The Troy Trojans will attempt to rope the Cowboys for the second straight year this week in Stillwater, Okla. Troy hosted OSU last year and beat them handily to the tune of 41-23.

Troy head coach Larry Blakeney said he expects the Cowboys to be ready for Troy this time around. And they have an advantage over the Trojans.

“I think they are a better team than they were last year,” Blakeney said. “They are undefeated and they are coming off an open date and that is problematic for us because they will be fresh.”

Blakeney said they would be better than last year, but that the Cowboys will not dwell in the past.

“They are probably talking about the game last year,” Blakeney said. “I don’t think we were unsportsmanlike in the win. We were excited about our win over Oklahoma State, as we should have been. But last year is last year and this is Oklahoma State 2008 and Troy University 2008. What’s in the past shouldn’t have anything to do with anything.”

But OSU head coach Mike Gundy is not hurting for motivational tools to show his team this week in practice.

“As far as motivation and preparation I would say yes it does help them,” Blakeney said. “And it should affect us in motivation and preparation because we are coming off a loss and we are playing a team on the road that is in the Big 12 and a contender for the Big 12 in my opinion. We ought to be geeked up to play.”

The Trojans and the Cowboys were on ESPN 2 last year, but this game will not be televised locally.

Blakeney said the Trojans have no slouch after facing No. 13 Ohio State last week. This game will be another test for his team.

“They’ve got skill and talent at every position,” Blakeney said. “From what little I have watched today they have speed and size. As you all have heard me say before, 60 minutes of history will determine the outcome. “

Those 60 minutes begin at 6:05 p.m. Sept. 27 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.