Game Notes: OSU Visits Pittsburgh to Wrap Up Non-Conference Slate

Complete Notes in PDF Format

The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team travels to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on Pittsburgh at Heinz Field on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. CT. on ESPN. This is OSU's final non-conference game of the season and it marks the second meeting in the home-and-home series between the Cowboys and the Panthers. OSU defeated Pitt in last year's matchup in Stillwater.

On the Air
The game will be televised by ESPN with Dave Pasch, Greg McElroy and Tom Luginbill 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. Fans outside of the Cowboy Radio Network can listen to the OSU broadcast for free through TuneIn Radio or the TuneIn Radio app.

In the Rankings
Oklahoma State is ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press poll and is No. 8 in the Amway Coaches Poll. Including this season, OSU has now reached the top 15 of the A.P. Poll at some point in nine of the past 10 seasons and the top 10 of the A.P. Poll in eight of the last 10 seasons. This week's game against Pittsburgh marks the 86th time in the Cowboys' last 117 games that OSU has been ranked by the A.P. entering a game. Pittsburgh is not ranked. Although the first College Football Playoff rankings of 2017 aren't released until October 31, it is worth noting that the Cowboys are one of only seven teams to be ranked in every set of CFP rankings since the beginning of 2015, joining Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State and Utah.

Oklahoma State From a Distance
The Cowboys were 59-24 winners over a Tulsa team that was receiving votes in both the Associated Press and the coaches polls in week one, and followed that up last week with a 44-7 win on the road at South Alabama. The talk surrounding the Cowboys for much of the preseason was rightfully centered around the Cowboy offense, but it was the defense that turned heads last week in Mobile, as OSU held USA to just 175 yards - including nine in the first quarter - and nearly shut out the Jaguars except for a late touchdown with the first team resting on the bench. Mason Rudolph ranks among the national leaders in several statistical categories after throwing for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarters of action for the second straight game. He also added a rushing touchdown for the second week and has accounted for eight touchdowns in the first two games of the season. On top of that, he holds the longest active streak in the country of pass attempts without an interception at 185, and needs just 10 more attempts to break Brandon Weeden's school record of 194, set during the 2011 season. Rudolph's performances have been complemented by Biletnikoff Award favorite James Washington, who caught two passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns in the opener and added 98 yards and a score at USA. Sophomore running back Justice Hill and freshman J.D. King are tied with the team lead with 159 rushing yards each. The Cowboys have continued to focus on forcing turnovers on defense, as they have scored on the defensive side of the ball in each of their first two games.

Pittsburgh From a Distance
Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi has begun the third year of his tenure and has the Panthers off to a 1-1 start heading into this weekend's matchup with Oklahoma State. The Panthers will face their second consecutive top-10 opponent after falling last week to No. 4 Penn State on the road, 33-14. Pitt's Qadree Ollison rushed for 96 yards, but the offense couldn't score on early drives and PSU pulled away late in the game. Pitt quarterback Max Browne completed 19 of 32 passes for 138 yards and was intercepted twice. Pitt dominated in time of possession, holding the ball for more than 38 minutes. In their week one matchup, the Panthers fought off a resilient Youngstown State team in overtime, 28-21. Pitt held a 21-0 lead at the half, but YSU came back late to force overtime. Browne completed 17 of 24 passes in that game for 140 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime.

An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Mark the eighth time the Cowboys have started 3-0 during the Mike Gundy era.
• Mark the seventh season Mike Gundy has gone undefeated in scheduled non-conference play.
• Keep its record at a perfect 2-0 against Pitt, and mark its second win over the Panthers in as many years.
• Give the Cowboys wins in 11 of their last 13 true road games.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in non-conference games to 44-11.
• Improve the Cowboys to 27-5 in their last 32 non-conference games.
• Give OSU wins in 11 of its last 12 games overall.
• Improve OSU to 55-6 in its last 61 games against unranked opponents, dating back to 2010.
• Give OSU wins in 21 of its last 22 games when playing as a ranked team facing an unranked opponent.
• Improve the Cowboys to 5-1 in their last six games against non-conference Power Five opponents.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Oklahoma State has won 10 of its last 11 games overall.
• QB Mason Rudolph has thrown 28 touchdown passes against just two interceptions in his last 11 games.
• QB Mason Rudolph has attempted 185 passes without an interception - the longest active streak in the country - and needs 10 more attempts to break Brandon Weeden's 2011 school record of 194 attempts.
• Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 34 games - the second longest active streak in the country.
• Receiver Jalen McCleskey has at least one catch in each of his last 24 games.
• OSU is 11-1 in its last 12 games decided by less than 10 points.
• Oklahoma State has rushed for more than 200 yards in four of its last six games.
• Oklahoma State has trailed at some point in six of its last 11 wins.
• Oklahoma State has won 24 of its last 30 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has scored at least 20 points in each of its last 31 games - the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Oregon's streak of 42 straight.
• Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 16 straight games and in 25 of the last 26 games, dating back to 2015.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 30 of their last 32 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, the Cowboys have won 52 of their last 57 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Oklahoma State has held its last 10 opponents to a total of minus-20 punt return yards.

Oklahoma State Vs. Unranked Opponents
Since the start of the 2010 season, Oklahoma State is 54-6 against teams not ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. The Cowboys have won 35 of their last 37 home games over unranked opponents. Starting with the Cowboys' 2012 Heart of Dallas Bowl win over Purdue, OSU has won 31 of its last 34 overall against unranked opponents. Dating back to a 2013 win over Kansas State, the Cowboys have won 20 of their last 21 games when playing as a ranked opponent facing an unranked opponent.

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 analyst A.J. Ricker and Pitt tight ends coach Time Salem both served on staff at Illinois in 2013.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Game Notes: OSU Visits Pittsburgh to Wrap Up Non-Conference Slate

Related News

Players Mentioned

Matt Ammendola

Justice Hill

J.D. King

Jalen McCleskey

Mason Rudolph

James Washington

Related Videos