Quarterback to Back: Bowman Will Square Off Against Either Slovis or Retzlaff for BYU (Or Both)

It’s unclear which QB the Cougars will trot out inside BPS, so the Cowboys defense will have to prepare for both of them.

No. 20 Oklahoma States hosts BYU for Senior Day Saturday afternoon. If the Cowboys want to play for a Big 12 title a week later, they need to finish their season with a win. One of the biggest questions surrounding the game for OSU is which quarterback they’ll need to prepare for.

Former Pittsburgh and USC quarterback Kedon Slovis was the guy until an arm injury took him out of action. He’s been practicing — and there was some question as to whether he would play against Oklahoma last week — but he’s still yet to see the field since BYU’s game against Texas on Oct. 28.

In his stead, junior Jake Retzlaff has been the other guy. BYU is 0-3 with him taking snaps, but he did have his best game against Oklahoma last week when he threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for another score in a game that was tied in the fourth quarter. That rushing ability is one of the main things that separates Retzlaff from Slovis, the more prototypical pocket passer.

Here’s a look at Bowman’s numbers compared to his two potential BYU counterparts.

According to BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, that question is still yet to answered. But just because one starts, doesn’t mean the other won’t see the field.

“I think going into this week it’s who is going to help us put points on the board, extend drives, convert first downs?” Sitake said. “That’s what the goal is going to be. Kedon hasn’t been healthy. He’s been practicing. They’ve been competing against each other.

“Whoever gives us the best chance being the guy taking the first snap, that’s not to say that the other one is eliminated from being in the game. That’s just where we’re at right now.”

The Cowboys come in dead last in the league in passing offense, so healthy dose of Retzlaff is probably more appetizing for Bryan Nardo than Slovis, but we’ve also seen the Cowboys get diced up a bit by mobile QBs. At this point, OSU’s staff is likely preparing as if they’ll see both QBs.