Carson Cunningham and Colby Powell revisit the 2011 football team’s comeback win at Texas A&M. They discuss the highs and lows including: #Weeden2Blackmon, Todd Monken, Brodrick Brown, the original Gundy Dance and so much more.

After receiving an Oklahoma State offer in May, Temerrick Johnson wasted no time finding out Oklahoma State was the place for him.

Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound edge rusher from Texas, committed to Oklahoma State on Friday, picking the Pokes over offers from Nebraska, Utah, Minnesota, Cal, Kansas, Houston, BYU and others.

247Sports lists Johnson as a three-star prospect, ranking him as the No. 56 edge rusher in his class and the No. 124 player from Texas. He plays his high school ball at Midlothian Heritage. As a junior in 2022, Johnson recorded 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Midlothian Heritage went 11-2 in 2022, making an appearance in the Texas 5A-D2 playoffs.

Johnson announced his Oklahoma State offer on May 9 and took an official visit to Stillwater this past weekend. Although Johnson is listed as an edge rusher, he could be used as more of an outside linebacker in Stillwater, as he has mentioned OSU linebackers coach Joe Bob Clements in his social media posts.

Johnson makes it a dozen OSU commits in the 2024 cycle. He becomes the Cowboys’ sixth commitment of the month of June, joining wide receiver Tre Griffith, safety David Kabongo, offensive lineman Chauncey Johnson, defensive lineman Armstrong Nnodim and linebacker Gunnar Wilson as prospects that have pledged to the Pokes this month.

Eric Dailey Jr. is now just two wins away from another gold medal.

Team USA beat Japan 105-61 on Friday in Hungary in the quarterfinals of the FIBA U19 Word Cup. Incoming Oklahoma State freshman Eric Dailey Jr. again scored in double figures, dropping 12 points to go with five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks in just 16 minutes of on-court action.

Dailey has scored in double figures in every game thus far at the event. He is averaging 11 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks in just 16.9 minutes a game. His per 40 averages continue to be dominant at 25.9 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.3 steals and 2.8 blocks.

Japan played the Americans tight in the first quarter, as a last-second shot gave Team USA a 23-21 lead heading into the second. But then the Americans flexed their depth and wore Japan out, outscoring the Japanese squad by 10 in the second quarter, 19 in the third and 14 in the fourth.

Dailey was one of six Americans to score in double figures.

Japan’s Tajon Akira Jacobs was the game’s leading scorer, and despite the team result, he turned some heads. A Hawaii commit by way of the NBA Global Academy in Australia, Jacobs scored 20 points and was 4-for-8 from 3-point range. Listed at 6-foot-8, Jacobs is averaging 17 points a game during the tournament and shooting 39% from 3.

The Americans await the winner of Serbia and France in Saturday’s semifinal.

Three-star Class of 2024 defensive back LaVonte Johnson, a 6-foot-2 safety from Houston’s North Shore, announced this week that he has trimmed his list from 20 to a dozen and named Oklahoma State among his final six along with Texas Tech, Purdue, Kansas State, SMU and Houston.

Johnson had 41 tackles and 14 passes broken up in 2022 to flash on the radar nationally as one of the most talented defensive backs in his class. The breakout season earned him a slew of offers, of which OSU was one back in January.

Houston as of now is the current crystal ball favorite to land him — which would keep him in his home town and allow him to play in the Big 12 — but OSU’s prioritization of him in recent months coupled with its space in the 2024 class could be enticing enough to keep the Pokes in the mix as he weighs his decision. Johnson also tweeted out he plans to make a commitment on the Fourth of July.

OSU has 11 commitments in its 2024 class and is expected to fill out several spots in the coming weeks. Of those 11, three — including three of the top four rated prospects — are safeties in what is clearly a major priority for OSU in the class.

We put a poll on our Twitter account Thursday asking which of the newcomers to the Big 12 OSU fans are most excited about, and the results (as of writing) heavily favored BYU.

The Cougars officially join the league Sunday along with UCF, Houston and Cincinnati. Here is a zoomed out look at BYU.

So where is BYU?

BYU is in Provo, Utah — a city of about 114,000. It’s on Utah Lake and is less than an hour drive south of Salt Lake City.

How far is that from Stillwater, America?

Driving from Stillwater to Provo would take about 17 hours, according to Google Maps. It’s a 1,125-mile journey.

What are BYU’s football facilities like?

The Cougars play at LaVell Edwards Stadium, named after legendary head coach LaVell Edwards. Edwards led the Cougars from 1972 to 2000, amassing a 257-101-3 record and seven bowl wins.

The stadium opened in 1964 as Cougar Stadium and features a beautiful mountain back drop. It was renamed LaVell Edwards Stadium in 2000.

