The Oklahoma State Cowboys, ahead of the season, were a really tough team to predict. Even through three games, they were a tough team to understand. They didn't have a full-time quarterback or running back yet.
The Cowboys then found their identity in Week 4 against Iowa State in a one-score loss. Alan Bowman was the full-time quarterback and Ollie Gordon got the bulk of running back snaps.
Of course, Gordon has been nothing short of elite, but a sneaky factor in the Cowboys' season turnaround has been Bowman being the starting quarterback.
Bowman came to Oklahoma State after having been in the college football system for five seasons. He's a seasoned player with plenty of talent to lead this team, obviously, to a Big 12 title game.
What goes into Bowman being able to lead this team under center, though? Mike Gundy answered that question at his weekly presser on Monday.
"[Bowman has] been really good. He's bought into our culture. He's accepted Oklahoma State family," Gundy said. "The jerseys and things that he wears are his decision, I don't think anybody has told him to do that. He's older. He gets it."
Since he arrived in Stillwater, Bowman has been nothing short of professional, even when he was battling for a starting position to start the season. Bowman had played in big games -- doing so in the Big 12. He'd been a part of bigger games while at Michigan. Needless to say, he had the experience to face the adversity the Cowboys have had this season, and he's been able to establish a culture while doing so.
"He's been around a lot of different coaches, been around successful people. He's smart enough to let that wear off on him and then be able to implement that in a new system and a new environment which he came into."
Heading into the biggest game of the season for the Cowboys, Bowman is the right guy to take on Texas in the Big 12 Championship. He's seen plenty over his career, he's got the arm talent and he's going to have to be able to lead the balanced offense if the Cowboys want to upset the Longhorns as two-score underdogs.
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