Rugged stretch begins with OSU game at No. 2 Texas

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma State's off week came at an opportune time. It allowed the Cowboys to rest a bit before beginning the most difficult part of their schedule. <br><br>It starts Saturday

Monday, September 30th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Oklahoma State's off week came at an opportune time. It allowed the Cowboys to rest a bit before beginning the most difficult part of their schedule.

It starts Saturday with a road game against No. 2 Texas and is followed by a trip to No. 13 Kansas State. Then the Cowboys (2-2) return home to play Nebraska and, after another open date, they play host to No. 23 Texas A&M.

``No doubt about it. It's a very tough schedule,'' linebacker Terrence Robinson said Monday. ``But the most important thing for us will be to just take it week by week and go in and play a consistent 60-minute game.''

That's something the Cowboys haven't done. They collapsed in the final 17 minutes of a season-opening loss to Louisiana Tech, and committed five turnovers in a loss to UCLA.

Their best game came Sept. 21 against Southern Methodist, when they scored on all six of their first-half possessions and won 52-16. But SMU isn't Texas.

The Longhorns (4-0) have a punishing runner in Cedric Benson, a strong quarterback in Chris Simms and a defense that has given up 8 points per game.

``I think they're as talented a football team as there is in the country,'' coach Les Miles said at his weekly news conference.

Oklahoma State found out how talented a year ago in Stillwater. After building an early 10-0 lead, the Cowboys gave up 45 straight points, 31 of them in the second quarter.

Simms tied a school record by throwing five touchdown passes. Benson, in his first career start, carried 31 times for 131 yards. After giving up 65 yards on Oklahoma State's first possession, the Texas defense allowed just 97 the rest of the day.

Miles said his team lost its poise when momentum began to turn. If the Cowboys can keep that from happening this week, he said, they will have a chance at an upset.

``We know that they're a very talented football team,'' he said. ``But our goal is to play our football, execute the things that we can execute, put the pressure on them for four quarters, and see how it plays. We didn't do that against UCLA.''

He said he expects his defense to have some success against the Longhorns, but also said it's imperative that the offense move the ball effectively in order to give the defense a breather.

``If you stop 'em, then you better move the football because you won't stop 'em for long,'' he said.

It could be argued that this game comes at a great time for Oklahoma State. The Cowboys had the extra week to prepare, and the game is just one week before the Longhorns' much-anticipated showdown with No. 3 Oklahoma in Dallas.

Miles said he doesn't expect Texas to have any problem focusing on his team.

``I promise you, Mack Brown's making sure they're looking at us,'' he said. ``He may feel very strongly that the game they've got to win is the next one, but they'll be preparing for Oklahoma State.''