News and Views

News: Dantrell Savage rushed for a career high 212 yards. He is averaging 141.7 rushing yards and 6.6 yards a carry in four games since returning from groin and abdominal injuries. Savage has gained at least 110 yards in those games.

View: The Cowboys are 3-1 with a healthy Savage and could be 4-0 if they hadn't squandered a 17-0 lead last week at Texas A&M. Savage wasn't healthy in the opener at Georgia. He didn't play at Troy.

Wide receiver Adarius Bowman and tight end Brandon Pettigrew are big-play threats, but Savage is the one player who takes OSU's offense to another level.

News: OSU rolled up 551 total yards and 45 points, the Cowboys' best totals ever against Nebraska. They scored on all six first-half possessions (five touchdowns and a field goal).

View: Coaches continue to say this offense isn't nearly as explosive as last year's unit that finished seventh in the nation in scoring, but the Cowboys are looking a lot like the 2006 unit. OSU once again was balanced (317 rushing yards, 234 passing).

News: The Cowboys owned a 3-0 edge in turnovers. OSU entered the game ranked 101st in the country with a minus-6 turnover ratio.

View: All three losses can be traced to turnover issues if you include a bad snap on a punt in the opener at Georgia.

At Troy, the Cowboys had five turnovers and fell behind 41-10. At Texas A&M, their only turnover (a disputed Dantrell Savage fumble) turned the momentum with OSU leading 17-3.

By Mike Baldwin