Editor's Note: This story originally said redshirt sophomore Zane Flores would serve as Oklahoma State's backup. Since then, he's reportedly had season-ending surgery. This story has been updated with new information.
When quarterback Garret Rangel has been thrown into action at Oklahoma State, it's never truly been his job to lose.
That’s likely to change Friday.
The O’Colly has learned that signs point toward Rangel starting against No. 13 BYU. He gets the nod over seventh-year quarterback Alan Bowman, who started the first six games, and freshman Maealiuaki Smith. Redshirt sophomore Zane Flores was presumed to be the Rangel's backup, until it was reported Friday by The Oklahoman that he had season-ending surgery because of a lower leg injury.
Last week, Rangel appeared on the QB Lifestyle Podcast, where he didn’t push back on a question about him set to start against the Cougars. Host Damian Williams said the phrase multiple times before Rangel responded with how he felt heading into his first start of the season.
“I feel like all the hard work and preparation we had just from my freshman year to last year to this year, it’s finally paying off, and I’m excited to go out there and just let it all hang next week against BYU,” Rangel said.
OSU head coach Mike Gundy said Monday at his weekly press conference that his staff would “work all of (their) guys” in practice this week. This came after a 38-14 loss to West Virginia, in which Bowman was benched for Rangel for the second time in three games.
In that outing, Rangel looked more collected — 4-of-5 passing for 75 yards and a touchdown — than against Utah, where he went 3 of 11 for 31 yards.
But with more than a week of preparation, Rangel is set to lead the Cowboys in Provo. It’s something that those closest to him know he’s up for.
“Even though you’re going to prepare like you’re the number one guy — I know Garret has — it’s just different being in there running the show,” said Jeff Rayburn, Rangel's high school coach. “So for him to have the ability to prepare to be the number one guy, I think it’s gonna be huge and really beneficial for him and the team.
“...He’s been put in some tough spots — some good, some bad, some ugly — but now that he’s having this opportunity, I think we’ll see the best of Garret Rangel.”
The makings of a college QB
When Rayburn first saw Rangel, he was a skinny, tall kid, the coach recalls with a laugh.
But two things were for sure.
“He could sling the rock and had a high football IQ,” Rayburn said. “You could feel the ‘it’ factor.”
That ability and “it” factor combined with Rangel’s “intense competitive nature” made him a four-star prospect out of high school, and he eventually chose OSU over Utah, Virginia Tech, Houston and other programs.
At Lone Star High School, Rangel quickly rose the ranks and starred as a senior, going 127-of-187 passing for 2,049 yards, 24 touchdowns and three interceptions.
He landed at OSU wanting to play, but after the 2021 team’s success and Spencer Sanders returning at quarterback, that seemed uncertain right away.
But it happened.
Finally his time
When Rangel played as a freshman, he was thrown to the wolves.
The 2022 OSU team was injury-ridden and far removed from its Fiesta Bowl-winning form from the year prior, and in Week 10, Rangel started his first collegiate game on the road against Kansas.
In that start and his other two starts (against WVU to end the regular season and against Wisconsin in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl), Rangel completed 51.8% of his passes for 711 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.
In 2023, he battled against Bowman and Gunnar Gundy in a three-quarterback rotation, which Bowman, with his at-the-time six years of experience, came out of as the leading man. In the first three games of the season, Rangel totaled 172 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 51.1% completion percentage while splitting reps.
Now, though, after two outings as a relief for Bowman, Rangel is set for an increased role for a Cowboy team in need of a win after sliding to 3-3 (0-3 Big 12).
“It seemed like from Coach Gundy playing Garret Rangel, they wanted to see what he can do,” former OSU quarterback Clint Chelf told The O’Colly during OSU’s bye week. “And so, I think it’s only fair that if that’s the case that you give him the proper runway to prepare that you play a game.
“...I would love to see Rangel get a shot, just because he’s been a guy that could have very easily left and he loves it in Stillwater and he stayed.”
Now, Rangel’s been given the runway that Chelf said a quarterback would long for. Chelf would know; he, too, was in position battles during his time at OSU.
All he needs to do is seize his opportunity.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the kid that he is,” Rayburn said. “...Now he’s got an opportunity, and I’ve got no doubt he’s going to go take the reins on this thing.”
O’Colly writers Parker Gerl and Daniel Allen contributed to the reporting in this story.