Slaughter's House: Like Mike Gundy, Kyle Whittingham Keeps an Eye on Injury Cards

Mike Gundy is pretty reserved when it comes to injuries. The Oklahoma State crowd knows this.

What this crowd may not know, however, is that Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is the same way. After practice on Tuesday, he was asked whether star quarterback Cameron Rising would play.

“Boy, we hope so,” Whittingham said. “Yes, of course we hope so. And that would be, uh, that would be, uh, ideal.”

Guarded. Even after multiple reports — one from Ute wide receiver Dorian Singer — that Rising would be available against the No. 14 Cowboys, Whittingham still couldn't budge. Couldn't show his hand.

If the reports are correct, we know his cards. He has a No. 7 pick from Rising at QB with a No. 12 pick in Utah that he brings to Stillwater.

If the reports aren't accurate and he has an 11th-ranked true freshman, Isaac Wilson, at quarterback with a 12th-ranked Utah that he's bringing to Stillwater, then he'd better keep those cards under wraps.

Either way, it's the old-fashioned way to talk about injuries. He tries to zigzag in hopes that Gundy and company will reverse their game plan; it's perfectly fine.

But even if Whittingham knows his cards and Gundy doesn't, I don't think Whittingham's poker face – or a few “ums” – are doing him any favors. Because both coaches know the Utes need Rising.

Wilson may have played its first road game against Utah State, but there will be more than 30,000 fans in attendance on Saturday.

Whittingham can bring in a No. 7 Rising at QB or a No. 12 Wilson at QB with 12th-ranked Utah, but either way Gundy brings in a No. 14 OSU home underdog team.

The O-line has a little less depth

Jason Brooks. Jr., the Cowboys' backup left guard, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer and be recruited beginning Oct. 1 his X account Tuesday.

This came after it was announced on Monday that Brooks was no longer with the team. Gundy was asked about Brooks at his Monday press conference – before the news that he was no longer with the team was made – and he said this:

“I think he's going to redshirt… I don't think he felt really good with his knee and wasn't feeling comfortable and then he came to us and just said he felt like he wanted this one Sit for a year.”

Something must have changed.

This affects the Cowboys' O-line depth, as Brooks started the first seven games of the 2023 season before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Leading Brooks was (and still is) Cole Birmingham, a super-senior whose injury history is limited aside from the 2022 season in which he missed the entire year.

Does it now put OSU in a bad spot? NO.

But a fifth-year lineman's departure could put the Cowboys in trouble.

Bet of the day

Man, oh, man. The Marlins scored 11 runs – something they have done only three times since May 5 – and the Dodgers scored nine.

Tough loss, but we're sticking with Major League Baseball and going to the Pittsburgh Pirates-St. Louis Cardinals game. The Cardinals moneyline (-200) is the bet. Ditch the juice and bet against Jake Woodford as a pitcher – he's 0-6 with an 8.01 ERA this year.

Stakes of the day record: 7-10.

The Slaughterhouse of Tomorrow: OSU-Utah and More.

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