Entering unsure season, let Alan Bowman and Garret Rangel compete

Gabriel Trevino Columnist

I’m confident in saying Oklahoma State’s quarterback battle is as unique as any other.

The incumbent starter, redshirt freshman Garret Rangel started three of the final five games last season, including the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. His inexperience showed, scrambling around and slinging passes wildly. But blind luck and a nothing-to-lose mentality is also what OSU needed at that point in the season for a chance to win games.

OSU reached into the portal when Spencer Sanders — a four-year starter when healthy — left and brought in a veteran with championship-level experience to the quarterback room. A good plan, for sure. Except, he wasn’t exactly a veteran in the normal sense. Coach Mike Gundy got Alan Bowman, who will play his sixth year of college football in 2023.

He started at Texas Tech — when he wasn’t injured — from 2017-2020, before transferring to Michigan, where he was the third string for two seasons.

The other two quarterbacks OSU would consider playing, Gunnar Gundy and Zane Flores, likely aren’t going to see any playing time this season barring injuries, which leaves the three-yearsago-experienced Bowman and unproven but young and familiar Rangel.

Here are Bowman’s stats from the past two seasons at Michigan compared to Rangel’s from his freshman year:

Alan Bowman

5 games

11 attempts

73% completion

69 yards

1 TD

1 INT

Garret Rangel

4 games

115 attempts

51% completion

711 yards

4 TD

5 INT

After each time Gundy was asked about when he would name a starter, the answer became more realistic. Now, the answer was if both deserve to play, he’ll play both. He’s often said nothing is like an in-game rep, and since both lack a normal amount of live experience, he’ll give them both some.

What does this really mean, though? Past quarterback battles at other schools may give us a clue.

Last season at Michigan, coach John Harbaugh started returning quarterback Cade McNamara in the Wolverines’ first game of the season and

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Stillwater, OK 74075 then sophomore J.J. McCarthy for the second game. McCarthy beat McNamara and started the remainder of the season and in the College Football Playoffs.

Gundy may do something similar. Start Bowman or Rangel vs Central Arkansas, then switch for the Arizona State game. But if OSU wants to compete for a Big 12 title this season, I suggest an exaggerated battle.

OSU hasn’t lost a nonconference regular season game since the Central Michigan fiasco in 2016, and if Gundy feels confident his team can take all three again this season, he can let this battle play out until the Week 5 bye week.

This would include a matchup with Iowa State at Jack Trice Stadium, but with the Cyclones’ own quarterback debacle, OSU might be able to get away with it. This would give each quarterback two games of experience, which should be enough to confidently name a starter. If one clearly takes the reins before that, then all is well anyway. sports.ed@ocolly.com