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STILLWATER – Will the Oklahoma State Cowboys have an advantage by playing Saturday’s Bedlam showdown at Boone Pickens Stadium? The 11th-ranked Cowboys will benefit greatly if recent history is any indication when the football is kicked off for Saturday evening’s nationally televised showdown (ABC Sports) with the third-ranked Sooners.

The top four teams in the Big 12 Conference’s South Division – and four of the top 11 vote getters in this week’s Associated Press poll – have beaten up on each other since the first October. Texas (No. 2), Oklahoma (No. 3), Texas Tech (No. 7) and Oklahoma State (No. 11) each face one another in the Big 12 South, and the home team has won four of the five games played thus far. The other game – the 45-35 win by Texas over Oklahoma – was played on a neutral field at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

For the record:
OU beat Texas Tech in Norman,
Texas Tech beat OSU in Lubbock,
Texas beat OSU in Austin,
Texas Tech beat Texas in Lubbock,
Texas beat OU in Dallas.

“I hope that’s true this week,” Oklahoma State co-offensive coordinator Trooper Taylor said Monday. “But when it’s a rivalry I think you throw all of that out. If these two teams met in the parking lot somewhere to play it would be a physical, tough game, and the team that makes the fewest mistakes is going to win.

“That means turning the ball over, jumping off sides, special teams… I think that’s what it comes down to when it comes to a rivalry game. It really doesn’t matter about the talent or the records; it comes down to who is able to execute that day because you get caught up in all the distractions that come with a rivalry (game) and the team that is the most focused will win that game on Saturday.”

Want further proof that this game will not be anything like last Saturday night when the Sooners demolished the then second-ranked Red Raiders 65-21 in Norman? Bob Stoops’ record in Stillwater is 1-3 since taking over the OU program in 1999, but every Sooner victory has been by six points or less.

In 2000, when OU went on to defeat Florida State in the Orange Bowl to win the national championship, the Sooners had to hang on to defeat Oklahoma State, 12-7, at what was then called Lewis Stadium. The Cowboys won 38-28 in 2002 when Josh Fields and Rashaun Woods were nearly unstoppable. Then, the Sooners escaped with a 38-35 win in Les Miles' last season as head coach in 2004, and managed a 27-21 victory in 2006.

“I know that I’m glad we’re playing at home,” Gundy says. “I think it’ll be loud. I don’t think there’s any question that our people will be fired up for the game. It will be a great environment playing another night game. I think they’ll be loud and excited and ready to go.”

Gundy, Taylor and the Cowboys are hoping that the crowd inside Boone Pickens Stadium will make a difference Saturday night.

“I think that’s probably going to be true in most team sports where you have a large attendance, particularly football and basketball where your home-field advantage is going to work toward your favor,” Gundy said. “I think our players are more comfortable being at home, just like most teams are, and they’ll enjoy being here on Senior Day.”