OSU is in a familiar QB battle, but this time, Gundy ‘might play multiple’

That was the last time OSU has had a quarterback battle ahead of the season. Now, in 2023, Gundy is back in that spot. A redshirt freshman in Garret Rangel, or a sixth-year senior in Michigan transfer Alan Bowman will lead the offense. Gundy hasn’t announced a starter and admitted he likely won’t until at least 12-14 practices into preseason camp, which still is no guarantee. There’s a chance he doesn’t settle on one at all.

The news didn’t break until two hours before go time.

After months of speculation, there was still no decision regarding the Cowboys’ starting quarterback job the morning of the 2019 season opener against Oregon State in Corvallis. Redshirt freshman Spencer Sanders battled senior Hawaii transfer Dru Brown all spring and summer for the reins of the offense, but coach Mike Gundy never announced a winner.

Twelve hours until the game –nothing. Still no word with six hours to go. It wasn’t until 7:39 p.m. – two hours and one minute before the 9:40 p.m. CST kickoff time – that the decision came, but it wasn’t from the mouth of Gundy. In a tweet, Brett McMurphy reported that Sanders had beat out Brown and would get the start.

“We might play multiple quarterbacks,” Gundy said Saturday at OSU’s Football Media Day. “If there’s two guys that deserve to play, we’ll play multiple guys. If one guy takes the job, we’ll play one guy, but if two guys deserve to play then we’re going to have to play two guys.”

The Cowboys have played multiple quarterbacks in a season before. Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt each made starts in 2012, and each also passed for more than 1,000 yards. In 2015, Mason Rudolph was the main man, but Walsh was used in shortyardage and redzone packages where he threw for more than 700 yards and 13 touchdowns but ran for another 359 yards and 13 scores.