Game Notes - Oklahoma State Travels To No. 16 Baylor - Oklahoma State University Athletics

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Next up for Oklahoma State football
at Baylor
6:30 p.m. CT | Sept. 24, 2016 | McLane Stadium (45,140)

TV: FOX (Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Shannon Spake)
In Stillwater: Suddenlink 12/112, DirecTV 25, Dish 25, U-verse 25/1025
In OKC: Cox 12/712, DirecTV 25, Dish 25, U-verse 25/1025
In Tulsa: Cox 5/1005, DirecTV 23, Dish 23, U-verse 23/1023
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb & Robert Allen)
National Radio: None
Satellite Radio: Sirius 81 (Baylor feed), XM 81 (Baylor feed)
Internet - Mobile App: http://okla.st/osutunein - TuneIn Radio App
Live Stats: okstate.com

The Basics
                The Oklahoma State football team (2-1 overall) takes to the road for the first time this season when it travels to Waco, Texas to open Big 12 Conference play at Baylor (3-0 overall) at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in McLane Stadium.

On the Air
                The game will be televised by FOX with Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Shannon Spake 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 Rankings
                Oklahoma State is receiving votes in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls. Baylor is No. 16 in the Associated Press poll and is No. 15 in the Amway Coaches poll.
                Since Mike Gundy took over as head coach in 2005, the Cowboys have beaten five ranked opponents while OSU was unranked by the Associated Press. Of those five wins, one came on the road - the Cowboys' 38-35 victory over No. 18 Oklahoma in Norman in 2014.

Oklahoma State From a Distance
                Oklahoma State has experienced highs and lows the last two weeks. The Cowboys held a 27-24 lead over Central Michigan with no time left in the game before the referees erroneously extended the game with an extra play, which the Chippewas used to complete a game-winning hail mary-turned hook and lateral for a touchdown. In the wake of that victory-turned-defeat, OSU rebounded to win a 45-38 thriller over previously-unbeaten Pittsburgh last week. In a show of resiliency and mental toughness, it wasn't until 1:28 remained that the Cowboys scored the game-winning touchdown against the Panthers.
                Thanks largely to a pass-game explosion against Pittsburgh last week (540 yards from Mason Rudolph, with 296 of those going to James Washington and 129 going to Jhajuan Seales), the Pokes rank ninth in the nation by averaging 360.3 passing yards per game. While a disproportionate chunk of OSU's season passing numbers came in the one game, the Cowboy defense has been consistent in forcing turnovers and disrupting the timing of opposing offenses by getting into the backfield all season. OSU leads the Big 12 with seven turnovers forced and also leads the league with 10.0 tackles for loss per game - a mark that ranks seventh in the nation.
                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.

Baylor From a Distance
                Similar to Oklahoma State, Baylor has enjoyed remarkable success since the beginning of this decade. If the Bears are to continue their run of success in 2016, they will do it with many players who did not play central roles in the success of previous squads, as BU returns just 11 starters from last year's team.
                That said, the Bears still have high-end talent on their roster in quarterback Seth Russell, center Kyle Fuller, receiver KD Cannon, running back Shock Linwood and linebacker Taylor Young. Baylor enters Saturday's game leading the nation in pass efficiency defense and ranks among the top 10 in the country in scoring defense, fewest passing yards allowed, total defense, fewest sacks allowed, total offense, rushing offense, first downs, fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed.


An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Mark the 18th time that the Cowboys have beaten an opponent ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press poll since Mike Gundy took over as head coach in 2005.
• Mark the sixth time that Oklahoma State has beaten a ranked opponent while the Cowboys were unranked by the Associated Press during the Mike Gundy era (2005-present). It would be the second such road win for the Cowboys during the Gundy era.
• Mark the third time that the Cowboys have beaten a ranked Baylor team since 2010.
• Mark the Cowboys' seventh consecutive win in a true road game, good for the third-longest such streak in school history. OSU's current road winning streak started at Oklahoma on Dec. 6, 2014 and trails only the streaks of 11 straight road wins from 1943-45 and 10 straight road wins from Oct. 8, 2010-Nov. 18, 2011.
• Be the Cowboys' third in their last five trips to Waco, but their first in two trips to McLane Stadium.
• Improve the Cowboys to 38-14 in Big 12 Conference games since 2010 (73.0 pct.).
• Improve the Cowboys to 27-7 in their last 34 games played against teams from the state of Texas (79.4 pct.).
• Bring Mike Gundy to within three victories of the 100-win mark for his career.
• Give the Cowboys a win in their Big 12 opener for the eighth time in the last 10 years.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Baylor Game
• Oklahoma State has won each of its last six true road games, dating back to the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has won 14 of its last 18 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has won four of its last five games played against teams from the state of Texas.
• Oklahoma State has scored at least 30 points in five of its last six true road games.
• Oklahoma State passers have attempted at least 40 passes in five of its last six games.
• A different player has led Oklahoma State in rushing in each of the team's three games this season.
• Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 13 of the last 14 games.
• Oklahoma State holds a 35-14 advantage in points off turnovers in three games this 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 18 touchdown passes against just three interceptions in his last 10 games, dating back to the 2015 season.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown just one interception in 114 pass attempts this season.
• Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 22 games.
• Of Zach Sinor's 14 punts this season, 11 have been downed inside the opponent 20-yard line.

