Game Notes - Oklahoma State Opens 2016 With Southeastern Louisiana

Complete Release in PDF Format

Up next for Oklahoma State football
Southeastern Louisiana
2:30 p.m. CT | Sept. 3, 2016 | Boone Pickens Stadium (60,218)

TV: FSN (Brendan Burke, Brian Baldinger and Christian Steckel)
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
(Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb & Robert Allen)
National Radio: None
Satellite Radio: Sirius 119, XM 199
Internet Radio: http://okla.st/osutunein
Live Stats: okstate.com
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The Basics

Oklahoma State opens its 115th season of football when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3 in Boone Pickens Stadium.
This marks the first time since 2012 that OSU has started a season at home. In 2013, the Cowboys opened against Mississippi State in Houston. In 2014, OSU took on Florida State in Arlington to kick off the season and in 2015, the Pokes opened on the road at Central Michigan.

On the Air

The game will be televised by FSN with Brendan Burke, Brian Baldinger and Christian Steckel 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.

In the Polls

Oklahoma State opens the season ranked No. 21 by the Associated Press and is No. 19 in the Amway Coaches poll. Since 2008, OSU has been ranked in the A.P. poll in 77 of its last 102 games. 2016 marks the fifth season in the last eight that the Cowboys have been ranked in the preseason A.P. poll. Southeastern Louisiana is receiving votes in the FCS coaches poll.

Oklahoma State From a Distance

    With 18 starters returning from last year's Sugar Bowl team that climbed to as high as No. 4 in the nation, Oklahoma State's roster is loaded with players who have substantial experience. In fact, according to Phil Steele, the Cowboys boast the most experienced team in the Big 12 and the sixth-most experienced team in the nation. Among power five conferences, Steele says only Tennessee returns more experience than Oklahoma State. Nowhere does that experience show up more than along the offensive line, where the Cowboys boast 101 career starts.
    In junior Mason Rudolph (12-3 career record as a starter), the Cowboys have a proven performer at quarterback. Junior James Washington is the only returning 1,000-yard receiver in the Big 12 and senior safety Jordan Sterns is among the most productive defensive players in America.

Southeastern Louisiana From a Distance

After winning the Southland Conference in 2013 and 2014, Southeastern Louisiana suffered through an injury-marred 2015 season and finished 4-7 overall and 3-6 in the league. Fifth-year head coach Ron Roberts said he feels like this year's group has the pieces to be in the hunt for the conference title this season and pointed to strength up front on both sides of the ball as reasons for optimism. In Matt Barrett, Southeastern has a new offensive coordinator for 2016 and Roberts himself moves into the role as primary play caller for the defense. The Lions were picked to finish sixth in the Southland Conference in the preseason coaches poll.

An Oklahoma State Win Would...

• Improve the Cowboys to 22-4 in their last 26 non-conference games.
• Improve the Cowboys to 46-5 in their last 51 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
• Mark the Cowboys' eighth in their last nine season openers.
• Mark the Cowboys' 21st straight in a home opener.
• Improve the Cowboys to 69-41-5 all-time in season openers.
• Improve the Cowboys to 82-28-5 all-time in home openers.
• Improve the Cowboys to 10-0 against teams from the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision under Mike Gundy.

Notable Streaks Entering the Southeastern Louisiana Game

• Oklahoma State has won 20 consecutive home openers.
• Oklahoma State has never lost to an FCS opponent in 10 tries under head coach Mike Gundy and hasn't lost to a school currently playing in the FCS since 1949.
• Oklahoma State has won seven of its last eight season openers.
• Oklahoma State has won 46 of its last 51 over unranked opponents.
• Oklahoma State has won 12 of its last 15 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 24 of their last 25 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 44 of their last 47 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 12 touchdown passes against just two interceptions in his last seven games, dating back to the 2015 season.

The Series

Oklahoma State and Southeastern Louisiana have never met. OSU is 4-0 all-time against teams from the Southland Conference, with the most recent matchup resulting in a 32-8 Cowboy victory over Central Arkansas last season.

Oklahoma State vs. FCS Schools

Oklahoma State sports a 25-5-1 record against schools currently playing in the Football Championship Subdivision and has won 19 straight. The Cowboys have not lost to an FCS opponent since a 20-0 setback to William and Mary in the 1949 Delta Bowl.

Gundy vs. the FCS

Under coach Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State is 9-0 against FCS schools. The first game of Gundy's head coaching tenure came against FCS Montana State to start the 2005 season - a 15-10 OSU win. In the eight games against FCS schools following Gundy's debut, the Cowboys have outscored the opposition, 419-76. A look at what OSU has done against FCS opposition during Gundy's tenure.

2005 vs. Montana State - W, 15-10
2006 vs. Missouri State - W, 52-10
2007 vs. Sam Houston State - W, 39-3
2008 vs. Missouri State - W, 57-13
2009 vs. Grambling State - W, 56-6
2012 vs. Savannah State - W, 84-0
2013 vs. Lamar - W, 59-3
2014 vs. Missouri State - W, 40-23
2015 vs. Central Arkansas - W, 32-8

Oklahoma State vs. Unranked Opponents

    Since the start of the 2010 season, Oklahoma State is 46-5 against teams not ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The Cowboys have won 30 of their last 31 home games over unranked opponents. The only unranked team to beat OSU in Boone Pickens Stadium since 2010 was Texas in 2014.
    Starting with the Cowboys' 2012 Heart of Dallas Bowl win over Purdue, OSU has won 22 of its last 24 overall against unranked opponents.
    Dating back to a 2013 win over Kansas State, the Cowboys have won their last 14 games when playing as a ranked opponent facing an unranked opponent.

Strong Starts Under Gundy

Since Mike Gundy took over as head coach at Oklahoma State in 2005, the Cowboys have compiled a 34-7 record in the month of September.

Connections

• There are six Louisiana natives on the Oklahoma State roster - linebacker Kevin Henry (Baton Rouge), receiver Tyron Johnson (New Orleans), offensive lineman Marcus Keyes (Port Allen), receiver Jalen McCleskey (Covington), cornerback Rodarius Williams (Shreveport) and quarterback Keondre Wudtee (Bossier City)
• Oklahoma State cornerback Rodarius Williams and Southeastern Louisiana defensive back Jacorey Fuller were teammates at Calvary Baptist HS in Shreveport, La.
• Oklahoma State cornerback Malik Kearse and cowboy back Luke Hupp were teammates of Southeastern Louisiana running back Eugene Bethea at Fort Scott CC.
• Southeastern Louisiana kicker Ezekiel Jenkins hails from Edmond, Okla., where he attended Santa Fe HS.

Game Notes - Oklahoma State Opens 2016 With Southeastern Louisiana

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kevin Henry

Luke Hupp

Tyron Johnson

Malik Kearse

Marcus Keyes

Jalen McCleskey

Mason Rudolph

Jordan Sterns

James Washington

Rodarius Williams

Keondre Wudtee

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Game Notes - Oklahoma State Opens 2016 With Southeastern Louisiana

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kevin Henry

Luke Hupp

Tyron Johnson

Malik Kearse

Marcus Keyes

Jalen McCleskey

Mason Rudolph

Jordan Sterns

James Washington

Rodarius Williams

Keondre Wudtee

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