Since taking over the reins of the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2005, Mike Gundy has delivered seven double-digit win seasons. His inaugural campaign remains the only year with a losing record. How will they fare in the 2023 college football campaign?
Cowboys fans better buckle up for our Oklahoma State season predictions.
Oklahoma State Season Predictions: Predicting the Game-By-Game Results
Using groupthink, College Football Network analysts have painstakingly gone through every game for every team in the Big 12 and across the country.
Find every Big 12 Season Prediction per team: Baylor | BYU | UCF | Cincinnati | Houston | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas | Texas Tech | West Virginia
Picking these games straight up with a projected score using the rosters as up-to-date as the last spring practice, the Oklahoma State season predictions indicate what fans can possibly expect for the Cowboys in 2023.
Week 1 – Oklahoma State vs. Central Arkansas: Win, 32-17
There are very few “cupcake” games on the Oklahoma State schedule — although they do face all four conference newcomers — but Central Arkansas travel to Stillwater in Week 1 for what should be an easily winnable game.
The Cowboys are 175-79-16 against non-FBS schools, with a 1-0 head-to-head record against the Bears. If there’s still uncertainty about who starts under center come August, this gives Gundy a good opportunity to assess all his potential passes in a “live” environment.
Week 2 – Oklahoma State @ Arizona State: Loss, 23-26
The Arizona State Sun Devils walked out of Stillwater with their tails between their legs a year ago after suffering a 17-point defeat. However, the chances of a repeat on home turf are unlikely as enthusiasm builds around Tempe following the hire of Kenny Dillingham.
Sacramento State transfer RB Cameron Skattebo could be the game-winner for the Sun Devils in a tight game.
Week 3 – Oklahoma State vs. South Alabama: Loss, 24-26
Oklahoma State is 18-3 against the Sun Belt and has never lost to South Alabama. With the expectation that the Cowboys have a ground-heavy offense behind Jaden Nixon and Ollie Gordon in 2023, they might have their work cut out against a Jaguars team that is ferocious against the run.
Meanwhile, their multi-faceted offense can potentially cause chaos against the Cowboys.
Week 4 – Oklahoma State @ Iowa State: Loss, 21-28
Recent head-to-head history has been with Oklahoma State, with Iowa State winning just two of the last 10 matchups. The Cyclones are hardly blowing through the Big 12 with the same force we’ve become accustomed to.
However, Hunter Dekkers gives them an advantage over the Cowboys in the passing game, and Matt Campbell’s teams are always strong on defense.
Week 6 – Oklahoma State vs. Kansas State: Loss, 22-28
On the positive side, Oklahoma State welcomes the reigning Big 12 champions to Stillwater where the Wildcats have won just once this millennium. On the negative side, Kansas State turned over Oklahoma State on their run to that conference title last fall and return enough of the talent on both sides of the ball to be able to eek out an advantage in what should be a closer game.
Week 7 – Oklahoma State vs. Kansas: Loss, 29-35
Devin Neal is still giving Oklahoma State fans nightmares months after his 224-yard performance that gave Kansas a 37-16 win over the Cowboys last fall. The Jayhawks were without starting QB Jalon Daniels for that game too.
The return of Neal — one of the top running backs in the Big 12 — and Daniels to the Kansas lineup should power a first win in Stillwater since 2007.
Week 8 – Oklahoma State @ West Virginia: Win, 23-20
Oklahoma State added several defensive reinforcements from the transfer portal — including Tulsa duo Anthony Goodlow and Justin Wright — that could prove the difference in turning around their result against West Virginia from one year ago.
Morgantown has been a happy hunting ground for the Cowboys under Gundy, and a win is on the cards if they can limit the WVU ground game. It’s the first Big 12 win of the season for Oklahoma State.
MORE: West Virginia Mountaineers Coaching Staff 2023
Week 9 – Oklahoma State vs. Cincinnati: Loss, 19-28
Cincinnati enters the Big 12 in something of a flux, with a considerable roster turnover and the departure of head coach Luke Fickell.
However, they added one of the nation’s most underrated pass rushers in Daniel Grzesiak, East Central ball-hawk Donovan Callis, and welcomed back Dontay Corleone and Jowon Briggs, making a defensive forcefield that Oklahoma State might struggle to penetrate.
Week 10 – Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma: Loss, 19-39
Oklahoma had a difficult season in 2022, and still managed to get a win over their “Bedlam” rivals in mid-November. With an infusion of talent and the return of some of the best young defensive players in the conference, the Sooners have a clear advantage over Oklahoma State this year.
Dillon Gabriel adds several touchdowns as he climbs the all-time leaderboard.
Week 11 – Oklahoma State @ UCF: Loss, 22-25
UCF’s move to the Big 12 provides a first-ever matchup between these two teams. Gus Malzahn’s team was at their most dangerous last fall when they were utilizing their many weapons in the ground game.
Watch for their stable of running backs — plus dangerous dual-threat QB John Rhys Plumlee — to have just enough firepower to outlast Oklahoma State in Orlando.
Week 12 – Oklahoma State @ Houston: Loss, 25-26
The Cowboys tackle another Big 12 newcomer as the season comes to a close, and there’s nothing but pride to fight for either team as Oklahoma State travels to Houston. The electric potential of Donovan Smith and Joseph Manjack IV gives Houston the nod offensively, while there’s enough talent on their defensive front to hold out against OSU in a close game.
Week 13 – Oklahoma State vs. BYU: Loss, 22-27
Big 12 newcomer BYU has been a thorn in the side of Power Five programs in recent years, and there’s no reason to expect any different now that they’re rolling with the big boys week in, week out.
Oklahoma State beat the Cougars twice back in the 1970s, but they haven’t met since. A disappointing season ends in another close defeat as BYU RB Aidan Robbins asserts his dominance.
