This story has been updated from the original version

The Cowboys’ quarterback situation is taking a different turn.

Accordingly, Zane Flores will miss the rest of the season due to a lower leg injury that required surgery The OklahomanThis is Scott Wright. Robert Allen of Pokes Report reported earlier in the day that Flores did not make the trip to Provo. This emerges from a report by The O’CollyAshton Slaughter shows signs point to Garret Rangel starting against BYU. The Cowboys and Cougars kick off Friday at 9:15 p.m. CT.

Flores, a 6-foot-2 redshirt freshman, hasn’t taken a college snap yet, but the fan base is definitely excited about him. That excitement only grew in August when Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said Flores was “ready now” but lacked experience. With Flores not making the trip to Provo, that likely means true freshman quarterback Maealiuaki Smith will be in Provo. A three-star prospect out of California, Smith had offers from BYU, Arizona, Arizona State, Florida State, Miami and others before choosing the Pokes.

All of this comes after Alan Bowman, who has started every game at quarterback for OSU this season, was pulled in two of OSU’s three games before last week’s bye. In three Big 12 games this season, Bowman has completed 51% of his passes for 686 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions.

Rangel replaced Bowman in both cases in which the seventh-grader was pulled. Rangel, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound redshirt sophomore, completed 44% of his passes, threw for 106 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions in those two Big 12 games. In his last game, Rangel went 4 of 5 against West Virginia, rushing for 75 yards and a touchdown. Rangel also played a role in the three-quarterback rotation for the 2023 season. He played in five games last season and completed 53% of his passes for 172 yards, two touchdowns and an INT. He was also thrown into the fire as a true freshman in 2022 due to Spencer Sanders’ injury. He played in four games this 2022 season and completed 51% of his attempts for 711 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Cowboys on Friday night, OSU will have to find a way to run the ball to have any semblance of success. OSU ranks 124th nationally in rushing yards per game despite having reigning Doak Walker winner Ollie Gordon in the backfield.