Oklahoma State University Athletics
Game Notes - TicketCity Cactus Bowl
December 22, 2014 | Cowboy Football
Up Next For Cowboy Football
WASHINGTON
9:15 p.m. CT | Jan. 2, 2015 | Sun Devil Stadium (67,704 capacity)
TV: ESPN (Dave Flemming, Danny Kanell & Allison Williams)
In Stillwater: Suddenlink 31/231, DirecTV 206, Dish 140, U-verse 602
Tulsa: Cox 25/720, DirecTV 206, Dish 140, U-verse 602
OKC: Cox 29/720, DirecTV 206, Dish 140, U-verse 602/1602
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb & Robert Allen)
National Radio: ESPN Radio (Mark Neely and David Diaz-Infante)
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM Channel 83
Internet Radio: http://okla.st/osutunein
Live Stats: okstate.com
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THE BASICS
The Oklahoma State football team (6-6 overall; 4-5 Big 12) makes its ninth consecutive bowl appearance when it travels to Tempe, Ariz., to take on Washington (8-5 overall; 4-5 Pac-12) in the TicketCity Cactus Bowl at Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets for as little as $25 online at okstate.com/tickets, toll-free at 877-ALL-4-OSU or locally at 405-744-5745.
ON THE AIR
The game will be televised by ESPN with Dave Flemming, Danny Kanell and Allison Williams calling the action. The contest will also be carried live on the Cowboy Radio Network, with Dave Hunziker handling play-by-play, John Holcomb providing analysis and Robert Allen reporting from the sideline.
OKLAHOMA STATE FROM A DISTANCE
Oklahoma State enters the TicketCity Cactus Bowl riding the crest of a signature 38-35 overtime win over No. 18 Oklahoma in Norman in its regular season finale - a victory that propelled the Cowboys into bowl eligibility. The Pokes were ranked as high as No. 15 in the Associated Press poll this season, but a five-game losing streak put the Cowboys on the outside of the Big 12 race.
For the second time in the last three seasons, a variety of injuries have forced coach Mike Gundy to start three different quarterbacks this year - J.W. Walsh, Daxx Garman and Mason Rudolph. Injuries have also been a factor on the offensive line. In fact, for the bulk of OSU's week 11 game at No. 6 Baylor, a true freshman quarterback (Rudolph) was playing behind an offensive line that consisted of three freshmen and a sophomore.
Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah - the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-Big 12 honoree - is the most heralded Cowboy, but defensive tackle Ofa Hautau earned team MVP honors as selected by the coaches for his work in the trenches.
WASHINGTON FROM A DISTANCE
Washington opened the year with four straight wins, but has not found any sustained any rhythm since that point. All five of the Huskies' losses this season came at the hands of ranked opponents. Washington found its stride late in the season with convincing wins at home against Oregon State and at Apple Cup rival Washington State in Pullman.
The Huskies' calling card has been pressuring opposing quarterbacks and forcing turnovers, as UW ranks third nationally in sacks, ninth nationally in turnover margin and led the NCAA with seven defensive touchdowns. Washington is capable of busting big plays in special teams, evidenced by the fact that the Huskies have returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown this season.
Linebacker Hau'Oli Kikana is second nationally in both sacks and tackles for loss and fellow linebacker Shaq Thompson led the nation with four defensive touchdowns. Thompson is a two-way player who doubles as a running back and averaged 7.5 yards per carry.
AN OKLAHOMA STATE WIN WOULD...
• Mark the ninth consecutive winning season for the Cowboys under Mike Gundy, a school record. Prior to Gundy's arrival, OSU had never strung together more than six straight winning seasons.
• Improve the Cowboys to 6-1 in their last seven games vs. teams currently playing in the Pac-12, dating back to 2009.
• Mark its fourth consecutive bowl win in the state of Arizona. The Pokes won the 1974 Fiesta Bowl over BYU, the 2007 Insight Bowl over Indiana and the 2012 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl over Stanford.
• Improve the Cowboys to 37-5 in their last 42 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
• Improve the Cowboys' all-time record in bowl games to 16-9.
• Improve Cowboys' record to 6-3 in bowl games under coach Mike Gundy.
• Improve the Cowboys to 18-3 in their last 21 non-conference games.
• Improve the Cowboys to 5-2 in their last seven neutral-site games.
• Improve the Cowboys to 2-1 all-time against Washington.
NOTABLE STREAKS ENTERING THE WASHINGTON GAME
• Oklahoma State has won three of its last four bowl games.
• Oklahoma State has won 36 of its last 41 over unranked opponents.
• Oklahoma State has won five of its last six over teams currently playing in the Pac-12 Conference, dating back to 2009.
• The Cowboys have blocked at least one kick in three of their last four games.
• Jimmy Bean, James Castleman and Ryan Simmons have all started 25 consecutive games, which equates to starting every game over the past two seasons.
• Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah has at least one sack in six of the last seven games.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 21 consecutive games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 38 of their last 40 games when winning the turnover battle.
THE SERIES
Oklahoma State and Washington have met only twice before, with each team winning on the other's home field. The Huskies were 24-18 winners in Stillwater in 1980, with the Cowboys returning the favor by handing the then-No. 12 Huskies a 31-17 beating in Seattle in the 1985 season opener.
SCHEDULING ODDITY
Oklahoma State opened the 1985 season with Washington and closed it with Florida State in its bowl game. Oklahoma State opened the 2014 season with Florida State and closes it with Washington in its bowl game.
CONNECTIONS
• Oklahoma State fullback Teddy Johnson and Washington tailback Gavin McDaniel both hail from Coppell HS in Coppell, Texas.
• Oklahoma State kicker Ben Grogan and cornerback Ashton Lampkin both hail from the same hometown (Arlington, Texas) as Washington defensive back Trevor Walker.
BOWLING IN THE DESERT
Oklahoma State is 4-0 in its four bowl trips to the desert, scoring a pair of Fiesta Bowl wins (1974 vs. BYU and 2012 vs. Stanford), an Insight Bowl win over Indiana in 2007 and a Sun Bowl win over West Virginia in 1987.
