Oklahoma State football: 3 keys to 2019 Bedlam victory over Oklahoma

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 10: Running back Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys breaks through the Oklahoma Sooners defense at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 48-47. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 10: Running back Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys breaks through the Oklahoma Sooners defense at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 48-47. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 7: Quarterback Dru Brown #6 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys takes a hit against the McNeese State Cowboys. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK – SEPTEMBER 7: Quarterback Dru Brown #6 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys takes a hit against the McNeese State Cowboys. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

3. Give Dru Brown time to throw

In his first start at OSU, former backup quarterback Dru Brown delivered a clutch performance. He completed 22-of-29 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly, he helped deliver a road win in conference play for the Cowboys, their eighth win of the year.

Yes, he took three sacks, and yes, he looked out-of-sync with receivers at certain points. But Brown doesn’t lack for collegiate experience — he threw for more than 5,200 yards during two electrifying seasons at Hawaii before transferring to OSU. For Brown, the opportunity doesn’t get much better than this: tune up against a struggling Mountaineers squad, then face your new team’s in-state rival and CFP hopeful to conclude the regular season.

Oklahoma’s best bet to stymie the Cowboy offense (itself the third-best in the Big 12 and the No. 13-ranked unit in the country) will be to bring the heat against Brown and force him out of his comfort zone. If Brown is not in rhythm and is scrambling to avoid pressure, we are not sure how he’ll respond in OSU’s biggest game of the season.