Resources:
Oklahoma State 2007 Preview Capsule (Hawk Digest) | OSU Network  | Big 12 Digest
bowman12.com | coachgundy.com

Series: Tied 28-28-3
Time: 7:00 p.m.
TV: ABC
Line: KU (-5.5)

The Rundown

From the national perspective, everyone expects the KU run to end with Missouri or Oklahoma. Hardcore Kansas football fans know that this Saturday's ABC matchup in Stillwater is pretty much for a trip to the national championship game. If the Jayhawks can beat Oklahoma State on the road, then they can handle anybody in the conference. Anybody. A loss ends a shot at the national title, but the Big 12 Championship is still within grasp. So, that's how it breaks down. There has likely never been a bigger game in Jayhawk football history ('68 Orange Bowl?). The highway crew stands between KU and a trip to the NC game. A simple road victory against OSU takes you there ... wow.

The Series

Man, this is a weird series. It's tied up, but both teams have gone on huge winning streaks in this one. OSU has five in a row right now. Before that KU won six straight. Prior to that, OSU didn't lose to KU from 1973-1989.

Kansas-Oklahoma State Series Results

The Key

We assume KU will score. In last year's track meet, OSU got one ahead of us when the 40-year old man (presumably 39 then) surprised us with an old maker-taker pickup b-ball trick - a mid-game onside kick. I would say the key would be trying to be somewhere near the OSU receivers when Zac Robinson goes back to pass. If they do catch the ball, it is within the rules to run near them and in fact tackle them -- thereby halting the progress of the OSU offense before they reach their ultimate goal -- "the end zone." As a defense, the goal would be to stop them from reaching "the end zone" -- not to jog merrily along ushering the opponent to the goal line to get a close-up view of the TD celebration.

Another consideration -- last week KU intercepted the ball four times. They could have had four more. Whatever KU's season total is for INTs, they've dropped twice as many. The ball is live when it's in the air -- go ahead and catch it. Every stop is going to be critical on Saturday night.

Recent History: (home team)
1998 OSU 38, KU 28
1999 OSU 45, KU 13
2002 OSU 55, KU 20
2003 OSU 44, KU 21
2006 OSU 42, KU 32

OSU 2007 Schedule
L @Georgia 14-35
W FAU 42-6
L @Troy 23-41
W Texas Tech 49-45
W Sam Houston 39-3
L @A&M 23-24
W @NU 45-14
W KSU 41-39
L Texas 35-38
11/10 Kansas
11/17 @Baylor
11/24 @Oklahoma