Oklahoma State University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Bullard
Tracking the Trends: Colorado
December 28, 2016 | Cowboy Football
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – As the Oklahoma State football team prepares for tomorrow's big Alamo Bowl matchup against 10th-ranked Colorado, we take a look at streaks on the line and other trends to look out for.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Oklahoma State has won seven of its last eight games.
• OSU is 11-1 in its last 12 games decided by less than 10 points.
• Oklahoma State is 8-1 in its last nine games against teams now playing in the Pac-12.
• Oklahoma State has played in a bowl game in each of the last 11 seasons, good for the 11th-longest streak in the FBS.
• Oklahoma State has rushed for more than 200 yards in each of its last three games, marking the longest such streak for the Cowboys since they eclipsed 200 rushing yards in five straight games spanning the last four games of 2012 and the first game of 2013.
• Oklahoma State has trailed at some point in six of its last eight wins.
• Oklahoma State has won 21 of its last 27 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has scored at least 20 points in each of its last 28 games - the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Oregon's streak of 41 straight.
• Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by a 133-69 margin in the first quarter of games this season.
• Oklahoma State has held its last seven opponents to a total of minus-14 punt return yards.
• Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover every game this season and in 22 of the last 23 games, dating back to last season.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 28 of their last 30 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 50 of their last 55 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 19 touchdown passes against just two interceptions in the last eight games.
• Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 31 games.
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 two of the past four games and a school-record of 540 yards in OSU's win over Pitt. Additionally, Rudolph is the only player in the country this season who has surpassed 3,500 passing yards while throwing less than five interceptions. He ranks sixth nationally with 314.8 passing yards per game.
• Oklahoma State's group of receivers is one of the most impressive in the country. Led by James Washington, who leads the team and ranks 12th nationally with 100.8 receiving yards per game, four different Cowboys have eclipsed
100 yards receiving in a game this season. Washington has done so five times this year, including four times in the last six games, while Jalen McCleskey has three 100-yard games, Chris Lacy has two in the past three games and Jhajuan Seales added another. Additionally, 17 different players have caught a pass for OSU this year.
• Chris Lacy's name is the latest to be added to Oklahoma State list of threats at wide receiver. After serving a limited role in his first two seasons, Lacy has made a name for himself this year. He's caught at least one pass in every game he's played this season and set career highs in single game receiving yards against Texas Tech and TCU, totaling 100 in OSU's win over the Red Raiders and 109 in OSU's win over the Frogs. Additionally, Lacy caught two big touchdown passes against West Virginia and the Cowboys' first touchdown against TCU.
• The Cowboys' run game has earned a name for itself. OSU has averaged 6.43 yards per carry (939 yards on 146 carries) in its last four games, which ranks fourth nationally among Power Five schools since Nov. 1. It started when OSU put up more yards on Kansas State than any other team has this year with 180 on an average of 6.9 yards per carry.
After that, the Cowboys averaged 5.5 yards per carry with 210 rushing yards in their win over Texas Tech and followed it up with a season-high 334 yards in OSU's win at TCU (7.4 yards per carry). OSU had 217 yards on 37 carries at OU.
• Running backs Justice Hill and Chris Carson have led the charge in the run game. Carson has rushed for 379 yards on 46 carries in the last four games (8.2 yards per carry) while Hill has rushed for 424 yards on 59 carries during that stretch (7.2 yards per carry). They combined for 300 yards in OSU's win at TCU as Carson had a career-best 146 yards and Hill added 154. Hill holds the OSU school record for rushing yards in a season by a freshman (1,042) and is OSU's first rusher to hit 1,000 yards in a season since Joseph Randle in 2012. Hill's effort against TCU marked his fifth 100-yard game this season. No other freshman in OSU history has more than three.
Talking Points – Defense
• A big part of OSU's defensive success is due to winning the field position battle. The Cowboys lead the nation in opponent's starting field position, as their average drive has started at their own 23.8 yard line. That has been a significant factor in allowing the Cowboys to rank fourth in the league in scoring 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. 20 in the country and No. 2 in the Big 12 with 24 turnovers gained on the season. They are also No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the Big 12 in turnover margin at +0.83. The
Cowboys have forced at least one turnover in every game this year, including 14 in the last seven 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.
• In eight of OSU's nine 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 39.1 conversion rate on the year to rank fourth in the Big 12, and success in that area has had a strong correlation with
OSU's win-loss record.
• Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally with six 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 four blocks, which matches the OSU record that was set in 1971. The latest block came at TCU as Taylor swatted TCU's only PAT goal attempt to swing the momentum back in OSU's favor in the Cowboys' 31-6 win.
• After the regular season, the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in red zone defense (76.1), fourth-quarter scoring defense (53), kickoff coverage (18.1) and punt return defense (1.4) in addition to blocked kicks. They rank in the top three in interceptions (13), opponent fourth down percentage (41.7), turnover margin (+0.83), fumbles recovered (11) and defensive touchdowns (2).
