Game Notes - Oklahoma State Travels to Kansas - Oklahoma State University Athletics

Saturday, October 22

Lawrence, KS

11 a.m. CT

Oklahoma State University

Kansas

Photo by: OSU Athletics

Game Notes - Oklahoma State Travels to Kansas

October 17, 2016 | Cowboy Football

Complete Release in PDF Format

Up next for Oklahoma State football
At Kansas
11 a.m. CT | Oct 22, 2016 | Memorial Stadium (50,071)

TV: FS1 (Mark Followill and Petros Papadakis)
In Stillwater: Suddenlink 37/237, DirecTV 219, Dish 150, U-verse 652/1652
In OKC: Cox 67/HD 728, DirecTV 219, Dish 150, U-verse 652/HD 1652
In Tulsa: Cox 1312, DirecTV 219, Dish 150, U-verse 652/HD 1652
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb & Robert Allen)
National Radio: None
Satellite Radio: Sirius 136, XM 199 (Kansas feed)
Internet - Mobile App: http://okla.st/osutunein - TuneIn Radio App
Live Stats: okstate.com
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The Basics
                The Oklahoma State football team (4-2 overall; 2-1 Big 12) travels to Lawrence to take on Kansas (1-5 overall; 0-3 Big 12) at 11 a.m. CT in Memorial Stadium.

On the Air
                The game will be televised by FS1 with Mark Followill and Petros Papadakis on the call. 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. Fans outside of the Cowboy Radio Network can listen to the OSU broadcast free of charge through TuneIn Radio or the TuneIn Radio app.

In the Rankings
                Neither Oklahoma State nor Kansas is ranked going into this game, though the Cowboys are receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls.

Oklahoma State From a Distance
                Midway through the season, Oklahoma State is sitting at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play. The Cowboys enter Saturday's game at Kansas fresh off a bye week that came on the heels of back-to-back conference wins over Texas and Iowa State. Some of the basics on OSU:

Offense
•             The Cowboys have essentially taken what opponents have given them this season. For example, Pittsburgh brought its safeties into the box and sold out to stop the OSU run game, so the Cowboys beat the Panthers over the top, amassing 540 passing yards and nine pass plays that went for 20 yards or longer. The following week, Baylor put safeties over the top, so OSU adjusted and rushed 55 times for a season-high 213 yards. Texas also committed itself to stopping the deep pass, so the Cowboys rushed 43 times and piled up 555 yards of offense against the Longhorns. Last time out, Iowa State went with a more balanced defense, so OSU went balanced with 33 rush attempts and 44 pass attempts.

Defense
•             Defensively, forcing turnovers has been at the center of OSU's success. Through six games, the Cowboys have forced 13 turnovers (2.2 per game) and have taken two of those back for defensive touchdowns. That does not count the two-point conversion that OSU created against Texas when it blocked a PAT and returned it for a score.
•             Additionally, OSU has consistently worked its way into opposing backfields, averaging 8.3 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks per game. Most encouraging is that of the Cowboys' 18 sacks this season, 15.5 have come from defensive linemen.

Special Teams
•             Special teams have been a strong point for the Cowboys this year. The Pokes have blocked four kicks, have a net punting average of greater than 40 yards, are averaging 13.8 yards per punt return and are limiting opponents to less than 18 yards per kickoff return.
•             Punter Zach Sinor is performing at a very high level. His 31 punts this year have yielded only 26 return yards for OSU's opponents. Of his 31 punts, 19 have been downed inside the 20-yard line with only one resulting in a touchback.

                Looking beyond just this season, turnovers and non-offensive touchdowns rank among Oklahoma State's signature traits this decade. In fact, the Cowboys lead the nation with 39 non-offensive touchdowns since 2010 and are third in America with 185 turnovers forced since 2010. Only Houston and Oregon have forced more during that time span.
                An explosive aerial attack has also been at the core of Oklahoma State's identity this decade, with the Cowboys ranking in the top 10 nationally in passing yards per game four times since 2010, and that does not count what's happening this season, as the Cowboys currently rank eighth in the nation in passing offense.
                On special teams, the Cowboys have a recent tradition of blocking kicks, as OSU has blocked 17 kicks since the start of the 2013 season to lead the FBS during that time span. The Cowboys lead the nation with four blocked kicks this season.

Kansas From a Distance
                After starting the season with a 55-6 win over Rhode Island, Kansas has lost its last five games, including a 49-7 defeat at the hands of Baylor in Waco last week. The Jayhawks looked much better playing at home the previous week when they nearly pulled off a significant upset of TCU, but missed a field goal with six seconds remaining to take a 24-23 defeat.
                Led by defensive ends Dorance Armstrong, Jr. and Cameron Rosser, Kansas has been aggressive on the defensive side of the ball this season, ranking eighth nationally with 8.5 tackles for loss per game. In its last four games, KU averages 3.5 sacks per game and the Jayhawks have held each of their last two opponents - TCU and Baylor - well under their season averages for total offense. The Horned Frogs and Bears combined to advance into the red zone 11 times against Kansas, but only six of those 11 drives resulted in touchdowns, with four of those possessions resulting in no points at all. On the year, the KU defense has held opponents to a respectable 5.6 yards per play despite having faced three offensive powerhouses (Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU), who all rank in the top 10 nationally in total offense.
                Offensively, turnovers have been a problem for Kansas, as the Jayhawks have given the ball away 22 times - which is more than any other team in the nation. While the Jayhawks' offensive totals don't immediately catch the eye, it should be noted that KU has demonstrated the ability to move the ball, as the Jayhawks piled up 470 yards of offense (348 of which came through the air) against TCU.
                The Jayhawks also rank among the top 25 teams in the nation in fewest penalties committed and fewest penalty yards allowed.

