After an off week, undefeated No. 11 Oklahoma State travels to Austin Saturday to take on No. 25 Texas after the Longhorns blew a 21-point and lost to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.

The Longhorns (4-2, 2-1 in the Big 12) lost to Oklahoma 48-55 Saturday in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

This will be the first time new Texas coach Steve Sarkisian will face OSU coach Mike Gundy.

“Big-picture wise, this will test our mettle,” Sarkisian said. “We’ll find out what we’re made of. We’ve got a bounce back next week, we’ve got another great football team coming to DKR with an opportunity to get ourselves right before the bye, which I think we will — I love the heart and desire of our team mentality of our team, but this one hurts.”

The Cowboys have won seven of the last 11 games with Texas but OSU lost 34-41 in overtime last year and 30-36 in 2019.

OSU was 4-0 when they hosted Texas in 2020 and at the time, the Cowboys were the only unbeaten team in the Big 12. OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders passed for career highs of 400 yards and four touchdowns but three turnovers – two lost fumbles and an interception – proved costly. OSU outgained Texas 530 yards to 287 but four turnovers proved to be the difference.

Former Cowboy wideout Tylan Wallace caught 11 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns but star running back Chuba Hubbard was held to 72 yards on 25 carries.

OSU has had two weeks to get ready for the Longhorns.

“We’ve watched all their games,” Gundy said. “At this point most of us are who we are now, what you see on tape is what you’re going to get.

“We get a couple of extra days of work. That should be an advantage for us. The guys were focused today and did a good job. That can only help us. Obviously, we’ll watch the game and see where they’re at. Defensively, they’ve been four down, but they went three down last week against TCU. Offensively, it’s the same stuff (Steve Sarkisian) has done forever.”

Texas has an active defensive front.

“This team that we’re going to play next their front six or seven will be the most active we’ve played up to this point,” Gundy said. “Baylor is pretty good up front also, but this team will have a little more depth and be even more active than Baylor was, so it will be a real challenge for us in this game. It will give us a pretty good idea of where we’re at.”

Oklahoma State is undefeated but their offense has not produced as many points as it has in recent years.

“We have a lot of work,” Gundy said. “This will be the most talented team we’ve played athletically. We have to be sound in special teams like we have. Hopefully, we can continue to play good defense, and minimize big plays.

“Offensively, we have to play with our special teams and our defense. What I mean by that is we have to take good care of the football and continue to rush the football. We were at 4.2 (yards) against Baylor if you take away the loss of yardage at the end of the game and right before the half. If we can keep that up that will help a lot. As I mentioned after the game, we need to be in the plus category in turnovers to give ourselves the best chance to win against these guys.”

OSU running back Jaylen Warren has surfaced as the Cowboys’ main weapon. He has 512 yards on 115 carries with six touchdowns.

Can Warren continue to hold up with so many carries?

“So far, but I would like not to have to go so far in depth that we have to find out,” Gundy said. “Dominic (Richardson) is getting better each week and getting more experience and needs to start taking some of that load.

“Hopefully, Dez (Jackson) will come back next week and get some practice and can take some load off of him as well. If we have to give it to him, we’ll give it to him. As you guys that have covered me know, 25 carries is my max. I get concerned about how he’ll feel in week eight or ten. He wants it, he’ll take it 40 times a game.

“We need to do a better job with that and Dominic (Richardson) and hopefully, we can get Dez back to help.”