The Oklahoma State Cowboys had a very successful finish to their 2016-17 season. More than that, they have been an offense clicking for many years up to this point. With Bob Stoops gone, and the Big 12 open for the taking, this could be a good year for Cowboys fans.

The Poke offense has also had its own share of success over the past many years. Since the year of 2010, the Cowboys have averaged 40.5 points per game. This is the most in the Big 12 during that seven year stretch.

The new year will bring great traffic of competition in every power-five conference like it always does, but Oklahoma State seems to be in great position to be a contender once again. Here are a few more detailed points of analysis that denote the advantage the Cowboys look to have this year

Rudolph the Reigning QB

Mason Rudolph will be returning this year as a senior. He has had some spectacular moments for the Cowboys, and a breakout year last year. Rudolph is a mature leader who should do nothing but produce for the Cowboys in his upcoming senior year.

Rudolph is a mature leader coming into his senior season at Oklahoma State. This should most definitely mean good things for the Pokes, because they are preparing to play in a conference that is rid of Bob Stoops and filled with very young talent.

Offensive Superpower

The Oklahoma State Cowboys have averaged 40.5 points per game since 2010. That statistic ranks 3rd in the nation, only behind Oregon and Baylor. Forty points and change is nothing to shrug at, but the Big 12 is such a high-powered offensive conference that this will likely not be enough to separate the Cowboys from the rest of their competition.

A scoring average that ranks the Cowboys third in the nation during this span, trailing only Oregon and Baylor. #okstate #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/ADGIBXU5FM

— Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) June 21, 2017

In order to find a team statistic in which the Cowboys isolate themselves from the rest of the nation you must dig a little deeper. Their offense is stellar, but to win championships, your defense must also be even better.

How the Pokes Can Continue Their Growth in 2017

The Cowboys obviously have chemistry going for them, and a foundation set in terms of the roster put in front of them for this coming year. They are in good position, and they have arrived at the point where every detail of their play is going to affect their being on the cusp of a championship

One advantage Oklahoma State will have over their opponents is that they take care of the ball. Ball security can sometimes win you ball games. In 2016, Oklahoma State fumbled 15 times to the 10 that they lost. Their opponents fumbled almost double that (26 times), and lost one more than the pokes at 11.

Hopefully the return of Rudolph and other key offensive players will simply cultivate that foundation.

Here is the one point where Oklahoma State needs improvement: defense. The Cowboys scored 502 collective points over the 2016 football season but they also allowed 345. On paper that may seem solid but do the math and that simplifies out to about 26.5 points per game. A championship team cannot expect their opponents to break the 20-point barrier every competition.

Conclusion

The Cowboys are certainly in a favorable position. The difficult thing about College Football, though, is that one mix up in rosters for the Pokes, or for any team, or a single mistake can turn the tide of the season. If Oklahoma State can take care of business on the offensive end and pull every last trick out of the hat to have a successful defensive show, it should be an excellent year for the Pokes.