QB battle...

Gundy said this year’s competition and the possibility of utilizing two quarterbacks doesn’t hinge on one being a better athlete or one being better suited in a goal-line situation. He’s simply looking for who has earned it most and is the best fit to run the offense for the Sept. 2 opener against Central Arkansas: the young guy with potential and more time in the system, or the older player with less experience in the program – just like Brown and Sanders four years ago.

“So, you have really the same kind of situation,” Gundy said.

Rangel started three games for the Cowboys last season and had chances to get ahead of any quarterback competition, and he looked good at times, but it wasn’t always pretty. He went 0-3 as the starter, and in the final two games, he threw two touchdowns and two interceptions and only completed 43.8% of his passes.

The rest of the team around Rangel struggled, too, so it’s hard to put it all on a freshman thrown in during a losing stretch with Sanders, the fouryear starter, injured. Rangel still sees last season as a chance for personal growth.

“I learned that I wasn’t quite ready yet, but I also learned that whatever is thrown at me I can handle it. I realized that,” Rangel said. “I didn’t really mope around after the bowl game. I got right to work. Just to better myself as a player with my footwork, tidying things up mechanics-wise and getting better understanding of the offense.”

Bowman offers 19 more ap - pearances’ worth of experience and has passed for 4,600 more yards than Rangel, but Bowman has just four appearances and 11 pass attempts in the last two years at Michigan. Meanwhile, Rangel spent the end of 2022 getting game reps and practicing with the first string.

Rangel has more recent experience and more experience at OSU, while Bowman has been playing college football for five years and brings the maturity of a 23-year-old compared to that of 19-year-old Rangel. But the playing field, to some extent, has been evened with both quarterbacks adjusting to an under-center offense this season, which will emphasize rushing the football and utilize more power concepts.

“Over the summer we worked with all the centers, and this fall camp we’re doing really well with exchanges, and we’ve been pounding the ball,” Rangel said. “So, it’s been really good.”

As in 2015, Gundy has shown he isn’t afraid to use two quarterbacks, but he’s proven he’ll also pick a starter and stick with him as in 2019. He’s chosen the youngster over the veteran, like in 2019, but he also opted with experience in 2018 with senior quarterback Taylor Cornelius over the freshman Sanders. To Gundy, nobody has separated from the pack enough to announce a starter, but he’s optimistic that either could be good enough to help the cowboys win. Now, that could be decided by the 12th practice, or it could be two hours before the season begins, but nonetheless, a two-quarterback system is on the table as the competition rolls on. “I love competing. It’s in my nature,” Rangel said. “At the end of the day, I’m taking it one day at a time and doing the best I can.” sports.ed@ocolly.com