Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2021 college football season

Oklahoma State entered 2020 as a favorite to win the Big 12, and for the first half of the season they looked like College Football Playoff hopefuls. After losing their first game against Texas, though, the Cowboys collapsed down the stretch and limped into a postseason matchup with Miami outside the New Year’s Six. A 37-34 win over the Hurricanes will restore some faith in Mike Gundy’s team as voters put them into the preseason AP Top 25 once again.

Gone is Chuba Hubbard, who proved a non-factor for much of the 2020 season. Spencer Sanders is back at quarterback, and LD Brown has the chance to step up as the next great Oklahoma State running back. A defensive line that was disruptive behind the line of scrimmage needs to get better on run downs, but otherwise the parts are in place for another solid season of Big 12 contention in the upcoming campaign.

Oklahoma State doesn’t face any other Power Five teams in non-conference play, though they do have a pair of tough Group of Five tests. Tulsa comes to Stillwater after playing a defensive battle against the Cowboys in 2020, and Oklahoma State will also travel to play against Boise State on the Smurf Turf in Idaho. Oklahoma and TCU both have to come to T. Boone Pickens Stadium, though the Cowboys must hit the road for their showdown against Texas.