STILLWATER (AP) — The Associated Press Top 25 has been a subject of discussion in recent weeks among Oklahoma State football players. Namely, when were the Cowboys going to crack the poll?

“That was one of our goals, and if you don’t talk about it, it can’t happen,” junior linebacker Andre Sexton said.

The answer they’d been waiting for came Sunday, when Oklahoma State (4-0) debuted at No. 21, fresh off a 55-24 rout of Troy a day earlier. It’s the first time Oklahoma State has appeared in the poll since Nov. 13, 2004, when the Cowboys were No. 25.

Les Miles left Oklahoma State for LSU a few weeks later, and Mike Gundy replaced him as the Cowboys’ coach. Gundy said the Cowboys’ status as a ranked team shouldn’t affect their preparation as they begin Big 12 Conference play on Saturday by hosting Texas A&M (2-2).

“I know myself, our coaching staff, we’re going to come to work early and do the same things that we’ve done,” Gundy said. “I’m sure our fans will enjoy (the ranking) and I’m proud of our team for accomplishing that goal, but we’ll have a task at hand next Saturday, and whether we’re ranked in the Top 25 or not, those guys will come in here ready to play.”

Troy coach Larry Blakeney, whose squad lost 28-10 to Ohio State a week earlier, said the Cowboys compare favorable to a program that’s reached the national championship game the past two seasons.

“They’ve got a good enough team to beat Ohio State,” Blakeney said. “They’ve got a good enough team to beat lots of people, but they’ve got to believe they can and they’ve got to be in the right frame of mind. What’s it worth to them? What’s riding on it?

“I think they’re well-coached and they’ve got key skill at critical positions on offense, I’d say every position.”

Blakeney noted that Oklahoma State rolled up 612 yards of offense — the eighth-best total in school history — despite playing without standout tight end Brandon Pettigrew, whom Gundy said is “day-to-day” with an ankle injury.

Sexton called the quest to make the Top 25 “a driving force” that has motivated the Cowboys. Other players, echoing their head coach, said the ranking is nice but could only be temporary if the Cowboys don’t continue winning.

“It’s a good feeling to know that we’ve done something and we’re getting recognized,” junior offensive tackle Brady Bond said. “But it’s only four games. More than half the season is left. We’ve got a long way to go.”

Oklahoma State is 4-0 for the 13th time in school history. Four of those times, the Cowboys have gone on to win nine or more games, the last time in 1988, when Barry Sanders won the Heisman Trophy and led the Cowboys to a 10-2 finish.

Oklahoma State has won its last five games and is one of 18 remaining undefeated Football Bowl Subdivision teams. The Cowboys are 9-11 as a ranked team since the Big 12 came into existence with the 1996 season, including a 7-7 mark under Miles.

The Cowboys have lost four straight games to Texas A&M, including a pair of one-point defeats the last two years. After facing the Aggies, the schedule immediately turns challenging, with a game at No. 4 Missouri. Oklahoma State also will visit No. 5 Texas and No. 7 Texas Tech in Big 12 South play before closing the regular season at home against No. 1 Oklahoma.

“Ultimately, you hear coaches say this, and I have a tendency to agree, that you’re going to get to play them all,” Gundy said. “If you continue to play well and work hard and stay focused and win enough of them, you’ll eventually break in there and you’ll be where you want to be at the end of the season. We just have to keep pushing forward.”