Oklahoma State football season preview 2020: Record predictions, depth chart, breakout players

Oklahoma State football season preview 2020: Record predictions, depth chart analysis, breakout players

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 16: Quarterback Spencer Sanders #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys hands the ball off to running back Chuba Hubbard #30 for a four yard touchdown against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first quarter on November 16, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OSU won 31-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

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Chuba Hubbard, Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State football (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Is Oklahoma State football a bonafide sleeper in the 2020 season?

It should come as no surprise to anyone when Oklahoma State football is competitive under head coach Mike Gundy. Love him, hate him, find him annoying or whatever else, the mulleted head of the Cowboys program has proven to be a winner in Stillwater. And at times, when things break just right for his roster after years of building it, they compete atop the Big 12 and perhaps even higher.

Running back Chuba Hubbard, fresh off a 2,000-yard rushing season, and wide receiver Tylan Wallace electing to return for the 2020 season while a young quarterback, Spencer Sanders, has a year of experience now is the right mix for this to be a special season for Oklahoma State. Now it’s all about the team putting it together and winning.

The Pokes won eight games last season, which is nothing phenomenal but nothing to scoff at either. But they should be aiming much higher than that as they return 19 starters from last year’s team, including the aforementioned stars on offense and a slew of key defenders that should anchor that side of the ball, a unit that showed dramatic improvement from 2018 to 2019.

Oklahoma State may not come into the season as the betting favorites to win the Big 12 amid the conference-only, plus-one schedule they face but they deserve to be right in the mix. This team can score on anyone and might have one of the best defenses in the conference. Competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff is a legitimately realistic possibility for this group.

But will they realize that potential? Will Gundy’s Cowboys be able to get to the top of the conference and perhaps secure a spot among the final four teams? Let’s preview the 2020 Oklahoma State football season as we go game-by-game making predictions through their schedule, review the depth chart and then find the players who might be breakout stars this year.