After their series had gone dormant for 43 years, No. 16 Oklahoma State and visiting Arkansas will renew a regional rivalry when the teams meet Saturday in Stillwater, Okla.
Oklahoma State (1-0) finished off a 44-20 victory over South Dakota State last Saturday, ending the 29-game winning streak of their FCS foe, who had won consecutive championships. The victory moved them up one spot in the AP Top 25.
Arkansas (1-0) also took down an FCS opponent, crushing Arkansas-Pine Bluff 70-0 on Thursday.
Arkansas’ new-look offense, led by the return of former Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, delivered 10 touchdowns on 10 possessions. New quarterback Taylen Green, a Boise State transfer, delivered four total touchdowns in one half of play.
Green was not only 16-of-23 passing for 229 yards and two TDs, but also rushed for 88 yards and two scores on just six carries. Of the Razorbacks’ 687 total yards, 279 came on the ground. JaQuinden Jackson, a Utah transfer, rushed for 101 yards on eight carries with two TDs.
“I felt like (footwork) was a little slow the first two drives, and that is what we focused on in camp and translated that into the game,” Green said, owning up to some nerves in his first start for the Razorbacks. “That is something I need to improve on and it all starts with my feet, and we have a great opportunity against Oklahoma State.”
Oklahoma State was more than pleased with its offensive output against a talented FCS team. Heisman Trophy candidate Ollie Gordon II rushed for 104 yards, with 58 of those coming in the third quarter. Gordon, the Doak Walker Award winner from last season as top running back in the country, ran for two TDs and also caught a touchdown.
Cowboys quarterback Alan Bowman was 25-of-34 passing for 267 yards and three touchdowns, while De’Zhaun Stribling had six receptions for 83 yards and Brennan Presley had seven receptions for 35 yards and one TD.
“I thought (the offensive line) played good because they didn’t give up any sacks,” Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said. “Bowman did a better job in this game of sitting in the pocket and not running out for no reason at all. That’s what we have asked him to do and worked with him on that.”
Arkansas leads the all-time series 30-15-1, but only nine of those games were in Stillwater, where the programs have played to an even 4-4-1 record.
Since the start of 2020, the Cowboys are 24-3 at home, tied for second-most home victories in that time behind the 26 from Alabama.
Both head coaches had nothing but praise for the offensive leader on the other side, with Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman calling Gordon as talented as they come.
“If (the offensive line) gets him 3 yards, he’s going to get 6 or 7 or more,” Pittman said. “We’re going to have to get a lot of guys around the ball. We definitely understand how good he is.”
Gundy intends on dedicating one player as a spy that tracks Green at all times.
“When you are competing against a guy that has the ability to run, you have to take that into account in your structure of defense and style of play,” Gundy said. “… It’s just a matter of being disciplined and making sure somebody has responsibility for the quarterback.”
