Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Bullard
Oklahoma State’s History in Season Openers
August 22, 2015 | Cowboy Football
The Cowboys have not lost a season opener to an unranked opponent since 2002.
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State opens the 2015 season at Central Michigan on Sept. 3.
The Cowboys are 67-41-5 all-time in season-openers, including an 8-2 mark under 11th-year head coach Mike Gundy. OSU has won six of its last seven, nine of its last 11 and 26 of its last 34 season openers. The only season-opening losses under Gundy came against No. 13 Georgia in Athens in 2007 and against No. 1-ranked and reigning national champion Florida State on a neutral field in 2014.
A closer look at OSU in season openers under Mike Gundy:
2005 vs. Montana State W, 15-10
2006 vs. Missouri State W, 52-10
2007 at No. 13 Georgia L, 14-35
2008 vs. Washington State (in Seattle) W, 39-13
2009 vs. No. 13 Georgia W, 24-10
2010 vs. Washington State W, 65-17
2011 vs. Louisiana W, 61-34
2012 vs. Savannah State W, 84-0
2013 vs. Mississippi State (in Houston) W, 21-3
2014 vs. No. 1 Florida State (in Arlington) L, 31-37
2015 at Central Michigan -
Including this year's trip to Mount Pleasant, the Cowboys have opened each of the last three seasons away from Boone Pickens Stadium. In 2013, OSU claimed a 21-3 neutral-site win over Mississippi State in Houston and in 2014, the Cowboys were edged by top-ranked Florida State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
A look back at the 2013 win over the Bulldogs:
From 2010-12, the Cowboys averaged 70.0 points per game in season-opening wins over Washington State (65-17 in 2010), Louisiana (61-34 in 2011) and Savannah State (84-0 in 2012).
By virtue of the score, the 2012 win over Savannah State naturally catches the eye. Some notes from that contest:
• Oklahoma State used 95 players in the game.
• The Cowboys scored 35 points on 23 offensive snaps in the first quarter.
• Mike Gundy pulled the offensive starters out of the game for good before the first quarter ended. The starters played five series and were done.
• OSU recorded its highest point total since a 117-0 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State in 1916.
• OSU tied a school record for points in a quarter with 35 in the first period.
• OSU set a Big 12 record with 84 points.
• OSU set a new school record with nine rushing touchdowns.
• OSU had 102 punt return yards by midway through the second period vs. Savannah State. The Cowboys had 79 punt return yards all of the previous season.
Through the years, many of Oklahoma State's biggest names turned in notable performances in season openers. A small sampling:
The next chapter of OSU's history in season openers will be written when the Cowboys square off against the Chippewas on Sept. 3.
The Cowboys are 67-41-5 all-time in season-openers, including an 8-2 mark under 11th-year head coach Mike Gundy. OSU has won six of its last seven, nine of its last 11 and 26 of its last 34 season openers. The only season-opening losses under Gundy came against No. 13 Georgia in Athens in 2007 and against No. 1-ranked and reigning national champion Florida State on a neutral field in 2014.
A closer look at OSU in season openers under Mike Gundy:
2005 vs. Montana State W, 15-10
2006 vs. Missouri State W, 52-10
2007 at No. 13 Georgia L, 14-35
2008 vs. Washington State (in Seattle) W, 39-13
2009 vs. No. 13 Georgia W, 24-10
2010 vs. Washington State W, 65-17
2011 vs. Louisiana W, 61-34
2012 vs. Savannah State W, 84-0
2013 vs. Mississippi State (in Houston) W, 21-3
2014 vs. No. 1 Florida State (in Arlington) L, 31-37
2015 at Central Michigan -
Including this year's trip to Mount Pleasant, the Cowboys have opened each of the last three seasons away from Boone Pickens Stadium. In 2013, OSU claimed a 21-3 neutral-site win over Mississippi State in Houston and in 2014, the Cowboys were edged by top-ranked Florida State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
A look back at the 2013 win over the Bulldogs:
From 2010-12, the Cowboys averaged 70.0 points per game in season-opening wins over Washington State (65-17 in 2010), Louisiana (61-34 in 2011) and Savannah State (84-0 in 2012).
By virtue of the score, the 2012 win over Savannah State naturally catches the eye. Some notes from that contest:
• Oklahoma State used 95 players in the game.
• The Cowboys scored 35 points on 23 offensive snaps in the first quarter.
• Mike Gundy pulled the offensive starters out of the game for good before the first quarter ended. The starters played five series and were done.
• OSU recorded its highest point total since a 117-0 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State in 1916.
• OSU tied a school record for points in a quarter with 35 in the first period.
• OSU set a Big 12 record with 84 points.
• OSU set a new school record with nine rushing touchdowns.
• OSU had 102 punt return yards by midway through the second period vs. Savannah State. The Cowboys had 79 punt return yards all of the previous season.
Through the years, many of Oklahoma State's biggest names turned in notable performances in season openers. A small sampling:
- Barry Sanders' Heisman Trophy season of 1988 got underway when he returned the opening kickoff of the season 100 yards for a touchdown against Miami of Ohio. He did the same thing the previous season, taking the opening kick back 100 yards for a score against Tulsa.
- As a promising sophomore in 2008, Dez Bryant made seven catches for 90 yards and also returned a punt 42 yards in a win over Washington State in Seattle. Fellow up-and-coming sophomore Kendall Hunter carried 23 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns in that game. Both players went on to earn All-America honors that season.
- Bryant struck again in 2009, collecting two touchdown passes in a 24-10 season-opening win over No. 13 Georgia in Boone Pickens Stadium.
- Previously unknown on the national level, receiver Justin Blackmon exploded for four touchdowns as part of OSU's 65-17 win over Washington State in 2010. Blackmon was not the only Cowboy to go off that day, as Kendall Hunter carried 21 times for 257 yards and four touchdowns of his own. Blackmon went on to win the Biletnikoff Award and Hunter was a consensus All-American that season.
- In 2011, quarterback Brandon Weeden passed for 388 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener against Louisiana. He went on to rewrite the OSU single-season passing record book that season.
- In 2014, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah sacked Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jameis Winston of Florida State twice. A relative unknown to that point, Ogbah went on to earn Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors and All-Big 12 first team status.
The next chapter of OSU's history in season openers will be written when the Cowboys square off against the Chippewas on Sept. 3.
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