I get your point that racing conservatively is not the best way to please the crowd of onlookers. But this is regionals, a short time out from nationals. Qualifying, improving, and keeping everyone healthy is the key.
Also, Coach Smith has a remarkably talented team of runners, but he can't race each of them the same way throughout the season. For example, German took a long break due to an injury, and Girma Mecheso and David Chirchir only now seem to be rounding into form. Coach Smith has had to make decisions about when to rest team members during the season, all with a focus on the nationals and their careers generally.
As an Oklahoma State and Stanford grad, I'm really glad to see both teams performing so well. But I expect that Oklahoma State will win. My prediction is based on the likelihood that both teams have a good shot of having their top four in the top twenty, but I expect that Oklahoma State has a greater likelihood that Mecheso or Chirchir will have a big day and score well. Both have finished in the top twenty at nationals in past years, although their seasons have not demonstrated a likelihod that either will finish that high.
Finally, while "irregardless" is certainly a word and it's appropriate for this informal forum, I agree that "regardless" or "irrespective" would have been much better word choices.