The biggest game on Friday night in Week 2 of the college football season is Oklahoma State football vs. South Alabama. Who comes out on top?
The No. 11 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys carried a healthy lead into halftime against the South Alabama Jaguars. This is the second consecutive week that South Alabama faced a Power Five conference team, after losing on the road to the Ole Miss Rebels in the season opener.
After a convincing Week 1 victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Oklahoma State entered this one as a heavy favorite, even on the road. Quarterback Mason Rudolph should have been chomping at the bit to get ready for this game. Oklahoma State carried a 20-0 lead into halftime.
The Oklahoma State rushing attack did not find too much room to run in the first half. Rudolph and the receiving corps carried the offense. However, the South Alabama secondary had no answers for head coach Mike Gundy‘s high-powered attack.
Senior wide receiver James Washington showed his immense talent and advantage over opposing secondaries with a 66-yard touchdown reception. LSU transfer receiver Tyron Johnson, junior Jalen McCleskey, and running back Justice Hill also provided support in the first half.
Next week, things get much tougher for the Pokes when they travel to face the Pittsburgh Panthers. They need to take advantage of inferior competition while they can. Facing South Alabama is a huge chance to build some momentum entering the Pitt game.
South Alabama starting quarterback Cole Garvin went down with a knee injury in the first quarter. Junior quarterback Dallas Davis took most of the snaps. However, neither South Alabama quarterback was able to do much against a solid Cowboy defense.
Now, let’s take a look at halftime takeaways from Oklahoma State vs. South Alabama.
1. James Washington solidifies himself as best receiver in college football
James Washington looks like a man among boys when facing Group of Five competition. Both Tulsa and South Alabama had some huge trouble containing him. Washington will easily get over 100 receiving yards in this game and could possibly get 200.
Oklahoma State has a receiving corps unmatched by any other team in the country. Rudolph and the Pokes took advantage of that fact in the first half. This group of pass catchers has multiple NFL level talents.
Two of Washington’s first two catches of the game were both impressive plays. One went for a 66 yard touchdown on an intermediate route. The other was a 30 yard catch where Washington came back and tiptoed the sideline to make the grab.
Washington and the Cowboys need more of the same effort in the second half. He’s not only fighting for the right to maintain the title of best receiver in the country, he’s also vying for an increase in his draft stock. Washington should be a first round pick but nothing is guaranteed.
2. Front seven is better than we thought
The Cowboy defense put together a solid performance in the first half. Defensive end Jarrell Owens was seen tormenting the South Alabama quarterbacks on multiple plays. Linebackers Chad Whitener and Justin Phillips rarely let a Jaguar runner get out of the backfield as well.
Aside from a few spurts from the Tulsa offense last week, the Oklahoma State front seven has shown great things in the first two games of the year. The secondary just needs to catch up. There is some inexperience at both cornerback spots for the Pokes.
If the Cowboys continue to dominate on the defensive side of the ball in the second half, it will be because of the front seven. Third downs became that much tougher for South Alabama because of the defensive line winning the battles in the trenches.
Next: BREAKING: Rudolph breaks OSU career passing record
Watch out for players like defensive tackles DeQuinton Osborne and Darrion Daniels to come up huge in the third and fourth quarters. While Oklahoma State only racked up one sack against South Alabama in the first half, they’ll get a few more in the second.