With the postponement of the Oklahoma State game with Baylor, OSU officials scrambled to get a replacement game for last Saturday. It didn’t work out.

“Coach (Mike) Holder and I discussed trying to find an opponent for this week,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said.

“We were unsuccessful. I’m not sure exactly how many people or coaches I should say, or organizations that we were able actually to pursue, but we had those discussions based on we’re trying to play as many games as possible while we’re healthy and take advantage of Saturday’s.”

No. 7 OSU (3-0, 2-0 in the Big 12) will host No. 20 Iowa State at 2:30 p.m. October 24 on Fox TV. The Cowboys and Cyclones were both idle last Saturday as Iowa State had a bye and OSU had its game with Baylor postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Iowa State was upset in their opener against Louisiana (14-31) but then beat TCU (37-34) and upset then-No. 18 Oklahoma 37-30). The Cyclones beat Texas Tech 31-15 to go 3-0 atop the Big 12 Conference. One mark of the ISU team is great play by their tight ends.

“They play really well with tight ends, they have for a number of years now,” Gundy said. “They make a lot of plays with them, so we have to stop those guys. They’ve recruited guys that have height and reach, and they’ve had success with that. It’s a big part of their offense.”

Iowa State runs a complicated offense.

“It’s different than what you would see from most of us that play offensive football today,” Gundy said. “That’s the concept that Matt Campbell’s  gone with and it’s a little different approach, but they do some really good things out of it and it’s a challenge for a defense to be able to contain those type of plays where you get a lot of inside-zone blocking with block back through the tight ends and you get some pull plays that you don’t see with two tight ends today much less three tight ends. It’s a challenge, but hopefully our guys will come up with a nice plan and get some quality reps on it to help us play well defensively in the game.”

The OSU offense looked impressive in a 47-7 victory over Kansas. Running back Chuba Hubbard and wideout Tylan Wallace both scored two touchdowns and freshman quarterback Shane Illingworth continued to improve.

“Our confidence is definitely up,” offensive lineman Hunter Woodard said. “There is still a whole lot we have to work on, but finally breaking that barrier and putting some points up on the board felt good.”

Quarterback Spencer Sanders, who was the starter before he got hurt, is splitting time in practice with Illingworth.

“(Sanders) has got to be getting close (to 100%),” Gundy said. “You never really know until you get in a game. I thought he was pretty close before we played Kansas. So he’s moving that way. I can’t imagine that he won’t be 100%.”

The Cowboys worked to keep their momentum in practice. “They practiced well, our attitudes are good, our enthusiasm’s good, effort’s good,” Gundy said. “We’re getting a lot of work accomplished, so I feel about as good as a guy could feel going through another open week.”

The players agreed.

“It’s not easy, but we’re going three days of practices and then two days off,” Woodard said. “We know when we go into those three days we have to go full speed because those three days are really important to get ready for Iowa State, then Texas and whoever is after them.”

“We realized we can play with any team,” linebacker Devin Harper said. “We have a great offense and a great defense so we just have to put it together and win.”