Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Tracking the Trends: TCU
November 18, 2016 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – As the Oklahoma State football team prepares to take on TCU tomorrow in Fort Worth, we take a look at streaks on the line and other trends to look out for this weekend.
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Week 12 Talking Points – Offense
•  The Oklahoma State offense runs through quarterback Mason Rudolph. When he plays well, the Cowboys usually win the game, and that has been the case for the majority of the season. Rudolph has surpassed 350 yards passing in five games this year, including each of the past two games and a school-record of 540 yards in OSU's win over Pitt. Additionally, Rudolph is one of just two quarterbacks in the country this year to attempt more than 350 passes with less than five interceptions, and he's the only one from a Power Five conference school. He ranks fifth nationally with 338.4 passing yards per game.
•  Receivers James Washington and Jalen McCleskey have been Rudolph's most effective targets, teaming up to form a dangerous duo in the passing game. Washington ranks eighth nationally with 1,132 receiving yards and he ranks second nationally with 13 catches of 30 yards or longer this year. His three catches of at least 80 yards are more than any other player in the country, including game-changing 82-yard touchdown receptions in each of the last two games. McCleskey leads the team in receptions, catching at least three passes in every game this year and at least five in seven games. He's totaled 30 catches for 313 yards and three touchdowns in the last four games.
•  Part of what makes the Cowboys' passing game so effective is their ability to spread the ball around the field. 17 different players have caught a pass for OSU this year, and four have at least one game with 100 receiving yards -
Washington, McCleskey, Jhajuan Seales and Chris Lacy. Washington has surpassed the 100-yard mark five times this season, including four times in the last five games.
•  The Cowboys' rushing attack has established itself as a threat this season. OSU averaged 5.5 yards per carry with 210 rushing yards in last week's win over Texas Tech, and the week before that, the Cowboys put up more yards on Kansas State than any other team has this year with 180 on average of 6.9 yards per carry. True freshman running back Justice Hill leads the team with 789 yards this season, and his 126 yards last week marked his fourth 100-yard game. That's more than any other freshman in OSU history. Hill's season yardage total ranks as the fourth-highest total for any freshman in the country and is already the second-best season total for a true freshman in OSU history.
•  Running back Chris Carson missed four games to injury earlier in the season, but has been an impact player since returning. The senior has scored six touchdowns in the last four games and has rushed for 216 yards on 30 carries (7.2 yards per carry). He scored the game-winning touchdown in OSU's 43-37 win over Kansas State, and bulldozed a Texas Tech defender in the final minute last week to pick up a crucial first down and seal the win for the Cowboys.
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Week 12 Talking Points – Defense
•  Forcing turnovers has long been a focal point of defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer's scheme. The Cowboys have sealed multiple games with late turnovers and are now ranked No. 13 in the country and No. 1 in the Big 12 with 21 turnovers gained on the season. They are also No. 14 nationally and No. 1 in the Big 12 in turnover margin at +0.8. The Cowboys have forced at least one turnover in every game this year, including 11 in the last five games. In OSU's win over No. 10 West Virginia, the Cowboys outscored WVU, 17-0, in points off turnovers and won the game by 17 points.
•  Last week's win over Texas Tech showed OSU defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer's ability to make adjustments and win games. For the first time this season, the Cowboys mainly played in a 3-3-5 set that proved to be effective in limiting the nation's No. 1-ranked passing offense. The Texas Tech offense hadn't had more than three 3-and-outs in a game entering last week, and OSU held TTU to three consecutive 3-and-outs to start the game, allowing just 11 rushing yards and 0 passing yards during that time. TTU had four 3-and-outs in the game and its passing offense was held to 126.8 yards less than its season average.
•  Making his first start, linebacker Justin Phillips had a significant impact in OSU's win over Texas Tech last week. He led all players with career-highs of 14 tackles and nine solo stops, added a sack and forced an important fumble that was recovered by the Cowboys immediately after Texas Tech recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter. Phillips' 14 tackles against the Red Raiders marked the highest total in the Big 12 last week and was the highest single-game output for a Cowboy this season.
•  In seven of OSU's eight wins, the Cowboy defense has held its opponent to less than 50 percent on third down conversions, including twice when they were held to less than 25 percent. The Cowboys are holding opponents to a 38.7 conversion rate on the year to rank second in the Big 12, and success in that area has had a strong correlation with OSU's win-loss record.
•  Oklahoma State leads the nation with five blocked kicks this season, three of which came as part of the Cowboys' win over Texas. Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor leads the country individually with three blocks. The latest block came at Kansas as Motekiai Maile swatted a 59-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half, and the Cowboys have nearly gotten to several other kicks this year.
