OSU Football: Five Cowboys Who Could be Bedlam Heroes

The Cowboys host the Sooners this Saturday for the last time in the foreseeable future. There’s plenty on the line both in terms of in-state bragging rights and the Big 12 title race. But for these five Cowboys, there’s also a chance at hero status.

With this being the final Bedlam, pretty much any Cowboy that makes an impact on this game will endear himself to OSU fans — especially if the Pokes come out on top. But I see these five Cowboys as having the biggest impact on the game. Some could etch their names in Bedlam lore for the first time, and a couple of others can further pad their hero status.

Ollie Gordon II

The Sooners technically got a look at No. 0 last season in Norman when he came off the bench and took seven handoffs for 13 yards. But that’s not the Ollie Gordon they’ll face this Saturday in Stillwater.

The true sophomore has been on a tear since they finally started handing him the ball and there’s no better stage for him to introduce him to those outside of the Big 12 than in a marquee Bedlam game with plenty at stake. I’m excited to see what he does with the spotlight.

The days of overlooking Gordon are long gone. Brent Venables gushed about the nation’s leading rusher earlier this week. But giving props and getting stops are two totally different things.

Alan Bowman

Regardless of where you put Bowman in the pantheon of OSU passers, he has a chance to stake a claim as one of the most memorable this weekend.

Since taking the reins in OSU’s Big 12 opener, Bowman has led the Cowboys to a 4-1 conference record. He’s not the flashiest and his stats don’t jump off the page, but he’s able to facilitate to the playmakers around him and rarely tries to force the issue or do too much.

If Bowman pulls off the Bedlam win, he’ll be a hero — regardless of how the rest of the season plays out.

Nickolas Martin

If the Big 12 had a Most Improved Player Award, Martin would be at the top of that list. With the Cowboys losing their top two tacklers in Jason Taylor II and Mason Cobb, someone needed to step up. Martin has been impressive.

The sophomore is leading the conference with 83 total tackles through seven games. He’s averaging almost 10.5 tackles per game which is ninth in the FBS. If he can sustain that down the stretch, he’ll be the first Cowboy to average double-digit tackles since Orie Lemon (10.2 in 2013). Also, his 11.5 tackles for loss ranks T-2nd in the league.

But beyond all the numbers, Martin has shown up when the Cowboys have needed him again and again this year. There won’t likely be a bigger game than this one.

Collin Oliver

The native Oklahoman grew up in the middle of Bedlam country and then became a Bedlam hero as a rookie. In OSU’s win over Oklahoma in 2021, the true freshman sacked Caleb Williams twice, including the play the sealed the Cowboys’ win.

After moving to linebacker this season, Oliver comes in with four sacks on the year. (He finished with five total last season.) He did not get Dillon Gabriel down last year. If he can this Saturday, he could further solidify his status in Bedlam lore.

Brennan Presley

Another former Bedlam hero looking to add to his legacy.

Two years ago, Presley was a catalyst in the Cowboys’ win over the Sooners when he housed a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD. Then last year in Norman, he led the Cowboys with nine catches for 118 yards, including a 55-yard play.

If the Cowboys are going to send the Sooners packing with an L, they’ll need all the big plays they can get and No. 80 is a good place to look. I think guys like Presley were made for games like this.