Top 25 teams: No. 10 Oklahoma State Cowboys

<p><b>10. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS</b></p><p><b>2008 record:</b> 9-4</p><p><b>Returning starters offense/defense:</b> 8/6</p><p><b>Strength:</b> The Cowboys return their entire starting backfield, including 6-foot-3 senior quarterback Zac Robinson, and two starting wide receivers to a team that averaged 34 points per game over its final three against Colorado, Oklahoma and Oregon last season. Experience is not limited to the offense, but throughout the lineup as Oklahoma State features three senior linebackers and a senior-heavy secondary. Plus, turning 42 prior to the start of the season, Cowboys coach Mike Gundy will be that much more “a man!”</p><p><b>Weakness:</b> The Cowboys had a breakthrough season of sorts in 2008, improving from mediocrity to produce a nine-win season for only the second time since the Barry Sanders era. Despite the hoopla, Oklahoma State still lost regular-season games against Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma — the conference elite — and surrendered 42 points in a Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon. A winning mentality is evolving, but a go-for-the-throat tendency is so far missing.</p><p><b>Biggest star:</b> Junior wide receiver Dez Bryant hauled in 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 TDs a season ago, when he came from nowhere to not only fill a glaring vacancy, but excel in it. Combining an incredible leaping ability with above-average hands and speed, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Bryant will command double-teams from weary Big 12 secondaries, which can’t seem to find a week when rivals aren’t stretching the field vertically in league games.</p><p><b>Rising star:</b> Redshirt freshman wide receiver Justin Blackmon has worked his way atop a crowded depth chart and could give Robinson another nice underneath option as defenses place extra eyes on Bryant, who averaged more than 17 yards per catch last season.</p><p><b>Toughest game:</b> Vs. Texas on Oct. 31. The Cowboys open with a bang on Sept. 5, hosting SEC power Georgia, and close at Oklahoma, but a midseason grudge match against the Longhorns will answer many lingering Oklahoma State questions before November’s Texas Tech-Colorado-Oklahoma finish to the regular season. Last season, the Cowboys forced Colt McCoy to play nearly flawless (38-for-45, 391 yards, two TDs) before falling to Texas in Austin, 28-24, in a matchup of unbeatens.</p>