STILLWATER — The Cowboys will be without a few players for their season opener, but the list isn’t overwhelming.

Oklahoma State will be without Justin Wright, Da’Wain Lofton and Jalen Pope, according to Dave Hunziker, when the Pokes face South Dakota State at 1 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium. Wright was the only player from the group to appear on OSU’s first two-deep of the season — listed as Nick Martin’s backup at middle linebacker.

It’s been a grim ordeal for Wright, who transferred from Tulsa prior to last season but played in just two games due to injury. Before that, he had 101 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in his final season with the Golden Hurricane (2022). He recorded two tackles in his two games last season (Central Arkansas and Iowa State).

Lofton, a 5-foot-11 speedy receiver, is a newcomer to the team this season after transferring from Virginia Tech. In three seasons with the Hokies, Lofton had 35 catches for 410 yards and three touchdowns.

Pope redshirted as a true freshman last season. A 6-foot-1 receiver, he played against Cincinnati but didn’t record a stat line. After Aledo, Pope was a three-star prospect in the 2023 class, choosing OSU over offers from Air Force, Tulsa and others.