•  After 10 games, the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in turnover margin (+0.8), turnovers forced (21), fumbles recovered
(10) and interceptions (11). The Cowboys also lead the conference in defensive touchdowns (2) and kickoff coverage
(18.53).
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Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the TCU Game
•  Oklahoma State has won its last six games, good for the fourth-longest active win streak among Power Five schools.
•  Oklahoma State has won eight of its last nine true road games, dating back to 2014.
•  OSU is 11-1 in its last 12 games decided by less than 10 points.
•  Oklahoma State has won three of the four meetings with TCU since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 in 2012.
•  TCU has won the last three series meetings played in Fort Worth.
•  Oklahoma State has trailed at some point in six of its last seven wins.
•  Oklahoma State has won 20 of its last 25 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
•  Oklahoma State has scored at least 20 points in each of its last 26 games - the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Oregon's streak of 40 straight.
•  Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by a 123-63 margin in the first quarter of games this season.
•  Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by an 81-46 margin in the fourth quarter of games this season.
•  Oklahoma State has piled up at least 600 yards of offense in each its last two games, marking just the third time in school history that has happened (1988 and 2012).
•  OSU's defense has forced 11 turnovers in the last five games.
•  Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 20 of the last 21 games.
•  Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 28 of their last 29 games when not committing a turnover.
•  Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 49 of their last 53 games when winning the turnover battle.
•  Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 36 touchdown passes against just six interceptions in his last 16 games, dating back to the 2015 season.
•  Quarterback Mason Rudolph has turned in a pass efficiency rating above 200 in each of his last two games.
•  According to ESPN Stats and Info, quarterback Mason Rudolph has posted a QBR of 89.8, 88.2 and 85.9 in his last three games, against West Virginia, Kansas State and Texas Tech, respectively.
•  Mason Rudolph and James Washington have connected on eight touchdown passes this year. Those eight touchdown passes have gone for an average of 47.4 yards per touchdown.
•  Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 29 games.
•  Receiver James Washington has gone over 100 yards receiving in each of his last three games and the trio of Jalen McCleskey, Jhajuan Seales and Chris Lacy is averaging 193.5 receiving yards in the last two games.
•  Running back Justice Hill has rushed for at least 100 yards in four of the last seven games. He is the only Oklahoma State freshman in history to rush for 100 yards or more in four games.
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Week 12 Talking Points – Offense
•  The Oklahoma State offense runs through quarterback Mason Rudolph. When he plays well, the Cowboys usually win the game, and that has been the case for the majority of the season. Rudolph has surpassed 350 yards passing in five games this year, including each of the past two games and a school-record of 540 yards in OSU's win over Pitt. Additionally, Rudolph is one of just two quarterbacks in the country this year to attempt more than 350 passes with less than five interceptions, and he's the only one from a Power Five conference school. He ranks fifth nationally with 338.4 passing yards per game.
•  Receivers James Washington and Jalen McCleskey have been Rudolph's most effective targets, teaming up to form a dangerous duo in the passing game. Washington ranks eighth nationally with 1,132 receiving yards and he ranks second nationally with 13 catches of 30 yards or longer this year. His three catches of at least 80 yards are more than any other player in the country, including game-changing 82-yard touchdown receptions in each of the last two games. McCleskey leads the team in receptions, catching at least three passes in every game this year and at least five in seven games. He's totaled 30 catches for 313 yards and three touchdowns in the last four games.
•  Part of what makes the Cowboys' passing game so effective is their ability to spread the ball around the field. 17 different players have caught a pass for OSU this year, and four have at least one game with 100 receiving yards -
Washington, McCleskey, Jhajuan Seales and Chris Lacy. Washington has surpassed the 100-yard mark five times this season, including four times in the last five games.
•  The Cowboys' rushing attack has established itself as a threat this season. OSU averaged 5.5 yards per carry with 210 rushing yards in last week's win over Texas Tech, and the week before that, the Cowboys put up more yards on Kansas State than any other team has this year with 180 on average of 6.9 yards per carry. True freshman running back Justice Hill leads the team with 789 yards this season, and his 126 yards last week marked his fourth 100-yard game. That's more than any other freshman in OSU history. Hill's season yardage total ranks as the fourth-highest total for any freshman in the country and is already the second-best season total for a true freshman in OSU history.
•  Running back Chris Carson missed four games to injury earlier in the season, but has been an impact player since returning. The senior has scored six touchdowns in the last four games and has rushed for 216 yards on 30 carries (7.2 yards per carry). He scored the game-winning touchdown in OSU's 43-37 win over Kansas State, and bulldozed a Texas Tech defender in the final minute last week to pick up a crucial first down and seal the win for the Cowboys.
