Oklahoma State ran onto the turf in Mount Pleasant, Mich., for the season opener with 11 returning starters on offense and no quarterback debate under the direction of a coordinator entering his third year calling plays for the Cowboys.
Even then, plenty of questions remained.
How did spring ball, summer workouts and fall camp fast track Mason Rudolph's development? How will ideas from three new offensive assistants mesh with the game plan? Will first-year transfers Chris Carson and Victor Salako meet high expectations?
Of course, one game against a Mid-American Conference foe wouldn't provide all the answers, but Central Michigan could at least establish a baseline.