An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Improve the Cowboys to 7-1 in their last eight true road games, dating back to 2014.
• Be its seventh straight over Kansas and its 12th in the last 13 meetings with the Jayhawks. The Cowboys have not lost to Kansas since 2007 and have not lost to the Jayhawks in Lawrence since 1994. Since that 1994 setback, OSU has won six consecutive road games in the series.
• Increase the Cowboys' advantage in the all-time series against Kansas to 36-29-2 The series dates back to 1923, but didn't get going in earnest until 1946.
• Improve the Cowboys to 21-15-1 all-time against Kansas in Lawrence.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record against Kansas to 8-1.
• Improve the Cowboys to 40-17 in Big 12 Conference games since 2010.
• Improve the Cowboys to 50-6 in their last 56 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
• Bring Mike Gundy to within one victory of the 100-win mark for his career.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Kansas Game
• Oklahoma State has won 16 of its last 21 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has won six of its last seven true road games, dating back to the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has won its last six over Kansas dating back to 2007.
• Oklahoma State has won its last six games played against Kansas in Lawrence, dating back to 1994.
• Oklahoma State is averaging 536.5 yards of offense in its last four games.
• Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by a 82-33 margin in the first quarter of games this season.
• Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 16 of the last 17 games.
• Oklahoma State holds a 62-28 advantage in points off turnovers through six games this season.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 27 of their last 28 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 47 of their last 51 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 25 touchdown passes against just four interceptions in his last 12 games, dating back to the 2015 season.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown just two interceptions in 231 pass attempts this season.
• Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 25 games.
• Receiver James Washington is averaging 157.0 yards receiving in his last four games.
• Of Zach Sinor's 31 punts this season, 19 have been downed inside the opponent 20-yard line, with only one touchback. Sinor's 31 punts have yielded only 26 punt return yards for the opponent.
• Running back Justice Hill has rushed for at least 100 yards in two of the last three games. The only Cowboy true freshmen to rush for 100 yards or more three times in a season are Thurman Thomas (three times in 1984) and Andre Richardson (three times in 1994).

The Series
                Oklahoma State holds a 35-29-2 all-time advantage in the series with Kansas, which dates back to 1923. The Cowboys have won each of the last six and 11 of the last 12 over the Jayhawks. When facing Kansas in Lawrence, OSU is 20-15-1 all-time. The Cowboys have left Memorial Stadium as winners in each of their last six trips and haven't lost to the Jayhawks in Lawrence since 1994. Mike Gundy is 7-1 all-time against Kansas.

Recapping the Last Meeting
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Backup quarterback J.W. Walsh ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more to help No. 14 Oklahoma State defeat Kansas 58-10 on Saturday, hours after a fatal crash near the stadium during the school's homecoming festivities.
                Three people were killed and dozens injured when a woman suspected of driving under the influence plowed a car into a crowd at the homecoming parade. Oklahoma State considered postponing the game, but in the end, opted to go ahead with it.
                The flag at Boone Pickens Stadium was lowered to half-staff and Cowboys players knelt down on the field and prayed before the coin flip.
                Mason Rudolph completed 20 of 26 passes for 305 yards and had a touchdown for Oklahoma State (7-0, 4-0 Big 12). Kansas (0-7, 0-4) lost its 10th straight game overall and 36th on the road.

Connections
• Kansas special teams coordinator Joe DeForest was a long-time Oklahoma State assistant under both Les Miles (2001-04) and Mike Gundy (2005-11).
• Kansas linebackers coach Todd Bradford served in that same capacity under Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State from 2005-07.
• Oklahoma State defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements served on the same Kansas staff as KU head coach David Beaty and Clint Bowen in 2008, with Clements coaching the defensive line, Beaty mentoring the wide receivers and Bowen serving as defensive coordinator.
• Kansas running backs coach Tony Hull coached Oklahoma State receiver Tyron Johnson at Warren Easton HS in New Orleans.
• Oklahoma State Cowboy Back Keenen Brown and Kansas safety Greg Allen both hail from Alief Taylor HS in Houston.
• Kansas cornerback Kyle Mayberry comes from the same Booker T. Washington HS program in Tulsa that produced Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill, defensive end Jordan Brailford, linebacker Melvin Gilliam and receiver Tariq Bitson.
• Oklahoma State Cowboy Back Zac Veatch and Kansas punter Cole Moos both came from Broken Arrow HS.
• Oklahoma State cornerback Ashton Lampkin and Kansas running back Taylor Martin are both products of Fort Worth Dunbar HS.
• Oklahoma State receiver Dillon Stoner and Kansas cornerback Justin Williams were teammates at Jenks HS.
• Oklahoma State fullback Luke Hupp and Kansas offensive lineman Mesa Ribordy both come from Louisburg HS in Louisburg, Kansas.
• Oklahoma State receiver Tyron Johnson comes from the same Warren Easton HS program in New Orleans that produced Kansas quarterback Tyriek Starks and offensive lineman Malik Clark.
• Oklahoma State defensive end Tralund Webber and Kansas offensive lineman Jayson Rhodes were teammates at Blinn College.
• Oklahoma State running back Chris Carson and Kansas defensive tackle Will Smith were teammates at Butler CC.
• Oklahoma State offensive lineman Brandon Pertile and Kansas defensive end Damani Mosby both had stops at Mesa CC.
• Oklahoma State's Jakeem Johnson comes from the same NEO A&M JC program that produced Kansas punter Cole Moos and kicker Gabriel Rui.