Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys Ranked No. 14 in Final 2017 Polls
January 09, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team concluded its season ranked No. 14 in the final Associated Press Top 25 and USA Today/Amway Coaches polls.
It is the ninth time in school history that OSU finished a season ranked in the top 15, and the fourth time the Cowboys have done so during the Mike Gundy era. OSU previously achieved the feat under Gundy in 2010, 2011 and 2016, as the Cowboys finished No. 13, No. 3 and No. 11, respectively, in those years.
Tuesday's ranking also marks the third time during Gundy's tenure as head coach that Oklahoma State began and ended the season ranked in the top 20. OSU's 2011 squad was ranked ninth in the preseason and finished third, while the 2013 team began the season at No. 13 and finished at No. 17. This year's group began the year at No. 10 in the AP Top 25 and No. 11 in the Amway Coaches Poll.
The Cowboys moved up three spots in both of the rankings after defeating No. 22 Virginia Tech, 30-21, in the Camping World Bowl on Dec. 28. OSU's victory over the Hokies secured its third-consecutive 10-win season – the first time in program history that feat has been accomplished.
The 2017 season also saw the Pokes rank among the nation's elite in several offensive categories, including both passing and total offense.
This year, Oklahoma State finished as the nation's premier passing program by averaging 389.2 passing yards per game. The Cowboys also earned multiple NCAA statistical championships at an individual level, as quarterback Mason Rudolph led the country with 4,904 passing yards and 377.2 passing yards per game. Biletnikoff Award winner James Washington also earned NCAA statistical champion honors in 2017 by compiling an NCAA-best 1,549 receiving yards and averaging 119.2 receiving yards per game.
The Cowboy offense ranked highly in several other statistical categories as well, including finishing second in the nation with 568.9 yards of total offense per game. OSU also ranked second nationally with 359 total first downs and fourth in scoring offense, as the Cowboys averaged 45.0 points per game.
Defensively, Oklahoma State continued to succeed in areas that have been labeled as keys to the Cowboys' success over the years.
The unit ranked 20th in the nation with 7.3 tackles for loss per game. OSU also led the Big 12 in interceptions with 17, while finishing third in the conference with 24 total turnovers forced. Safety Tre Flowers finished with a team-high 79 tackles in 2017, which placed him among some of the Big 12's best defenders this year.
Including the 2017 final ranking, Oklahoma State has now been ranked inside the top 20 of at least one of the national polls for 22 consecutive weeks, dating back to Oct. 31, 2016. Other Big 12 schools appearing in the final rankings include Oklahoma (No. 3/3) and TCU (No. 9/9). Iowa State received votes in the coaches poll.
It is the ninth time in school history that OSU finished a season ranked in the top 15, and the fourth time the Cowboys have done so during the Mike Gundy era. OSU previously achieved the feat under Gundy in 2010, 2011 and 2016, as the Cowboys finished No. 13, No. 3 and No. 11, respectively, in those years.
Tuesday's ranking also marks the third time during Gundy's tenure as head coach that Oklahoma State began and ended the season ranked in the top 20. OSU's 2011 squad was ranked ninth in the preseason and finished third, while the 2013 team began the season at No. 13 and finished at No. 17. This year's group began the year at No. 10 in the AP Top 25 and No. 11 in the Amway Coaches Poll.
The Cowboys moved up three spots in both of the rankings after defeating No. 22 Virginia Tech, 30-21, in the Camping World Bowl on Dec. 28. OSU's victory over the Hokies secured its third-consecutive 10-win season – the first time in program history that feat has been accomplished.
The 2017 season also saw the Pokes rank among the nation's elite in several offensive categories, including both passing and total offense.
This year, Oklahoma State finished as the nation's premier passing program by averaging 389.2 passing yards per game. The Cowboys also earned multiple NCAA statistical championships at an individual level, as quarterback Mason Rudolph led the country with 4,904 passing yards and 377.2 passing yards per game. Biletnikoff Award winner James Washington also earned NCAA statistical champion honors in 2017 by compiling an NCAA-best 1,549 receiving yards and averaging 119.2 receiving yards per game.
The Cowboy offense ranked highly in several other statistical categories as well, including finishing second in the nation with 568.9 yards of total offense per game. OSU also ranked second nationally with 359 total first downs and fourth in scoring offense, as the Cowboys averaged 45.0 points per game.
Defensively, Oklahoma State continued to succeed in areas that have been labeled as keys to the Cowboys' success over the years.
The unit ranked 20th in the nation with 7.3 tackles for loss per game. OSU also led the Big 12 in interceptions with 17, while finishing third in the conference with 24 total turnovers forced. Safety Tre Flowers finished with a team-high 79 tackles in 2017, which placed him among some of the Big 12's best defenders this year.
Including the 2017 final ranking, Oklahoma State has now been ranked inside the top 20 of at least one of the national polls for 22 consecutive weeks, dating back to Oct. 31, 2016. Other Big 12 schools appearing in the final rankings include Oklahoma (No. 3/3) and TCU (No. 9/9). Iowa State received votes in the coaches poll.
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
