Oklahoma State football has a rising national profile. Thanks to high win totals, consistent presence in the national polls, a windfall of All-America selections, multiple first-round draft picks and seven bowl appearances over the last eight years, the Cowboys have become a national presence in college football and continue to be a rising program.

The Cowboys have appeared on national television 19 times over the last two years and graced two Sports Illustrated covers during the 2009 football season.

Before the completion of 2010 spring football drills, Oklahoma State had already been booked for three more national television appearances with more sure to follow over the summer and fall months.

OSU's weekly new conferences are staffed by no fewer than 40 members of the media. That crowd has risen to as many as 70 at times over the past two seasons when the Cowboys were ringing up 18 victories and climbing as high as fifth in the Associated Press poll.

ESPN College Gameday has made regular stops at Oklahoma State for football as well as men's basketball. In fact, the ESPNU network was launched during a weekend-long event at Oklahoma State.
 

Cowboy quarterback Zac Robinson and center Andrew Lewis appear on the cover of the College Football Preview edition of Sports Illustrated, published on August 17, 2009.	Cowboy wide receiver Dez Bryant makes a spectacular grab in Oklahoma State's second SI cover of the 2009 season, following OSU's victory over Georgia in the highly-anticipated season opener.

In each of the past two years, Oklahoma State has set a new record for season ticket sales and re-written single-game records several times over.

And the changes in Stillwater have been noticed beyond the borders of Big 12 country...

• In 2009, Cowboy Football appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated twice and made nine appearances on national television.
• A total of 16 states were represented on the Cowboy roster last season, illustrating OSU's newfound appeal and new standing as a nationally-prominent program.
• The Cowboys appeared in four-straight ABC primetime telecasts in 2008. The ESPN on ABC Saturday night productions take place under the brightest spotlight of the college football regular season.
• ESPN College Gameday spent the 2008 Thanksgiving weekend in Stillwater in a return trip to Oklahoma State.
• A national individual award winner (the Ray Guy), a national runner-up (Biletnikoff) and two more finalists (Mackey and Lombardi) further documented OSU's new national muscle.

The orange avalanche started with a clap of thunder in 2005 with the official announcement of Mr. Pickens' historic gift.

In the years since, Oklahoma State has appeared in four straight bowl games and climbed into the top 10 - rising as high as No. 5 in America.

The 2008 squad featured three All-Americans and that total does not include Brandon Pettigrew, OSU's first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

The Cowboys spent the summer of 2009 moving into new facilities as the completion of the west end zone project brings to a close the complete overhaul of Boone Pickens Stadium. The home of the Cowboys has been transformed into one of America's top facilities.

The day-to-day football operations now take place in cutting-edge surroundings.

Over the past two years, Oklahoma State has set a new school record for season ticket sales and single-game attendance.

And the changes in Stillwater have been noticed beyond the borders of Big 12 country as Oklahoma State has arrived on the national scene like never before.

The landscape has changed in Stillwater... From facilities to victories and from television to attendance, OSU's newfound path is clear for all to see. And one can't help but feel that the orange momentum is still building.