Oklahoma will be the epicenter of CFB this weekend, with hugely underrated Utah-OSU

The Sooner State will be full of excitement this Saturday with two major top 25 matchups. ESPN College GameDay will take place in Norman, Oklahoma as the No. 15 Sooners prepare to take on the No. 1 Volunteers. 6 Tennessee in what many anticipate to be a thrilling matchup. However, another game in the same time frame could steal the spotlight: No. 12 Utah travels to Stillwater to face No. 14 Oklahoma State in their Big 12 opener.

While the matchup between Oklahoma and Tennessee will grab the national headlines, Utah versus Oklahoma State may be the most exciting contest for football purists. Both teams are highly ranked and with experienced quarterbacks like Utah’s Cam Rising and Oklahoma State’s Alan Bowman at the helm, the stakes couldn’t be higher. However, the most intriguing story of the game revolves around Oklahoma State star quarterback Ollie Gordon.

Utah will be “Iced out” in Stillwater for the Top 25 matchup with Oklahoma State

Gordon, the Doak Walker Award winner, has been somewhat of a disappointment the past two games. After a strong season opener, the defenses of Arkansas and Tulsa have made shutting down Gordon their primary focus, stacking the box and forcing Oklahoma State to pass the ball. While this tactic worked to contain Gordon, the Cowboys still managed to win both games by adapting to an air attack.

But the time of Gordon’s renaissance may be coming. Heading into conference play, there is a sense that the Cowboys will be looking to re-establish their ground game and Gordon will be running with a purpose. Known for his ability to take over games, Gordon will likely relish the opportunity to shine against a stout Utah defense. If he can get through early, he could cause problems for the Utes. Gordon also enters this season with Heisman hype surrounding him, and there may be no better stage than this top-15 matchup to make his case.

For Utah, the game plan will likely involve trying to stop Gordon early. If the Utes’ stout defense can stop the run and force Bowman to throw more often, they will increase their chances of success. Oklahoma State isn’t all about Gordon — Bowman has talented wide receivers, and if the offensive line improves for Big 12 play, the Cowboys could be dangerous. Still, this game could serve as a preview of the Big 12 Championship, with both teams looking to establish dominance early. The stage is set for a thrilling battle on Saturday, September 21 starting at 4:00 PM ET on FOX.