Quarterback to Back: Alan Bowman, Sam Leavitt Set to Square Off with Plenty on the Line for Both Teams

Both teams that square off inside BPS on Saturday will have their starting quarterbacks back. The connotations vary widely on that, depending on who you ask.

It feels like Oklahoma State has been on one extended QB carousel for going on two seasons. After getting benched, Week 1 starter Alan Bowman was given the reins back thanks to injury. Now it’s Bowman and a then behind him a true freshman, Maealiuaki Smith, who isn’t ready according to Mike Gundy.

For Arizona State, Sam Leavitt was 5-1 when he was sidelined due to his own injury, but he’ll emerge from a fortunately timed off week for the Sun Devils to make his return in Stillwater.

Before we get into the matchup behind center, here’s a look at the two QBs’ stat sheets thus far this year.

Leavitt’s numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but he’s effective and facilitates the offense well, especially for his age and experience.

It’s another way that the Cowboys and Sun Devils are trending in opposite directions. At best, if OSU can ride Bowman to winning three of the next four, it will have extended its bowl streak with a lame duck QB while the question marks multiply elsewhere on the depth chart. It’s hard to project much in today’s college football, but it would appear that ASU has a quarterback that it can build around, and Kenny Dillingham and his staff appears set on letting Leavitt grow behind center. Remember those days.

Stop me if you’ve read this before: this next QB OSU is facing isn’t afraid to tuck the ball and run it.

Historically, we’ve seen the Cowboys struggle against a quarterback who is an active part of the rushing attack. This season, we’ve seen them struggle against anyone who has any part in the rushing attack. OSU ranks 133rd out of 134 FBS teams in rushing defense and dead last in yards per attempt. The Pokes have the distinction of being the only team allowing at least six yards per carry this season.

Leavitt’s ability to break loose for a first down makes things easier for the rest of his offense. In ASU’s loss to Cincinnati, while Leavitt was sidelined, Cam Skattebo was held to just 75 rushing yards after amassing 340 yards over his previous two outings.

Whether or not it was necessitated by injury or choice, Bowman is the guy at OSU, and he still has the ability to lead OSU to a turnaround. That turnaround won’t be as dramatic as it was last year, and there is no longer a path for the Cowboys to Arlington. But Bowman was good, not great in Waco last week, and we’ve seen him play even better. Even this year. If he can turn in a big-time performance (he’s due) and the Cowboys’ defense can find a way to corral Leavitt, OSU has a chance to get a win on Homecoming weekend.