Tracking the Trends: Baylor

Photo by: OSU Athletics

September 23, 2016 | Cowboy Football

STILLWATER – As the Oklahoma State football team prepares for Saturday's Big 12 opener at Baylor, we take a look at streaks on the line and other trends to look out for this weekend.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Baylor Game
- Oklahoma State has won each of its last six true road games, dating back to the 2014 season.
- Oklahoma State has won 14 of its last 18 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
- Oklahoma State has won four of its last five games played against teams from the state of Texas.
- Oklahoma State has scored at least 30 points in five of its last six true road games.
- Oklahoma State passers have attempted at least 40 passes in five of its last six games.
- A different player has led Oklahoma State in rushing in each of the team's three games this season.
- Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 13 of the last 14 games.
- Oklahoma State holds a 35-14 advantage in points off turnovers in three games this season.
- Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 25 of their last 26 games when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 45 of their last 49 games when winning the turnover battle.
- Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 18 touchdown passes against just three interceptions in his last 10 games, dating back to the 2015 season.
- Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown just one interception in 114 pass attempts this season.
- Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 22 games.
- Of Zach Sinor's 14 punts this season, 11 have been downed inside the opponent 20-yard line.

Talking Points – Offense
- The Oklahoma State passing offense is ranked ninth nationally at 360.3 yards per game, and the combination of quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington is among the best in college football. We've long known that the duo was a formidable force, but they were historic in last week's 45-38 win over Pitt, breaking several school records along the way. Rudolph finished with 540 yards passing, 296 of which went to Washington. Both of those marks rank as the best individual performances in FBS football this season. Washington, who has now caught a pass in 22 straight games, received Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance.
- The most talked about aspect of the Cowboy offense in the weeks leading up to the season and into the first few games has been the need for improvement in the run game. Those concerns showed signs of being addressed last week, as senior running back Rennie Childs turned in career bests in rushing yards with 101 and rushing touchdowns with four. Those four rushing touchdowns are enough to rank him 13th nationally and third in the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns. Childs also sprinted 67 yards for a touchdown on his longest rush, marking Oklahoma State's longest rushing play since 2013.
- Other Cowboys have also contributed significantly to the offensive cause, including receivers Jalen McCleskey and Jhajuan Seales. Against Pitt last week, Seales reeled in an 86-yard grab to the 1-yard line on OSU's game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes. He finished the game with a career-best 129 receiving yards on seven catches. While Seales is second on the team in receiving yards behind Washington, McCleskey is just one catch behind Washington on the season. His 6.0 receptions per game rank among the top 30 nationally and are fifth in the Big 12, showing that his number is called often. Additionally, McCleskey has served as the Cowboys' primary punt returner and has drastically improved the Cowboys numbers in that department as well.

Talking Points – Defense
- Forcing turnovers has long been a focal point of defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer's scheme. After three games in 2016, it's easy to say the Cowboys have been successful in those regards. Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 in turnovers gained (7 - 14th nationally), turnover margin (+1.0 per game - 21st nationally), fumbles recovered (5 – third nationally) and defensive touchdowns (2 - fifth nationally). They're also second in the Big 12 with two interceptions.
- Although six players have contributed directly to the turnover numbers by recording fumble or interception statistics, no two players have had a bigger impact in that department than linebacker Devante Averette and cornerback Ramon Richards. Averette has two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries on the year, while Richards has two interceptions, with one clinching OSU's win over Pitt and the other being a would-be clincher vs. Central Michigan. If that's not impressive enough, the duo combined for one of the college football plays of the year in the season-opener when Averette forced and recovered a fumble before lateralling it back in bounds to Richards who ran it in for a touchdown.
- Sophomore Cole Walterscheid burst onto the seen last week in OSU's 45-38 win over Pitt, setting career highs with four tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and a quarterback hurry. His four tackles for loss matched the eighth-highest figure in school history and only twice since 2007 has a Cowboy had more in a game. His day was even more impressive considering that it was truly Walterscheid's coming-out party. Prior to his effort against Pittsburgh, his career totals consisted of three tackles, one tackle for loss and zero sacks.
- Walterscheid's big day just adds another big name to Oklahoma State's already loaded defensive line. The Cowboys have a full rotation on defensive front without really missing a step. Vincent Taylor, Motekiai Maile, Vili Leveni, Darrion Daniels, Eric Davis and DeQuinton Osborne have all bolstered the inside, while Walterscheid, Jarrell Owens, Tralund Webber and Trey Carter have all demonstrated talent at defensive end. That combination has proven to be more than capable so far, as the Cowboys lead the Big 12 and rank seventh in the country with 10 tackles for loss per game.