Oklahoma State will try to bounce back from its worst loss in 118 years and find some semblance of consistency before conference play begins when Tulsa visits Stillwater, Okla., on Friday for the 78th rendition of the Turnpike Classic.
The Cowboys (1-1) return to the field after an open date Sept. 13 and on the heels of a 69-3 shellacking at then-No. 6 Oregon on Sept. 6. The defeat was the worst since a 67-0 loss at Oklahoma in 1907 and the worst in coach Mike Gundy’s 21-years at the helm at Oklahoma State, supplanting a 52-0 loss at Colorado to end the 2024 season.
Given those historical lows, the open week could not have come at a better time for the Cowboys.
“We had good practices last week — four practices,” Gundy said Monday at his weekly news conference. “Came back, had a little workout last night. They’ve done well and were emotional and enthusiastic and all those things.”
Gundy said his team worked on simplifying things in all phases of the game.
“We tried to do too much just based on (Oregon’s) talent,” Gundy said. “Instead of just being good at who we are and what we can get accomplished.”
Part of the growing process is getting more reps for redshirt freshman quarterback Zane Flores, who went 7-for-19 passing for 67 yards and uncorked two third-quarter interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in the loss to Oregon.
“I’ve said this for years and I’m going to say it again: There’s no fast forward button in my opinion with a young quarterback,” Gundy explained about Flores. “It takes time, and it takes experience.”
Tulsa (1-2) is coming off a 42-23 loss at home to Navy on Sept. 13. Baylor Hayes passed for 189 yards and a TD and ran for another score in the setback, the Golden Hurricane’s second straight after beating Abilene Christian at home to open the season.
Tulsa coach Tre Lamb said on Monday both Hayes and Kirk Francis will practice this week, with the starting quarterback role to be determined later based on performance.
“I have no clue who we’re going to start,” Lamb said. “I’m going to reward the reps to the guy that moves the ball in practice.
“The big thing we’re missing right now offensively is chunk plays more than anything. We’ve got to find some playmakers quickly, or it’s going to be a long season.”
Oklahoma State has won the past 10 contests in the series, including a 45-10 victory last year in Tulsa, and has captured 23 straight against the Golden Hurricane in Stillwater, with its last home loss to Tulsa coming in 1951.
