IRVING - An offense with its star quarterback returning, and star receiver back after choosing not to go pro, a defense that has been shaky in the past but has improved recently and lofty expectations for the team despite being projected third in their division.
Texas Tech fans know the script well.
The 2008 Tech football season was met with pre-season hype from both local and national media outlets. The Red Raiders ended up 11-2 after losing their regular-season finale against Oklahoma and the Cotton Bowl to Missisippi.
This year all of those descriptions fit the Oklahoma State Cowboys, but the similarities don't mean Oklahoma State is using the Red Raiders' 2008 season as a blueprint.
"I really wouldn't say you can learn from anybody else. You always have to learn from your mistakes, learn from things you didn't quite capitalize on," said Russell Okung, a senior offensive lineman for the Cowboys. "We've had guys who were there, learned what it does take to win and what type of mentality you have to have in order to achieve what you want."
Coach Mike Gundy acknowledged the similarities between the two teams, but laughed when he was asked if they could avoid the same outcome Tech ended 2008 with.
"They actually had a pretty good run," he said. "They won 11 games. I want to win 12 and if somebody says you win 11, I mean, I'm good.
Quarterback Zac Robinson leads a Cowboys offense that returns eight starters from last season's 9-4 team. Three of those starters were First Team All-Big 12 Conference last year: Okung, receiver Dez Bryant and running back Kendall Hunter.
Robinson, Bryant and Hunter form a trio that has drawn comparisons to the "triplets" Oklahoma State had in 1988 when Gundy quarterbacked the team with Barry Sanders joining him in the backfield and Hart Lee Dykes playing receiver.
The defense traditionally has been a weakness for Oklahoma State, but the unit expects to be much improved this year. Much like the Red Raiders, Oklahoma State's offense scores quickly and sometimes fans speculate the defense wears down throughout the game because of the amount of time spent on the field.
"You have to be in great shape to be on our defense," linebacker Andre Sexton said. "It happens so quick because they're moving so fast that we don't get breaks for that long."
Gundy said the leadership that players such as Sexton and cornerback Perrish Cox bring will be the biggest difference for this year's defense, which returns six starters.
Still, like Tech, the Cowboys have to play in Big 12 South division, which also includes Texas and Oklahoma - teams who are likely to be in contention for a national championship.
"We have to go to OU and play, luckily we have Texas to come play us," Sexton said.
"We've just got to take care of one game at a time and keep winning to keep our dream alive right now."
The 2009 edition of the Red Raiders visit Stillwater, Okla., November 14 to play Oklahoma State, and the Cowboys may have last year's 56-20 blowout loss to the Red Raiders in mind.
Sexton said the Cowboys let the hype surrounding the team in big games such as the match up in Lubbock distract them in 2008.
With the hype only continuing to increase, Oklahoma State must learn to overcome the outside factors, or else Cowboys fans will have to continue looking back to the years when Gundy was under center to find a 10-win season.
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