One of the goals for the Oklahoma State Cowboy football team is to get back to the Big 12 Championship game and win it.

Another goal is the make it to the College Football Playoff.

After a surprisingly successful 2021 season, the Cowboys will open at 6 pm. Thursday night by hosting Central Michigan on FS1 in Stillwater.

A non-conference loss at home would be a problem if OSU wants to achieve most of their goals.

“I see a tough football team,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said of Central Michigan. “They’ve had a few transfers. Just watching last year, they’re highly competitive; very physical up front. … They are exactly what, from a distance, I see with that conference. They’re physical up front. They’re tough. Their back is physical. He’s part of what they are. Head coach is a good offensive guy. He’s a good play caller. From the outside looking in, they believe in toughness.”

“The defensive front four is good, they’re nationally ranked in a lot of categories and that’s not lost on us either,” OSU offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn said of CMU. “We get it, we want to try and slow those guys down, and we feel like if we can do that, we got a chance. If they get started, getting their motors revved up, man it’s going to be a long day for Spencer. So, we need to try and minimize those guys, the front four.”

OSU will counter with a seasoned quarterback, an improved receiving corps, more depth in the offensive line and a savvy defense.

OSU linebackers are very good.

“(Linebacker) will be an interesting position,” said Gundy. “Those guys haven’t played. You have the same with a couple of safeties and the running back position. Those will be the positions that I’m sure you guys will watch, like myself, to see how mature we are at those positions at this stage in the game.”

After having some early injury concerns, the Cowboys enter this year in good shape injury wise.

“We’re better off than we were,” Gundy said. “At this time last year, it was really scary. We’re further ahead now from a health standpoint than where we were at this time last year. … We always have to worry about health at Oklahoma State on the offensive line, so we need to stay healthy at that position. Running back is always a concern because they take hits, but, overall, the health of our team now is certainly better than it was this time last year.”

Depth on the defensive line is a strong point.

“We were really deep last year,” Gundy said. “We’re deep this year. If we’re really deep or not, I don’t know. We’ll see. There’ll be a few guys that we’re trying to get some reps out of, and we’ll see how they play. Maybe I’m saying here in three to four games that we’re really deep again, but I definitely am very comfortable with where we’re at.”

Gundy could reach the 150 game mark in wins this season.

“We’ve been very fortunate here to have a lot of success, and – knock-on wood – I feel better now than I have in years and years here,” Gundy said. I’m thinking way down the line. I mean, I thought at one time at 65 I’d check in, but I don’t see that happening now. The next one doesn’t really do jack for me, honestly. I could tell you it did, you know, but I’m worried about way down the line and trying to work with the commissioner and work with Dr. Shrum, and Chad Weiberg, and Reid Sigmon and our board of regents. We’re all tugging in one direction now to try to build this to where at some point, somebody’s going to take it over and it’s going to be hell of a job. That’s my goal right now, not necessarily the one more win. But I’d like to win on Thursday.”