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Oklahoma State seeks ninth win against Colorado

Nov 15, 2008 - 11:24 AM (13) Oklahoma State (8-2) at Colorado (5-5), 8:00 pm EST

BOULDER, Colorado (Ticker) -- Saturday's contest at Colorado could bring back some bad memories for Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy.

The 13th-ranked Cowboys are facing the Buffaloes for the first time since suffering a 34-0 loss in Stillwater on October 1, 2005. That was the first loss for Gundy at Oklahoma State.

More than three years later, Gundy is looking to guide Oklahoma State (8-2, 4-2 Big 12 South) to its first nine-win season since 2003.

The Cowboys went 4-7 in Gundy's first season, then improved to seven wins in each of the last two campaigns.

Oklahoma State still does not have a signature win under its fourth-year coach, however, and likely was knocked out the Big 12 South race with last week's 56-20 loss at second-ranked Texas Tech.

"Obviously winning the conference is difficult at this point," Gundy said. "I think the most important thing for our team now is to win No. 9. The new goal for us is to win nine games."

A victory also would give the Cowboys five wins in the Big 12 for the first time in five years.

Saturday's contest is a homecoming for Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson, the only player on the Cowboys' roster from Colorado.

Robinson passed for only 186 yards last week, but that was not the biggest problem for the Cowboys, who allowed Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell to pass for six touchdowns.

"We'll have to get the team's frame of mind back in order and put the last game to rest and get ready for the next one," Gundy added.

Colorado (5-5, 2-4 North) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 28-24 victory over Iowa State last week and needs to win one of its last two games to become bowl eligible for the first time in Dan Hawkins' three seasons as coach.

Cody Hawkins - the son of Dan Hawkins - replaced an ineffective Tyler Hansen in the second half and rallied the Buffaloes from a 10-0 halftime deficit. Colorado held on when Iowa State running back Alexander Robinson was stopped on the 1-yard line as time expired.

Colorado finished 2-10 in Hawkins' first year in 2006 - just the Buffaloes' third-10 loss season in the program's 119-year history - and improved to 6-7 last last season.