The Series
                Oklahoma State holds a 19-15 all-time series advantage over Baylor, but the Bears have won eight of the 14 meetings played in Waco. Mike Gundy is 7-4 against Baylor, while this is Jim Grobe's first time facing the Cowboys. While OSU has won 16 of the last 20 series clashes, BU has taken three of the last four.

Oklahoma State vs. Ranked Opponents
                Oklahoma State has won 17 games over opponents ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press poll since Mike Gundy took over as head coach in 2005. Included in that tally are five wins over teams ranked in the top 10 and four wins over teams ranked in the top five.
                The Cowboys won their last road game against a ranked opponent, topping No. 18 Oklahoma, 38-35, in 2014. OSU faced four ranked teams last season, but three of those four games were played at home, with the fourth - the Allstate Sugar Bowl - played on a neutral field. Baylor is OSU's first ranked opponent of 2016.

Big 12 Powers
                Oklahoma State and Baylor have become two of the best teams in the Big 12 over a span of several years now. Both the Cowboys and Bears have posted four 10-win seasons in the last six years and are tied for the Big 12 lead with six first-round NFL Draft picks since 2009.
                A look at every Big 12 team's record in conference games since 2010 shows how both schools have elevated their football programs to the point of being regular Big 12 powers.

Oklahoma: 38-13
Oklahoma State: 37-14
Baylor: 35-15
Kansas State: 30-20
TCU*: 20-14
Texas: 26-25
West Virginia*: 13-20
Texas Tech: 18-34
Iowa State: 13-38
Kansas: 3-48

* TCU and West Virginia didn't join the Big 12 until 2012.

Lone Star Strong
                A significant factor in Oklahoma State's ascent up the Big 12 standings in recent years has been the Cowboys' success against teams from Texas, against whom the Pokes have compiled a 26-7 record in their last 33 meetings. Oklahoma State's record vs. each of its Texas opponents since 2009:

Texas Tech: 7-0
Baylor: 4-3
Texas: 4-3
Texas A&M: 3-0
UTSA: 3-0
TCU: 3-1
Rice: 1-0
Lamar: 1-0
Total: 26-7

Connections
• Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy coached quarterbacks and served as passing game coordinator at Baylor in 1996.
• Oklahoma State receivers coach Kasey Dunn was Baylor's special teams coordinator and receivers coach in 2007.
• Oklahoma State defensive tackle Darrion Daniels and Baylor offensive lineman Ishmael Wilson were teammates at Bishop Dunne HS.
• Oklahoma State's Chris Lacy, LD Brown and A.J. Green all attended DeSoto HS, which also produced Baylor linebacker Taylor Young.
• Oklahoma State safety Jordan Sterns and Baylor tight end Josh Malin both hail from Cibolo Steele HS.
• Oklahoma State linebacker Jordan Burton and Baylor running back JaMycal Hasty both hail from Longview HS.
• Oklahoma State kicker Ben Grogan and Baylor kicker Kevin Mahon both attended Arlington Martin HS.
• Oklahoma State center Johnny Wilson and Baylor safety Jarrod Koym were teammates at Midland Christian HS.
• Oklahoma State's Matt Mucha and Baylor's Blake Blackmar were teammates at Clear Lake HS outside of Houston.

Game Notes - Oklahoma State Travels To No. 16 Baylor

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Burton

Darrion Daniels

A.J. Green

Ben Grogan

John Kolar

Chris Lacy

Kevin Mahon

Walker Reed

Mason Rudolph

Jhajuan Seales

Zach Sinor

Jordan Sterns

James Washington

Johnny Wilson

Oklahoma State University Athletics