Texas A&M @ Oklahoma State football preview

Aggies travel to Stillwater to face Cowboys in Big 12 play

The Texas A&M Aggies are still hoping to extend their two-game winning streak Saturday against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The game will be in Stillwater.

The Aggies (2-2), who have been struggling and who have visited ESPN’s Bottom 10, will come crawling into Boone Pickens Stadium. The Cowboys (4-0) are riding high. They are ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press college poll and are one of only 18 NCAA teams without a loss.

The Cowboys will aim their top-rated, high-potency offence at the last place rushing defense in the Big 12 and the 10th ranked overall.

It may be payback time for OSU. The Aggies hold a 10-2 record against the Cowboys since the Big 12 was formed. They have won twice in overtime. The two programs have met 23 times since 1913. The Aggies hold a 17-6 advantage in the series.

Fans won’t know the starting quarterback until game time. Stephen McGee started last week against Army but went down in the first half. He re-injured his right (throwing) shoulder. Sherman said this week that the injury was not as bad as first thought.

Quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who relieved McGee, is still nursing a shoulder injury. He completed six of 10 passes in the 21-17 win over Army.

Defensive End Michael Bennett may play. He injured his knee, but it was not as bad as thought. The Aggies will need his star potential at that position.

The Aggies may have to deliver more offense if they hope to beat OSU. The land rush is still on at Oklahoma State. They are the NCAA’s top ranked rushing offense. They have gobbled up 1,361 yards and average a whopping 340 yards per game. OSU is No. 4 in total offense behind Texas Tech, Missouri, and Tulsa.

One big reason for their offense production is sophomore running back Kendall Hunter. He averages 154 yards per game and is ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 and No. 3 nationally.

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OSU will be throwing their stampede against Big 12’s lowliest defense. Defensive coordinator Joe Kines’ high-energy style has failed to overcome inexperience and lack of talent in the defensive line and the linebacker corps. The defensive backs have yet to be tested.

The good news for Kines is the play of defensive back Trent Hunter. Hunter made 17 tackles – one for a yard loss. He was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. The bad news for Kines is that Hunter is a true freshman. His inexperience will be tested by every Big 12 quarterback from here on out.

The game starts at 6 p.m. CDT. There will be no television. Sirius Satellite Radio will broadcast the game on channel 121.

By Jay Goode
Big 12 Fans Texas A&M Correspondent

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