How many people does the stadium seat?

The stadium holds 63,740 people. When it opened, it could hold 45,000 people before renovations put the capacity at its current allotment.

Who is their coach?

A former BYU running back, Kalani Sitake has coached his alma mater since 2016 after coming over from a defensive coordinator gig at Oregon State. In seven seasons, Sitake is 56-34 at BYU and has led the Cougars to a bowl game six times.

What about their basketball arena? How many does it seat and in what shape is it in?

The Cougars play at the J. Willard Marriott Center, an arena that holds 18,987, the 10th-largest capacity in college hoops. It opened in 1971. That type of atmosphere has resulted into some major homecourt advantage for BYU, as the Cougars won 44 straight home games between 2000 and 2003 and won 53 straight at the Marriott Center from 2005 to 2008.

Don’t take my word for how good the arena can be. Here is OSU alum Don Haskin’s on BYU’s arena:

“The Marriott Center is one of the top five places to play in the country, not just because of its size, but because its facilities are fantastic,” Haskins said. “If there is a better arena, I haven’t seen it.”

Who is their coach on the hardwood?

Mark Pope has coached the Cougars since 2019, coming over from Utah Valley. He is 87-41 as BYU’s coach, leading to Cougars to the NCAA Tournament in 2021.

Pope has an NBA pedigree, playing 153 career games. A 6-foot-10 forward, Pope averaged 1.9 points and 1.7 rebounds a game during his career that spanned from 1997 to 2005.

Have they been competitive in football and basketball of late?

BYU’s football team is seemingly always relevant. Only once in the past 18 seasons have the Cougars finished with a losing record. In that same time period, the Cougars have seven double-digit-win seasons and two other nine-win seasons. BYU has been ranked in the AP Poll four of the past five seasons, a time period where the Cougars are 43-21.

The Cougars’ basketball team has reached the 20-win mark in three of Mark Pope’s first four years at the helm. This past season was the only year Pope hasn’t reached 20 wins, as BYU went 19-15. The last time BYU won an NCAA Tournament game was in 2014.

Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news.

OSU Bullets

• OSU is sending a split crowd of defenders and offensive players (offenders?) to Big 12 media days later this summer:

LB Collin Oliver
CB Korie Black
WR Brennan Presley
OL Preston Wilson

[HCS]

• Enjoying this new Big 12 preview series from PFB:
– Looking at Cincinnati
– Looking at UCF
– Looking at Houston

• Explaining what’s so easy about the Cowboys’ football schedule this fall:

The Cowboys travel to the state of Texas just once, to play Houston. Oklahoma State plays just four conference road games, with two coming against conference newcomers, and the others coming against the two bottom teams in the conference during the 2022 season. Oklahoma State can reach eight wins without breaking much of a sweat if things fall right.

[CBS Sports]

• Bummer – the Pokes lost out to Baylor for a Utah lineback yesterday (Twitter)

• Like the idea of keeping the Big 12 at 14 teams if it’s the right folks:

Non-OSU Bullets

• Play the password game (good luck)
• The 25 best places to eat al fresca across the US
• Why do I need friends? (faith-based)

The Big 12’s blueprint is about to officially get a lot bigger.

As of July 1, the league will expand to 14 teams with the addition of Cincinnati, Houston, UCF and BYU. It will be an interesting transition during the conference’s inaugural new-look season, with Oklahoma and Texas sticking around for one final year, but let’s turn to the new additions.

In Cincinnati, the Big 12 adds a university with recent high-end success in football, a historic-rich brand name in hoops and a foothold in a desirable recruiting area.

Let’s take a deeper dive into Cincy.

So where is Cincinnati?

Cincinnati is located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It’s the county seat and sits on the Ohio River which borders Ohio from Kentucky.

How far is that from Stillwater, America?

Google Maps shows that Cincinnati and Stillwater are approximately 800 miles apart. You might need to leave the night before —and stop to stretch your legs — the next time OSU plays there. It’s a 12-hour drive.

What are Cincinnati’s football facilities like?

The Bearcats have played at James Gamble Nippert Memorial Stadium since 1901. It is the fourth-oldest playing site and fifth-oldest stadium in college football. It was also the home of MLS franchise FC Cincinnati until 2021.

How many people does the stadium seat?

After its most recent major renovation, the stadium’s capacity is 40,000.

Who is their coach?

The Bearcats hired former Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield on Dec. 5, 2022. He was 25-24 over four seasons with the Cardinals and 51-24 in five seasons at Appalachian State before that.

What about their basketball arena? How many does it seat and in what shape is it in?

