Game Notes - Oklahoma State Hosts Pitt in Key Non-Conference Clash

Complete release attached in PDF format

Pitt
2:30 p.m. CT | Sept. 17, 2016 | Boone Pickens Stadium (60,218)

TV: ESPN (Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer & Paul Carcaterra)
In Stillwater: Suddenlink 35/235, DirecTV 206, Dish 140, U-verse 602/1602
In OKC: Cox 29/720, DirecTV 206, Dish 140, U-verse 602/1602
In Tulsa: Cox 25/1025, DirecTV 206, Dish 140, U-verse 602/1602
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb & Robert Allen)
National Radio: None
Satellite Radio: Sirius 136, XM 199
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 (1-1 overall) hosts Pitt (2-0 overall) at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 in Boone Pickens Stadium. This is the first meeting between the two schools, who will square off again in Heinz Field next season.

Ticket Information

Tickets are available for Saturday's game starting as low as $35. Fans can purchase tickets by visiting okstate.com/tickets, by contacting the Oklahoma State ticket office at 877-ALL-4-OSU or by emailing tickets@okstate.edu. On Twitter, the Oklahoma State ticket office is @OSUFanEx.

Stripe Out The Stadium

Fans are encouraged to "Stripe Out" Boone Pickens Stadium in Orange and White for Saturday's game. A map of which sections are wearing which colors is here. The first 7,500 students to arrive will have t-shirts provided, courtesy of OSU Athletics.

Car Show

Oklahoma State-themed cars will be on display during pregame at the Hall of Fame Block Party, which is immediately north of the stadium. Admission is free to check out the cars.

On the Air

The game will be televised by ESPN with Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer and Paul Carcaterra 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.

Oklahoma State From a Distance

    Oklahoma State is looking to bounce back from last week's difficult 30-27 loss to Central Michigan. Through two games, the Cowboys of 2016 have excelled at forcing turnovers and returning punts and have also done well in avoiding penalties, causing pressure behind the line of scrimmage and stopping the run. The Cowboys lead the nation with five fumbles recovered, are second in the country with two defensive touchdowns and are 10th nationally with a +2.00 turnover margin.
    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 181 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. Only Texas Tech and Washington State can claim more than Oklahoma State during that time span.
    On special teams, the Cowboys have a recent tradition of blocking kicks, as the Cowboys have blocked 14 kicks since the start of the 2013 season. Only Georgia Tech (16), Temple (15) and BYU (15) have blocked more during that span of time.

Pitt From a Distance

    Pitt's roster features several players who are considered as prospects for the 2017 NFL draft by CBSSports.com, headlined by left tackle Adam Bisnowaty - a projected first-to-second round pick - and left guard Dorian Johnson - who is projected as the No. 3 overall guard prospect for next year's draft and projects as a second-round pick. Other Panther standouts include running backs Qadree Ollison and James Conner (both of whom have 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the Panthers on their career résumés), defensive end Ejuan Price and safety Jordan Whitehead. Price had 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks a year ago and Whitehead was the 2015 ACC Rookie of the Year. Senior quarterback Nathan Peterman is a returning starter who threw 20 touchdown passes a year ago.
    Through two games in 2016, Pitt has been very proficient at forcing turnovers, pressuring opposing quarterbacks, protecting their own quarterback and in defending the run. The Panthers average 3.0 turnovers forced per game, 5.0 sacks, 0.5 sacks allowed and 63.5 rushing yards allowed to this point of the season.
    Special teams have also been a strong suit for Pitt, with Quadree Henderson averaging 53.5 yards per kickoff return and 14.5 yards per punt return. He returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in week one.

An Oklahoma State Win Would...

• Improve the Cowboys to 23-5 in their last 28 non-conference games.
• Improve the Cowboys to 48-6 in their last 53 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
• Bring Mike Gundy to within four victories of the 100-win mark for his career.

Notable Streaks Entering the Pitt Game

• Oklahoma State has won 15 of its last 16 non-conference games played in Boone Pickens Stadium, dating back to a 2009 loss to Houston. The Cowboys are 25-2 in non-conference home games under Mike Gundy (2005-present).
• Oklahoma State has won 47 of its last 53 over unranked opponents.
• Oklahoma State has won 13 of its last 17 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 25 of their last 26 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 45 of their last 49 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 16 touchdown passes against just three interceptions in his last nine games, dating back to the 2015 season.

The Series

Oklahoma State and Pitt have never met. The Cowboys are 3-6 all-time against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Oklahoma State vs. Unranked Opponents

Since the start of the 2010 season, Oklahoma State is 47-6 against teams not ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The Cowboys have won 31 of their last 33 home games over unranked opponents. The only two unranked teams to beat OSU in Boone Pickens Stadium since 2010 were Texas in 2014 and Central Michigan.
Starting with the Cowboys' 2012 Heart of Dallas Bowl win over Purdue, OSU has won 23 of its last 26 overall against unranked opponents.

Connections

• Oklahoma State kicker Matt Ammendola hails from Lansdale, Pa., making him the only player from Pennsylvania on the Cowboy roster. There are no native Oklahomans on the Pitt roster.
• Oklahoma State safeties coach Dan Hammerschmidt and Pitt receivers coach Kevin Sherman both served on staff at VMI in 1995.
• Oklahoma State offensive coordinator was an offensive graduate assistant under Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Canada at Indiana in 2004.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Game Notes - Oklahoma State Hosts Pitt in Key Non-Conference Clash

Players Mentioned

Matt Ammendola

Mason Rudolph

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