meetings against the Longhorns. 

However, it is Texas that leads the all-time series, sporting a 26-11 record. The Cowboys started the season as poorly as one could, losing to South Alabama and Iowa State in consecutive weeks, but winning five straight before getting blown out by UCF. To punch their ticket to Arlington they bounced back, beating Houston and most recently BYU in double overtime. 

With that in mind let's take a look at the Cowboys ahead of Saturday's matchup in Arlington. 

Oklahoma State QB Alan Bowman handing the ball off to star running back Ollie Gordon II / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma State Cowboys:

2023 record: 9-3, (7-2 Big 12)

Head coach: Mike Gundy

Offensive Leaders

Passing: Alan Bowman, Sixth-Year Senior 

2023 stats: 248 of 414, 2,808 yards, 10 touchdowns, 11 interceptions

Rushing: RB Ollie Gordon 

2023 stats: 245 carries, 1,580 yards, 6.4 YPC, 20 touchdowns

Receiving: WR Brennan Presley

2023 stats: 76 catches, 746 yards, 9.8 yards per catch, five touchdowns

Defensive Leaders

Tackles: LB Nickolas Martin - 120

Interceptions: Cameron Epps - three

Sacks: Nickolas Martin LB and Collin Oliver LB - six each