Daily Bullets (February 14)

Happy Valentine’s Day. I love wheel routes, backdoor oops and Mike Gundy’s flowing, incredible head of hair as captured by our photographer at Bedlam wrestling on Sunday.

Our photographer @TheLavarnway took this of Mike Gundy at Bedlam wrestling yesterday. This is a real photo. pic.twitter.com/Rtji3H9fWt

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) February 13, 2017

OSU No. 26 in First FPI

Yikes, ESPN’s advanced metrics are not high on OSU in 2017. Chris Low says the Pokes are undervalued at No. 26 (pretty brazen move by Chris Low).

When last seen on a football field, the Cowboys were carving up Colorado for a 38-8 victory in the Valero Alamo Bowl. We probably put too much stock in how a team finished the previous season when predicting its fortunes for that next season, but Oklahoma State has the look of a legit Big 12 championship contender in 2017. For starters, quarterback Mason Rudolph and receiver James Washington both decided to return to school after weighing their NFL draft options.

There won’t be many, if any, better pass-catch combos in the country next season. The Cowboys’ entire receiving corps is outstanding, and Justice Hill returns at running back after rushing for more than 1,000 yards last season. The schedule isn’t easy, but at least the toughest Big 12 games appear to be at home. Mike Gundy’s program has been perennially underrated, but don’t be surprised if the Cowboys win 10 or more games in 2017 for the fourth time in the last five years. [ESPN]

Texas, TCU and Washington State just ahead of OSU. A&M and Baylor just behind. My favorite part of all of this is that last year when FPI loved OSU my thought was, man, ESPN does advanced stats really well. Now? ESPN’s stats people are wack, hope they aren’t getting benefits in addition to a paycheck!

The right 3-stars

This on recruiting the right kids is terrific.

The schools that regularly overachieve to their rankings are the ones that are either unlocking undervalued skills with scheme or coaching or programs that are recruiting from regions like Wisconsin where there’s a demographic of overlooked or undeveloped talents (big, rural kids that haven’t been developed yet).

The easiest way to ensure that your team has some elite athletes to build around is to go recruit high schoolers that everyone plainly recognizes as elite athletes. Finding those kids consistently from the 3-star rankings is immensely difficult, but here’s what they might look like if you can find them. [Football Study Hall]

I feel like Gundy has built a program on the short, late-bloomers who changed positions.

Kansas (somehow) beats WVU

It is shocking to me that KU got some calls down the stretch to help them overcome a night of piss-poor play in Allen Fieldhouse and basically seal title No. 13 in a row. Shocking.

All told, KU outscored Baylor 21-7 over the final three minutes. Everything that could’ve gone wrong — or right, depending on your perspective — did exactly that. Missed free throws. Offensive rebounds. Turnovers. Clutch 3-pointers.

It all not only left the door open for Kansas to force overtime, but totally stunted WVU’s rhythm in the process. The score was tied on the board when overtime started, obviously, but the game’s flow made it feel like Kansas was up by two possessions. [CBS Sports]

KU basketball fans (on the whole), by the way, are the same as OU football fans.

I'll go to my grave believing KU basketball has some of the worst, front runner fans in the country. They were leaving with 3 mins left!

— PFB_Nate (@PFB_Nate) February 14, 2017

Also, OSU will beat them to start March. Lock it in.

….we're gonna work Kansas over in Stillwater…on a Saturday to close out the season for our 10th big 12 win

— wherever Dez Bryant plays next year fan (@Pokelahoma) February 14, 2017

OSU and NCAA Notes

Chandler Rogers was a Big 12 co-wrestler of the week UConn won its 100th game in a row on Monday … Bill Snyder has throat cancer.

Bill Snyder is going to beat throat cancer and then send it a classy handwritten letter.

— Steve Brisendine (@SteveBrisendine) February 13, 2017

Peterson signs with the Rams.

Former #okstate cornerback Kevin Peterson has signed with the Rams. He started his career with the Bears.

— Dekota Gregory (@dekotagregory) February 14, 2017

What You Missed On PFB

• Great Reload here by Kyle Boone shows OSU is expanding its offer list nationally.
• Wrestling finishes undefeated after torching OU.
• How OSU could use Chuba Hubbard.
• Six things you won’t recognize about the 2017 OSU baseball team.
• I really enjoyed this from Steven Mandeville on Jawun and Co.
• Keep hiring people who have come in contact with Todd Monken.
• OSU’s top recruit in every Mike Gundy class.

More Stuff I’m Reading (and Writing)

Five myths about Jordan Spieth … Are you serious about happiness? … How the Flash Crash Trader lost $50 million.