Week 6: Texas A&M at Oklahoma State

The Aggies have been a source of frustration for Oklahoma State, which has worked to climb its way out of the South Division’s lower tier and typically found A&M in the way.

This is the Cowboys’ chance to relieve some series angst.

While the Aggies are struggling through the transition to new coach Mike Sherman, OSU enjoys its first Top 25 ranking of the Mike Gundy era.

The Cowboys trail only Missouri in scoring in the Big 12, averaging 51.8 points a game. They’ve got the league’s No. 1 and 2 rushers in Kendall Hunter and Keith Toston, the No. 3 receiver in Dez Bryant and the No. 4 passing efficiency quarterback in Zac Robinson.

And they’ve got still sour feelings from a 24-23 loss to the Aggies in College Station a year ago, when they blew a 17-0 third quarter lead. That extended A&M’s winning streak in the series to four games

“It left a little sickness in our stomach,” Toston said.

These Aggies should be just what the doctor ordered.

A&M’s offensive woes have been worsened by the likely loss of quarterback Stephen McGee, who is doubtful to play after reinjuring his throwing shoulder.

Even with McGee under center, the Aggies have sputtered offensively. They rank last in the Big 12 in scoring, total offense, rushing offense and passing offense.

“The team is doing everything it can to win the game,” Sherman said. “Are they where we want them to be? No. But I can see us getting better.

“We’re all in this together. We just have to continue to improve week in and week out.”

OSU enters a 24-point favorite, trying to move to 5-0 for only the eighth time in school history.

Notes:

OSU set a school attendance mark in renovated Boone Pickens Stadium against Troy, with a crowd of 52,463.

Dating back to the Insight Bowl, the Cowboys have won five straight and six of their last seven games. It’s the longest winning streak at OSU since the 2003 Cowboys won seven in a row.

A&M has claimed two straight one-point wins over the Cowboys, taking a 34-33 overtime verdict in Stillwater in 2006 and the 24-23 win in College Station a year ago.

The town of Lufkin, Texas, will have four players in the game: OSU’s Dez Bryant and A&M’s Alton Dixon, E.J. Shankle and Javorskie Lane.

Player to Watch (Cowboys) – Kendall Hunter, RB

Hunter has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in all four games. His 154.5-yard average leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally. Meanwhile, the Aggies rank 115th nationally in rush defense, allowing 227.5 a game. Even winless Army gouged the Aggies for 280 yards on the ground a week ago.

Player to Watch (Aggies) – Javorskie Lane, RB

It’s been a star-crossed career for Lane. Once the feature back, his status has slipped with the emergence of Michael Goodson and lately the installation of a pro-style attack that shifted him to fullback. But A&M coaches leaned on Lane more last week. And he has a history of good games against the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State by 27