Will OSU try to get Dez Bryant more involved in its offense? Listen to a seven-minute Q&A with Mike Gundy.
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STILLWATER — It was not pretty the last time Oklahoma State climbed onto the national college football stage.

After Georgia dismantled the Cowboys to open the 2007 season, OSU coach Mike Gundy said his Cowboys were not ready for "the big time."

That was a different time and a far different team than the Oklahoma State team headed to Missouri on Saturday.

"I think Georgia was a much better team than some gave them credit for being," Gundy said Monday. "No one knew how good their young players were. But our team is different, we are much more mature — we are more established. We know where we are going now."

Still, this would be a very tall order for No. 17 OSU to pull off an upset of the third-ranked Tigers.

"Missouri is a team that some argue might be the best team in the country," Gundy said.

The Cowboys are about a two-touchdown underdog on the road at Mizzou. That's no knock on OSU. That says much more about Missouri.

"They are certainly the best team we have played," Gundy said. "I've said in the past that every week, as we go, things are going to get tougher.

"The teams we will face will have more experience and be tougher and have more depth."

In the next seven games, OSU will play four teams ranked among the top seven in the nation.

That's life in the Big 12, arguably taking over the title as the nation's best football conference. Three of those teams are in the top five — No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 3 Missouri and No. 5 Texas.

In the Big 12 South, No. 17 in the nation only gets you to fourth in the division.

"In this league, you are only as good as your last game," Gundy said. "That's the way it is going to be the rest of the way."

Gundy knows there is nothing in the first five games that can give the Cowboys a hint of what's ahead at Missouri.

O-State will be facing the nation's best offense. The Tigers have two Heisman Trophy candidates and one of the best tight ends in the country.

Missouri is the overwhelming choice to win the Big 12 North Division and some believe the Tigers are good enough to reach the national championship game.

O-State has seen nothing like Missouri.

Of course, it could be argued the Tigers haven't seen anything like OSU's offense, either.

This should be a barometer for both teams. Mizzou has already run all over Nebraska and has a big game at Texas looming directly ahead.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said there is no problem with focus. "We've seen film of Oklahoma State," Pinkel said.

So, just like Oklahoma State, Missouri knows the level of competition is taking a step up this week.

In what has to be one of the more amazing offensive stats of the season, Mizzou's starters have yet to be held to a "three-and-out" possession. Missouri's starters have had 48 possessions, scoring 28 TDs and five field goals.

"That's pretty amazing that they've done that," Gundy said.

Plus, the Tigers have scored on their opening possession in all five games.

Of course, OSU is no slouch on offense, either. The Cowboys are among the nation's top 10 in seven statistical categories, including second in rushing (315.2 yards per game), third in passing efficiency (196.03) and third in scoring (52.6 points per game).

It is that run offense that could be critical. Time of possession has been made less important in the era of the spread, no-huddle offense. Still, running the ball effectively can limit an opponent's chances.

"We like to have long drives that result in points," Gundy said.