We don’t know what Oklahoma State’s Big 12 Conference schedule looks like yet, but we do know who the Cowboys will battle in nonconference play.
OSU’s first 12 games of the season feature a wide range of opponents and matchup styles. Here are three thoughts on the Cowboys’ nonconference slate.
Good tests
When the Cowboys host Texas A&M on Nov. 9 at Gallagher-Iba Arena, they’ll have to deal with “Bucky Ball” — the coined fast-paced, intense style of play that new Aggies coach Bucky McMillan brings on both sides of the ball.
In the 2024-25 season, McMillan’s Samford team ranked No. 13 in the nation in scoring offense (82.9 points per game) and top 10 in 3-pointers attempted and made. Defensively, the Bulldogs forced 16.1 turnovers per game and ranked No. 4 in the country.
Stylistically, Steve Lutz pushes his OSU team to do both of those things — play fast and create turnovers. That should bode well for the Cowboys to get an early look at how they match up with a competitive Power Four opponent in their second game of the season.
OSU also has games scheduled against Northwestern, Grand Canyon and Bedlam rival Oklahoma. Two games against SEC squads, a matchup with a Northwestern team that finished with a winning season a year ago and a game against GCU — a good mid-major that’s made the NCAA Tournament the past three seasons — offer Lutz several opportunities to test his new-look OSU team early.
No road games — a pro or a con?
The Cowboys won’t play a true road game in nonconference play. The only games they’ll play outside of Stillwater are against OU, GCU and Northwestern, though those are all neutral-site matchups.
OSU’s game against Northwestern is set for Thanksgiving day in Chicago at the United Center and its game against GCU is Dec. 6 in Phoenix at PHX Arena. The Bedlam matchup is in Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center on Dec. 13.
Not having a true road game before Big 12 play could have its pros and its cons. On one hand, the Cowboys won’t have to deal with a rowdy environment as a visitor. That helps OSU when playing teams like the Aggies or the Sooners, among others.
But the Cowboys struggled in road games last season — 3-10 overall — and want to improve in that area. Perhaps having a game where it plays as the true visitor in nonconference play could help OSU and its several new faces better prepare for Big 12 crowds.
No more Big 12-Big East
In the past six seasons, the Big 12 and the Big East held a series in which each of its conference members faced off. The 2024-25 season was the last of the Big 12-Big East Battle as the conferences didn’t extend the series.
During that 2019-24 span, OSU got to face off against UConn and Marquette on the road and host a game against Creighton. Those were fun, not-so-common matchups that were good for college basketball.
Now, fans from both sides don’t have that series to look forward to.