Quarterback to Back: Mason Rudolph’s Senior Day Matchup Leaves a Little to Be Desired

Oklahoma State welcomes the last-placed Kansas Jayhawks to Boone Pickens Stadium for Senior Day. Since David Beaty took over three seasons ago, he’s coached 26 conference games and holds a 1-25 record against Big 12 competition. If it comes down to a QB dual, you can go ahead and make it 1-26.

This game should at least be a confidence builder for all there phases of OSU’s team. The quarterback competition is the most lopsided we’ve seen this season. And with the manner in which I expect Oklahoma State to dispatch Kansas, I probably should have included Taylor Cornelius in this comparison over Rudolph.

Let’s take a look.

On one sideline, you have the most decorated quarterback to ever play at a football program known for its prolific passing attacks. Rudolph spent most of the season jockeying for one of the two top spots in Total QBR with his off-field friend and on-field nemesis, Baker Mayfield. Rudolph is now down to No. 5 with an 83.8 score in that metric, but still leads the nation in passing yards.

Across the turf, we have a sophomore who doesn’t even lead his team in Total QBR. Carter Stanley took over starting duties from his turnover-prone roommate Peyton Bender earlier this season. At 116th, Bender edges the 117th-ranked starter, and Stanley has proven to have the same knack for throwing INTs.

As far as marque matchups go, this leaves something to be desired. But the with a week to cool down from all of our hot takes and that time spent resetting our expectations for Oklahoma State (for the second time) we can look at this week as a chance for the Cowboys to enjoy Senior Morning and as a tuneup for whatever bowl matchup the Cowboys draw.

Hopefully, if Stanley out-passes Rudolph it will be because this game got out of hand early and not because OSU’s defense allowed another career game for an unheralded backup.