Oklahoma State Cowboys Sports Minute

Oklahoman assistant sports editor Scott Munn here with the latest edition of the Oklahoma State Cowboys Sports Minute.

The football team enjoyed its off week, before a Big 12 opener on Saturday at Baylor. The bye week gave players' bumps and bruises a chance to mend and coaches some time to correct what mistakes were made during a 3-0 start. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

Elsewhere

∎ The future of Bedlam football is in real danger. With Oklahoma moving to the SEC soon, there doesn't appear to be enough available dates for the Sooners and Cowboys to meet. If it comes to pass, the extinction of Bedlam would mean the end of one of college football's most storied games.

∎ Cowgirls freshman Jordan Nytes was named Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Week, and senor Olyvia Dowell was chosen to the College Soccer News Women's National Team of the Week. Nytes and Dowell led OSU to a pair of wins, including a 2-0 victory over the No. 25-ranked Brown Bears.

Nytes bagged her third shutout of the season after facing 16 shots and 10 corner kicks by Brown. Dowell scored three of OSU's five goals during the week. She had both goals against Brown, giving her seven on the season.

∎ The defending national champion equestrian team is No. 1 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association preseason poll for the first time in program history. It's the eighth consecutive year the program has been ranked in the preseason top 10. OSU will open its season on Saturday in Stillwater against No. 7-ranked Baylor.

∎ The women's cross country team moved up a spot to No. 3 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll. The men’s team held its position at No. 2 after its victory at the Cowboy Preview on Sept. 1.

∎ Basketball season is just around the corner. Practice starts Tuesday.

∎ Here's something to look forward to. OSU will play a fall exhibition baseball game against a Texas Rangers scout team on Oct. 10 at O’Brate Stadium. Game time is 5 p.m., and the public can attend free of charge.

“Getting a chance to play the Rangers prospect team is exciting. We know we will see some talented young professional players, and it will serve as our first time to compete as one unit this fall,” said OSU head coach Josh Holliday.

Also on the baseball front, Holliday has added former OSU standout and big leaguer Jordy Mercer to his staff as a student assistant. Mercer replaces another former major league player, Robin Ventura, who finished his degree in May.

“I love Oklahoma State University and especially Oklahoma State baseball,” Mercer said in a release. “I wanted to come back and finish my degree and while I was doing that, I wanted to help the baseball program win games. I am excited to work with Coach (Josh) Holliday and the other coaches, and my family and I are extremely thrilled to be back in Stillwater."

Mercer, who is from Taloga, was a two-way star for the Cowboys from 2006-08 and was inducted into the Cowboy Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Mercer was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He went on to play 950 games in 10 seasons with the Pirates, Tigers, Yankees and Nationals. He retired earlier this year.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State Cowboys Sports Minute. Football team returns to action.