Are OU, Oklahoma State due for youth movement? It’s all about present in college football

STILLWATER — With OU and OSU facing slim odds of making a bowl game, Brent Venables and Mike Gundy have to balance the now vs. what’s next. Do good by the veterans and dial up an all-out bowl blitz, or prioritize young players even if it means punting away a postseason berth.

Of course there’s a middle ground, but it would be unwise to get caught in between.

Missing a bowl would be embarrassing for both programs, but way worse, it would cost the Sooners and Cowboys an extra month of practice. Ask any coach and they’ll tell you, bowl practices are vital for young players. It’s basically a December training camp, where most of the focus is not on the bowl opponent, but the upcoming season.

Per NCAA rules, bowl teams are allowed up to four hours of practice a day, or 20 hours a week, from the end of the regular season to their bowl game. Teams that don’t make bowls aren’t allowed to practice — players can only lift weights, condition and watch film for a maximum of eight hours per week up until Jan. 1.

OSU (3-5, 0-5 Big 12) needs three wins over its final four games to secure a bowl spot. The Cowboys host Arizona State at 6 p.m. Saturday. Then they play at TCU, vs. Texas Tech and at Colorado to finish the season. OSU is likely to be the underdog in each of those four games.

OU (4-4, 1-4 SEC) will notch win No. 5 Saturday vs. FCS Maine. Then OU will either need to beat Alabama at home or Missouri and LSU on the road to get to six wins.

If there aren’t enough six-win teams to fill every bowl slot, a 5-7 team or teams will be chosen based on APR (academic progress rate).

More: Ollie Gordon II will not opt out on Oklahoma State football: ‘I finish what I start’

Asked Monday about the balancing act of prioritizing the present vs. future, Gundy wasted no words.

“Do everything we can to win the game on…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ou-oklahoma-state-due-youth-103102008.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2024-10-30 10:31:02

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