OSU football notebook: All signs point to a package built for backup QB J.W. Walsh

But coach Mike Gundy said Tuesday that the Cowboys will still likely find a way to get Walsh, the dual-threat redshirt freshman, on the field in certain situations.

“There's always discussions on trying to get any player involved in our team on offense or defense that can help us win or deserves it,” Gundy said.  “…we have a freshman who's got a ton of ability who didn't get named the starter that brings a different aspect of the table (with) his strengths.

“We would love to find ways to get him involved, and ultimately, I think we will.”

Many people in this state, or who follow the Big 12, last season became familiar with the

“Belldozer” package at Oklahoma, which utilized 6-foot-6, 254-pound backup quarterback Blake Bell in goal-line and short-yardage situations with wildly successful results. Walsh does not sport that big frame — he's 6-2, 200 pounds — but is a savvy athlete and playmaker who would give OSU's pass-happy system a new layer that it did not have the past two seasons.

GUNDY CALLS BIG 12 UNITY ‘BETTER THAN EVER'

During the height of conference realignment last fall, Gundy sounded off at a press conference, expressing sadness and frustration that Missouri and Texas A&M were departing for the SEC and the Big Eight/Big 12 environment he's been surrounded by for most of his playing and coaching career seemed to be deteriorating.

But with the additions of TCU and West Virginia stabilizing the conference, Gundy said Tuesday the unity of the Big 12 is “better than ever.”

“I've said this from Day 1 … I'm a Big Eight/Big 12 guy,” Gundy said. “I hated to see Missouri leave. I hated to see A&M leave. But once it took place, there's not two better choices than what we got, for various reasons.”