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Week 12 Talking Points – Defense
•  Forcing turnovers has long been a focal point of defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer's scheme. The Cowboys have sealed multiple games with late turnovers and are now ranked No. 13 in the country and No. 1 in the Big 12 with 21 turnovers gained on the season. They are also No. 14 nationally and No. 1 in the Big 12 in turnover margin at +0.8. The Cowboys have forced at least one turnover in every game this year, including 11 in the last five games. In OSU's win over No. 10 West Virginia, the Cowboys outscored WVU, 17-0, in points off turnovers and won the game by 17 points.
•  Last week's win over Texas Tech showed OSU defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer's ability to make adjustments and win games. For the first time this season, the Cowboys mainly played in a 3-3-5 set that proved to be effective in limiting the nation's No. 1-ranked passing offense. The Texas Tech offense hadn't had more than three 3-and-outs in a game entering last week, and OSU held TTU to three consecutive 3-and-outs to start the game, allowing just 11 rushing yards and 0 passing yards during that time. TTU had four 3-and-outs in the game and its passing offense was held to 126.8 yards less than its season average.
•  Making his first start, linebacker Justin Phillips had a significant impact in OSU's win over Texas Tech last week. He led all players with career-highs of 14 tackles and nine solo stops, added a sack and forced an important fumble that was recovered by the Cowboys immediately after Texas Tech recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter. Phillips' 14 tackles against the Red Raiders marked the highest total in the Big 12 last week and was the highest single-game output for a Cowboy this season.
•  In seven of OSU's eight wins, the Cowboy defense has held its opponent to less than 50 percent on third down conversions, including twice when they were held to less than 25 percent. The Cowboys are holding opponents to a 38.7 conversion rate on the year to rank second in the Big 12, and success in that area has had a strong correlation with OSU's win-loss record.
•  Oklahoma State leads the nation with five blocked kicks this season, three of which came as part of the Cowboys' win over Texas. Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor leads the country individually with three blocks. The latest block came at Kansas as Motekiai Maile swatted a 59-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half, and the Cowboys have nearly gotten to several other kicks this year.
•  After 10 games, the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in turnover margin (+0.8), turnovers forced (21), fumbles recovered
(10) and interceptions (11). The Cowboys also lead the conference in defensive touchdowns (2) and kickoff coverage
(18.53).
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Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the TCU Game
•  Oklahoma State has won its last six games, good for the fourth-longest active win streak among Power Five schools.
•  Oklahoma State has won eight of its last nine true road games, dating back to 2014.
•  OSU is 11-1 in its last 12 games decided by less than 10 points.
•  Oklahoma State has won three of the four meetings with TCU since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12 in 2012.
•  TCU has won the last three series meetings played in Fort Worth.
•  Oklahoma State has trailed at some point in six of its last seven wins.
•  Oklahoma State has won 20 of its last 25 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
•  Oklahoma State has scored at least 20 points in each of its last 26 games - the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Oregon's streak of 40 straight.
•  Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by a 123-63 margin in the first quarter of games this season.
•  Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by an 81-46 margin in the fourth quarter of games this season.
•  Oklahoma State has piled up at least 600 yards of offense in each its last two games, marking just the third time in school history that has happened (1988 and 2012).
•  OSU's defense has forced 11 turnovers in the last five games.
•  Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 20 of the last 21 games.
•  Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 28 of their last 29 games when not committing a turnover.
•  Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 49 of their last 53 games when winning the turnover battle.
•  Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 36 touchdown passes against just six interceptions in his last 16 games, dating back to the 2015 season.
•  Quarterback Mason Rudolph has turned in a pass efficiency rating above 200 in each of his last two games.
•  According to ESPN Stats and Info, quarterback Mason Rudolph has posted a QBR of 89.8, 88.2 and 85.9 in his last three games, against West Virginia, Kansas State and Texas Tech, respectively.
•  Mason Rudolph and James Washington have connected on eight touchdown passes this year. Those eight touchdown passes have gone for an average of 47.4 yards per touchdown.
•  Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 29 games.
•  Receiver James Washington has gone over 100 yards receiving in each of his last three games and the trio of Jalen McCleskey, Jhajuan Seales and Chris Lacy is averaging 193.5 receiving yards in the last two games.
•  Running back Justice Hill has rushed for at least 100 yards in four of the last seven games. He is the only Oklahoma State freshman in history to rush for 100 yards or more in four games.
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Players Mentioned
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