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Oklahoma State has won seven of its last eight games.
• OSU is 11-1 in its last 12 games decided by less than 10 points.
• Oklahoma State is 8-1 in its last nine games against teams now playing in the Pac-12.
• Oklahoma State has played in a bowl game in each of the last 11 seasons, good for the 11th-longest streak in the FBS.
• Oklahoma State has rushed for more than 200 yards in each of its last three games, marking the longest such streak for the Cowboys since they eclipsed 200 rushing yards in five straight games spanning the last four games of 2012 and the first game of 2013.
• Oklahoma State has trailed at some point in six of its last eight wins.
• Oklahoma State has won 21 of its last 27 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has scored at least 20 points in each of its last 28 games - the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Oregon's streak of 41 straight.
• Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by a 133-69 margin in the first quarter of games this season.
• Oklahoma State has held its last seven opponents to a total of minus-14 punt return yards.
• Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover every game this season and in 22 of the last 23 games, dating back to last season.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 28 of their last 30 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 50 of their last 55 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 19 touchdown passes against just two interceptions in the last eight games.
• Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 31 games.
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 two of the past four games and a school-record of 540 yards in OSU's win over Pitt. Additionally, Rudolph is the only player in the country this season who has surpassed 3,500 passing yards while throwing less than five interceptions. He ranks sixth nationally with 314.8 passing yards per game.
• Oklahoma State's group of receivers is one of the most impressive in the country. Led by James Washington, who leads the team and ranks 12th nationally with 100.8 receiving yards per game, four different Cowboys have eclipsed
100 yards receiving in a game this season. Washington has done so five times this year, including four times in the last six games, while Jalen McCleskey has three 100-yard games, Chris Lacy has two in the past three games and Jhajuan Seales added another. Additionally, 17 different players have caught a pass for OSU this year.
• Chris Lacy's name is the latest to be added to Oklahoma State list of threats at wide receiver. After serving a limited role in his first two seasons, Lacy has made a name for himself this year. He's caught at least one pass in every game he's played this season and set career highs in single game receiving yards against Texas Tech and TCU, totaling 100 in OSU's win over the Red Raiders and 109 in OSU's win over the Frogs. Additionally, Lacy caught two big touchdown passes against West Virginia and the Cowboys' first touchdown against TCU.
• The Cowboys' run game has earned a name for itself. OSU has averaged 6.43 yards per carry (939 yards on 146 carries) in its last four games, which ranks fourth nationally among Power Five schools since Nov. 1. It started when OSU put up more yards on Kansas State than any other team has this year with 180 on an average of 6.9 yards per carry.
After that, the Cowboys averaged 5.5 yards per carry with 210 rushing yards in their win over Texas Tech and followed it up with a season-high 334 yards in OSU's win at TCU (7.4 yards per carry). OSU had 217 yards on 37 carries at OU.
• Running backs Justice Hill and Chris Carson have led the charge in the run game. Carson has rushed for 379 yards on 46 carries in the last four games (8.2 yards per carry) while Hill has rushed for 424 yards on 59 carries during that stretch (7.2 yards per carry). They combined for 300 yards in OSU's win at TCU as Carson had a career-best 146 yards and Hill added 154. Hill holds the OSU school record for rushing yards in a season by a freshman (1,042) and is OSU's first rusher to hit 1,000 yards in a season since Joseph Randle in 2012. Hill's effort against TCU marked his fifth 100-yard game this season. No other freshman in OSU history has more than three.
Talking Points – Defense
• A big part of OSU's defensive success is due to winning the field position battle. The Cowboys lead the nation in opponent's starting field position, as their average drive has started at their own 23.8 yard line. That has been a significant factor in allowing the Cowboys to rank fourth in the league in scoring 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. 20 in the country and No. 2 in the Big 12 with 24 turnovers gained on the season. They are also No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the Big 12 in turnover margin at +0.83. The
Cowboys have forced at least one turnover in every game this year, including 14 in the last seven 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.
• In eight of OSU's nine 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 39.1 conversion rate on the year to rank fourth in the Big 12, and success in that area has had a strong correlation with
OSU's win-loss record.
• Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 and ranks third nationally with six 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 four blocks, which matches the OSU record that was set in 1971. The latest block came at TCU as Taylor swatted TCU's only PAT goal attempt to swing the momentum back in OSU's favor in the Cowboys' 31-6 win.
• After the regular season, the Cowboys lead the Big 12 in red zone defense (76.1), fourth-quarter scoring defense (53), kickoff coverage (18.1) and punt return defense (1.4) in addition to blocked kicks. They rank in the top three in interceptions (13), opponent fourth down percentage (41.7), turnover margin (+0.83), fumbles recovered (11) and defensive touchdowns (2).
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