Oklahoma State football notebook: Outside receiver production dipping with J.W. Walsh at QB

OPPONENT WATCH: KU STARTING RUNNING BACK TONY PIERSON EXPECTS TO PLAY

Kansas starting running back Tony Pierson, who left the Jayhawks' loss to Kansas State last week with a left elbow injury, said he's 90-95 percent healthy and expects to play against OSU.

“Everything's good,” Pierson told the Lawrence Journal-World. “I'm planning on playing.”

Pierson wore a brace on his elbow during Wednesday's practice, according to the newspaper, but said it was mostly for precautionary reasons.

2013 SEASON OPENER AGAINST MISSISSIPPI STATE IN HOUSTON FINALIZED

OSU will officially open its 2013 season against Mississippi State on Aug. 31 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, both schools announced Thursday.

The game is part of ESPN's Texas Kick Off Classic.

“We're excited to open the season in Houston,” OSU athletic director Mike Holder said in a release. “We have a growing number of Texans attending Oklahoma State and a large alumni base in the area. We will be playing a high-profile season opener in a great stadium. I think our fans will be eager for this matchup all summer.”

The matchup, which completes OSU's 2013 nonconference schedule, will put the Cowboys on national television against an SEC opponent that is currently ranked 19th in the Associated Press poll. But it also leaves OSU with just one home nonconference game in 2013, as the Cowboys are currently scheduled to play at Texas-San Antonio and at home against Lamar.

This game will be OSU's second time playing in Reliant Stadium (2002 Houston Bowl win over Southern Miss) and first time playing in Houston since its 2006 contest against the University of Houston.

OSU and MSU have played four times, most recently a 29-11 Bulldog victory in Starkville in 1999.