No. 19 Oklahoma State opener a huge mismatch

By Jeff Latzke

Associated Press

Published: Friday, Aug. 31 2012 10:57 a.m. MDT

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2010, file photo, Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden throws a pass during an NCAA college football game against Baylor in Stillwater, Okla. An arm injury forced him to switch to football, and the move is paying off. He's second in the nation in passing and has No. 12 Oklahoma State in position to play in its first BCS bowl game.

Brody Schmidt, File, Associated Press

Enlarge photo»

Summary

The 19th-ranked Oklahoma State is scheduled to open the season in one of the biggest mismatches of the college football season.

STILLWATER, Okla. — On paper, it's one of the biggest mismatches of the college football season.

Playing its first game since winning the Fiesta Bowl and finishing last season with the No. 3 ranking, defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma State will host struggling Savannah State on Saturday night.

For the 19th-ranked Cowboys, it may be the perfect way to open up the season after losing record-setting quarterback Brandon Weeden and two-time All-American receiver Justin Blackmon in the first round of the NFL draft. Freshman quarterback Wes Lunt will take his first collegiate snaps against a team that's only 4-72 against FCS competition the past 10 years.

Cowboys coach Mike Gundy makes no apologies, saying he wants to play the three easiest nonconference games he can each year. Savannah State gets a $385,000 payout.

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