GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Confronting the TCU defense on the road to end the regular season will be the toughest challenge for Oklahoma State. The Horned Frogs were solid defensively in a Nov. 17 win over Baylor and remain in contention for a bowl berth. DE Ben Banogu is playing well and will be coming off four tackles for loss while leading TCU with nine tackles against Baylor. The Horned Frogs fashioned a 3-0 advantage in takeaways. They may have to resort to using a third-team quarterback after Michael Collins was injured and replaced by Grayson Muehlstein in the Baylor win.
DRAFT SLANT
–RB Justice Hill needs only 70 yards for a third consecutive 1,000-yard season but the junior missed the West Virginia game with a rib injury and could be looking ahead at the possibility of declaring early for the NFL. A decision to turn pro makes sense for any running back with the capabilities because of the wear and tear they absorb, though Hill’s production this season was more checkered than the past two years. Part of that is attributable to injuries within the offensive line.
ROSTER REPORT
–RB J.D. King became the third Oklahoma State player to announce a transfer during the season. King did not suit up for the Nov. 17 win against West Virginia after rushing for 142 yards last year against the Mountaineers as a freshman. King will have two years of eligibility remaining.
–C Johnny Wilson missed the West Virginia game with an ankle injury. C Ry Schneider, an in-state walk-on with virtually no experience in games, started in place of Wilson for an offensive front that has been battered by injuries all season.
–OT Shane Richards missed his third straight game, while OT Arlington Hambright missed his seventh straight game as the patchwork Oklahoma State line forged on against West Virginia. Teven Jenkins has been a stalwart up front after moving to left tackle after Hambright’s injury. Dylan Galloway started at right tackle.
–TE Jelani Woods was injured against West Virginia and replaced by another walk-on, TE Logan Carter. Walk-ons have become prevalent for the Cowboys, who have used a walk-on all season to engineer their attack, fifth-year senior QB Taylor Cornelius.
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