STILLWATER — Oklahoma State’s season-opening win over Central Michigan was wild.
From building a big lead behind quarterback Spencer Sanders’ mastery to holding late when Chippe was coming back, the Cowboys certainly entertained as they trailed 1-0.
Up next: a matchup against Pac-12 member Arizona State. Here’s a look at what you need to know about the Sun Devils:
Oklahoma State Football:Examining the best players, new wrinkles, freshmen who played in the opening
How to watch No. 11 Oklahoma State vs. Arizona State
➤ When: 18:30 Saturday
➤ Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater
➤ TV: ESPN2 (Cox 28/HD 721, Dish 143, DirecTV 209, U-verse 606/HD 1606)
➤ Radio: KXXY-FM 96.1
➤ Line: Jeans for 11.5
➤ Below: 53.5
Plus:Oklahoma State football ‘can go much faster’ on offense. Spencer Sanders can’t wait.
Exploring the state of Arizona
➤ Record: 1-0
➤ Best player: Quarterback Emory Jones made a big debut for the Sun Devils in last week’s 40-3 win over Northern Arizona. The Florida transfer completed 13 of 18 passes for 152 yards and rushed for two touchdowns just a few months after enrolling at Arizona State. Jones started 12 of 13 games for Florida last season, passing for 2,734 yards and 19 TDs and rushing for 758 yards and four TDs. Jones’ experience is expected to be crucial. And he’s even more valuable along with transfer runner Xazavian Valladay, who arrived in the offseason from Wyoming.
➤ The case of the state of Arizona: The Sun Devils offense has the ability to chew up the clock and keep the Cowboys defense on the field with Jones and Valladay leading the way. The state of Arizona had a strong ground attack against Northern Arizona, utilizing depth. And Jones has the ability to get the ball off the ball quickly in passing situations, shutting down OSU’s elite run as well as Central Michigan. If all of that combines to work, the Sun Devils could keep up with OSU’s breakneck pace on offense.
➤ The case of the USO:The Cowboys’ offense will wear down opponents with the ultra-fast attack. For a group of Sun Devils that has a lot of new faces, it will be a challenge to keep up with the Cowboys. And OSU’s defense, which was solid for three quarters, gained valuable experience for both new coordinator Derek Mason and several players with limited playing time in the past. Each week, that group must improve and catch up with the offense.
Jacob Unruh, staff writer