Quarterback Update: Gundy Says ‘There’s Nothing Changed’ in Quarterback Battle Entering Iowa State

STILLWATER — After scoring seven points against South Alabama on Saturday, Mike Gundy said the Cowboys’ three-man quarterback battle is continuing into the Pokes’ conference opener against Iowa State.

Oklahoma State travels to Ames this weekend for a 3 p.m. kick against the Cyclones. In his opening statement at Monday’s media luncheon, Gundy said nothing has changed in regards to the three-quarterback duel among Alan Bowman, Gunnar Gundy and Garret Rangel.

“Quarterback-wise, we’re rotating, moving along as we have,” Gundy said. “… There’s not really anything to talk about that would make it different.

“… There’s nothing changed, I guess is what I’m saying.”

Oklahoma State’s three-quarterback system combined to throw for 114 yards Saturday with a 46% completion percentage. Gunnar played 39 snaps to Bowman’s 20 and Rangel’s nine, according to Pro Football Focus. Gunnar had 64 yards on 18 pass attempts, Bowman had 42 yards and an interception on 12 attempts while Rangel completed one pass for eight yards.

“They were all pretty good,” said Gundy when asked how his QBs graded out.

Through three nonconference games, PFF ranks Rangel the best grade-wise at a 67.4, narrowly edging Gunnar’s 66.7 and Bowman’s 64.9. Rangel ranks tops in passing grades and second in running grades behind Gunnar. Gunnar’s 78.8 run-game score is 12.8 points higher than Rangel’s, but Gunnar’s 56.4 passing score is last among the three by 6.8 points.

True freshman Zane Flores is the only other scholarship quarterback on OSU’s roster. Listed at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Flores had offers from Washington, Kansas State, Indiana, Missouri and others. But it doesn’t sound as if Flores is going to make this triple-threat match a fatal four way.

“Zane’s not ready,” Gundy said. “Not ready. Great future, great prospect, love every bit of it, but Zane’s not ready right now.”

Through three games, PFF has Gunnar at 85 snaps played, Bowman at 74 and Rangel at 56. For reference, South Alabama quarterback Carter Bradley has played 190 snaps, according to PFF; Iowa State’s Rocco Becht has played 161 snaps.

That begs the question as to whether at some point, this three-man rotation becomes a detriment to OSU in terms of reps. That could particularly be the case for young quarterbacks like Gunnar and Rangel, who haven’t had a ton of college experience.

“Yeah, you could always say that, that a quarterback from … I don’t know what school, somebody that’s played every snap has gotten 150 reps to where our quarterbacks have only gotten 60 or 50 or whatever,” Gundy said. “Yes, you could say that.

“Yeah, it concerns me to a point. If I start seeing [missed assignments] then it concerns me more. These guys, combined they haven’t had many [missed assignments]. They understand what they’re doing and progressing where to go with the ball in the run game and the passing game. They’ve been pretty good from that standpoint. But that’s what you worry about.”