Kickoff will be at 2:30 Saturday

An improved Tulsa football team will host a revitalized Oklahoma State squad at 2:30 p.m. as the in-state rivals meet here in non-conference action.

Tulsa (1-1) got their first win of the season Saturday night with a 34-16 victory at San Jose State while the Cowboys are 2-0 after a 56-14 win over McNeese State in Stillwater.

McNeese Coach Sterlin Gilbert praised the Cowboys.

“Coach Gundy and those guys have had a lot of success for a long time and that’s just a continuation of the team that he has put together this season,” Gilbert said. “Those guys are really talented.

“We were able to create some stops and pin them deep but unfortunately were not able to manage some of that field position we had early on in the game, especially in a game like this.”

Tulsa’s win at San Jose State snapped a 13-game road losing streak for the Hurricane. Tulsa’s last true road win was at UCF, 35-20, on November 19, 2016.

“We knew Tulsa was going to be a physical, talented team and that’s exactly what we saw,” said San Jose State coach Brent Brennan. “They played a really good football game. There were some moments it felt like we were really in it but we missed some key opportunities in the second half.”

Tulsa and OSU have played 72 times and the Cowboys lead the series, 40-27-5. Tulsa is 22-15-2 against OSU in Tulsa but Oklahoma State has won the last six meetings (including the last two in Tulsa). The two schools have signed a new 8-year home-and-home agreement to be played between the seasons of 2024-2031.

OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders played just a bit more than two quarters but passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns. As a result, he was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.

“We started off slow, which we didn’t like, but we came together as a team and executed when it really mattered,” Sanders said.

“Oklahoma State is obviously an outstanding team,” Montgomery said. “They’ve blown out their first two opponents. We know they’ve got a lot of talent and explosive ability, especially offensively. They are playing a little differently than what they have in the past defensively.

“We’re excited to be back home.”

TU running back Shamari Brooks had his 9th career 100+ rushing game in the San Jose State game, gaining 140 yards on 29 carries. Tulsa rushed 22 times out of 24 plays in the 1st quarter at San Jose State, while Brooks ran 14 times for 45 yards for a 3.2 average per play.

For the rest of the game, Brooks carried 15 times for 95 yards and a 6.3 average.

Tulsa quarterback Zach Smith has hit 67% of his passes (37 of 55) this year for 436 yards, 2 touchdowns and a pass efficiency of 142.3. Smith made 21 of 28 passes for 283 yards and one score against San Jose State.

“Looking ahead to Tulsa, I’ve been impressed with their team, particularly on defense,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy. “They played excellent, in my opinion, at Michigan State and out west over the weekend. They put It together offensively the other night out against San Jose State.

“We need to get off to a good start this next game, should be a really good game. Obviously an in-state game, should be a full house.”

Gundy said opposing defenses dictate how the Cowboys attack depending on their scheme.

“If they did dictate that we throw, then we have to throw,” Gundy said. “I like running the football, I believe in rushing the football. But I also know that it’s a numbers game and we have to try and take advantage of what the defense gives us. Offense determines tempo and defense determines what the plays are going to be.”

Gundy has spotted talent on the Golden Hurricane defense.

In the first 6 quarters of the season, the Tulsa defense had a three 4th down stops within its own 30-yard line. SJS was 4th-and-1 from the Tulsa 27, when the ball carrier was dropped for a 2-yard loss.

“I like 90 (Jaxon Player), I think he is a really good player,” Gundy said. “I like 15 (Trevis Gipson), I think he is a really good player too. In the secondary, they know where they are at. They are playing quite a bit of man for that structure of defense. They must feel good about their ability to do different things. I just like how they play; I think they are a good defense and they are playing well.

“Offensively, they put a little running game together and started throwing the ball better and played considerably better, in my opinion, in the second half against Michigan State. They’re doing good in my opinion; they are doing well.”

And the OSU defense has been stout in the first two games.

“It’s obviously going to be a great test for our defense,” Montgomery said. “I think our front seven are pretty good. They will spread you out and do some different formations but their run/pass stuff is pretty good.”

Gundy was not pleased with running back Chuba Hubbard’s fumbles and the performance of the Cowboy offensive line against McNeese State.

“The offensive line was average and Chuba [Hubbard] put the ball on the ground,” Gundy said. “If you put the ball on the ground, you’re out. He’s not going to get his carries if he fumbles, and the offensive line was average.”