Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Travel To Austin To Take On No. 4 Texas
October 30, 2006 | Cowboy Football
Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006 • Austin, Texas
Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (85,132) • 6 p.m.
Television: TBS
Ron Thulin (play-by-play)
Charles Davis (analyst)
Craig Sager (sidelines)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Dave Hunziker (play-by-play)
John Holcomb (analyst)
Robert Allen (sidelines)
Joe Riddle (engineer)
Satellite: Sirius Radio Channel 153
Internet: www.okstate.com
Storylines
The Oklahoma State Cowboys return to the road this week as they battle the fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns in Austin. Texas is the last remaining unbeaten in Big 12 play.
The Cowboys will be looking to build on the momentum they established in Saturday's 41-29 win over No. 20 Nebraska. The Cowboys spotted Nebraska a 16-0 lead before roaring back for the victory.
The Texas contest launches the final month of the season for the Cowboys. Following the trip to Austin, OSU will host Baylor, travel to Texas Tech and host Oklahoma in a Thanksgiving weekend Bedlam game.
The Cowboy-Longhorn series is not long, with just 20 all-time meetings, including the 10 previous meetings over the last decade as conference rivals. OSU's last and only win in Austin came in 1944 (13-8). Oklahoma State has had a couple of near misses at Texas (37-34 in 1998 and 17-15 in 2002) since the Big 12's formation. OSU is 1-9 against Texas as a conference member.
The trip to Texas will mark OSU's third straight game against a nationally-ranked opponent (the win over Nebraska and the overtime loss to Texas A&M).
Heart of Texas
The Oklahoma State Cowboys, 5-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12 Conference, take on their third straight ranked opponent this week when they travel to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns (8-1, 5-0) in a TBS Saturday night game. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
The Numbers
Oklahoma State is 5-3 on the season and 2-2 in the Big 12 Conference. The win totals in both categories surpass OSU's totals for all of last season. Another win this season would guarantee at least a .500 season and could put the Cowboys in position to qualify for their fourth bowl game in five years. The Cowboys last went bowling four times in five seasons in the 1980s (1983 Bluebonnet Bowl, 1984 Gator Bowl, 1985 Gator Bowl, 1987 Sun Bowl, 1988 Holiday Bowl) when they went five times in six years.
Against The Elite
Oklahoma State is playing its third straight member of the Top 25, and so far the Cowboys have held up well against members of the polls. OSU was a 34-33 overtime loser to No. 23 Texas A&M, followed by the 41-29 win over No. 20 Nebraska last week.
Gundy Vs. The Top 25
Under second-year head coach Mike Gundy, OSU is 2-2 against the top 25. The Cowboys have the win over No. 20 Nebraska and last year's 24-17 victory over No. 13 Texas Tech. Incidentally, the Cowboys haven't defeated ranked teams in consecutive weeks since 1997 when they put together back-to-back wins over No. 23 Texas and No. 20 Colorado. OSU's last road win over a ranked opponent came in the 2001 season finale at No. 4 Oklahoma, 16-13.
Nebraska Down, Texas The Next Test
Oklahoma State has finally turned, ever so slightly, the Nebraska series. The Cowboys are just 4-36-1 against the Cornhuskers, but two of the wins have come in the last three meetings. OSU is 2-18 all-time against Texas and will be looking to break an eight-game losing streak in the series.
Orange Points
Oklahoma State and Texas enter this week's game as the Big 12's two highest scoring teams. For the season, the Longhorns score 39.6 points per game to lead the league and rank fourth nationally. OSU's 37.9 ppg checks in at second in the Big 12 and seventh nationally. OSU has the advantage in total offense, averaging 431 yards per game to the Longhorns' 398.6 ypg.