Cincinnati’s hardwood home is Fifth Third Arena (formerly Myrl H. Shoemaker Center) where the Bearcats’ men’s and women’s basketball teams have played since 1989. In 2018, the arena underwent a $70 million renovation that reduced seating from 13,187 to 12,012 but improved visibility, added amenities to the club areas and replaced the roof.

Another court named Ed. The Bearcats dribble and shoot on Ed Jucker Court, named for the head coach who led the men’s team to its only two national championships in 1961 and 1962.

Who is their coach on the hardwood?

Wes Miller is coming off his second season at the helm of the Bearcats’ hoops program. He followed up an 18-15 inaugural season by going 23-13 and making it to the NIT Quarterfinals.

Have they been competitive in football and basketball of late?

Cincinnati failed to reach 10 wins only twice in the last five seasons under Luke Fickell (both nine win-years) and earned a College Football Playoff berth in 2021. But Fickell exited stage left to Wisconsin and the Big Ten just before the Bearcats’ admission to the Big 12.

In hoops, the Bearcats have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2019, two head coaches ago, ending a streak in which Mick Cronin took them dancing in nine consecutive years. But Miller’s teams have improved in each of his first two seasons.

Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news.

OSU Bullets

• Pokes took a commitment from the Rice Owls, a defensive lineman in DFW (PFB)

• OSU narrowly made it into the top 25 college athletics programs for 2022-23 – three years in a row in the top 25! (Twitter)

• Love this idea from Berry Tramel – if you add four Pac-12/western schools, you could throw the Pokes in a five-team setup with the Texas schools:

With five schools in the Mountain Time Zone, that pocket of schools could play each other in football every year. That’s four permanent opponents.  

To give every school four permanent opponents, the Big 12 would have options. 

The conference could put OSU with the four Texas schools and make each of them permanent opponents, with Kansas State, Iowa State and Kansas joining with Eastern Time Zone members Central Florida, Cincinnati and West Virginia to have five permanent opponents. 

[NewsOK]

• If you bet on Cowboy Football last season, here’s how much money you would have made (O’Colly)

• This is one of the two dramatic changes under Mike Gundy – being ranked in the top 25 and beating top 25 teams.

Non-OSU Bullets

• World’s biggest cruise ship is about to set sail
• Your life of unlikely courage (faith-based)

Armstrong Nnodim went to Oklahoma State’s camp, got his first Power Five offer and will now be a Cowboy all in the matter of a few weeks.

Formerly a Rice commit, Nnodim announced an offer to Oklahoma State on June 14, two weeks before announcing a commitment to the Pokes. He was a standout at OSU’s camp, earning him the offer. A 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman from Mesquite, Texas, Nnodim is listed as a three-star prospect and ranked 1,159th nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Nnodim plays at Horn High School. The Jaguars went 8-3 in Nnodim’s junior season where he had 69 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, two interceptions (both of which he returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

He was also a state qualifier in wrestling, something Mike Gundy likely loves. He placed third at the UIL 6A State Championship at heavyweight.

Nnodim committed to Rice in February, but the offers kept rolling in. He also has offers to UTSA, Memphis, Texas State, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State and others.

He becomes the 11th commit in the Cowboys’ 2024 class and is the first defensive lineman after in-state standout Will Smith decommitted from the Cowboys last month. With Nnodim, the Cowboys class shoots up to No. 44 nationally, ahead of TCU.

The 2022-23 school year felt like a down one for Oklahoma State Athletics, but that might just go to show how much the standard has raised over the past few decades.

Oklahoma State finished 25th in the Learfield Director’s Cup standings, the school’s third consecutive year in the Top 25. The Learfield Director’s Cup takes all sports into account with all sports being weighed equally. OSU was 18th in 2020-21 and 23rd in 2021-22.

The big contributions this year came by way of Dave Smith’s athletes. OSU’s men’s cross country team finished second nationally, the women’s cross country team finished fourth, and men’s track and field finished sixth. Kenny Gajewski’s Cowgirl softball team also had a Top 10 finish, finishing fifth. OSU also plays this game at a bit of a disadvantage with equestrian not counting as it isn’t an NCAA-sanctioned sport.

OSU finished third among Big 12 schools behind Texas (No. 2 nationally) and Oklahoma (No. 23 nationally). TCU, the fourth-best Big 12 school, finished 34th.

Here is the full Top 25:

1. Stanford
2. Texas
3. Ohio State
4. Virginia
5. Florida
6. Tennessee
7. Georgia
8. North Carolina
9. LSU
10. USC
11. Michigan
12. Alabama
13. Arkansas
14. UCLA
15. Penn State
16. Duke
17. Florida State
18. Kentucky
19. NC State
20. Notre Dame
21. Washington
22. Cal
23. Oklahoma
24. Texas A&M
25. Oklahoma State