Oklahoma State University Athletics
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Tracking the Trends: OSU vs. Boise State
September 14, 2018 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football team plays its third game of the 2018 season Saturday, hosting Boise State at 2:30 p.m. in Boone Pickens Stadium. A look at some of the streaks and trends heading into the game:
Talking Points vs. Boise State – Offense
• Entering week three, Oklahoma State has the nation's No. 1 offense at 674.5 yards per game. Balance has been key, as OSU boasts the nation's No. 7 passing offense at 377.0 yards per game and the nation's No. 13 rushing offense at 297.5 yards per game.
• Senior quarterback Taylor Cornelius has stepped into the starting role for the first time in his career and has put up the numbers Cowboy fans have come to expect, and then some. With a total of 728 passing yards in the first two games of the season, Cornelius now owns the OSU record for most combined passing yards in a quarterback's first two career starts. He did it on 25-for-35 passing for 300 yards and five touchdowns in the season opener and on 25-for-40 for 428 yards and a score in last week's win vs. South Alabama. Cornelius now ranks No. 5 among all FBS players with 379 yards of total offense per game and No. 7 at 364 passing yards per game.
• Tylan Wallace and Tyron Johnson were the leading men on the other end of the passing game in last week's win, as both recorded career best numbers on the night. Wallace finished with 10 catches for 166 yards and a score while Johnson hauled in five grabs for 137 yards. Wallace also has receiving touchdowns in each of the first two games.
• Justice Hill has been impressive in a limited role through the first two games as big score differences have allowed him to rest on the sideline for much of the season thus far. The Tulsa native finished with a game-high 122 yards on the ground in the season-opener despite playing very little outside of the first quarter. It was the 15th time he's hit the 100-yard mark in his career. He finished last week's win over South Alabama with just nine carries, but scored two touchdowns in the process. His three rushing touchdowns lead the Big 12 and rank 13th nationally.
Talking Points vs. Boise State – Defense
• The Cowboys rank No. 9 nationally in total defense, allowing just 237.0 yards per game. The Cowboys held just one opponent under that average last season.
• One of the biggest strengths of the OSU defense is its strength up front. OSU has recorded 22 tackles for loss through two games to rank No. 4 in FBS. They also have nine sacks on the year, a mark that ties for second nationally. Each of those numbers leads the Big 12.
• OSU linebackers seemed to thrive in OSU's new 4-2-5 scheme in the first two games. Calvin Bundage has been OSU's most disruptive player so far, leading the team in both games with 7 total tackles in each game. He has 14 total tackles to lead the team on the season, while fellow linebackers Justin Phillips and Devin Harper share the second-place spot at eight tackles each.
• In Jim Knowles' first two games as defensive coordinator, the Cowboys have held their opponents to 18 three-and-outs. In other impressive displays, 39 of opponent's 55 offensive first-down plays have produced three yards or less and OSU opponents have gained zero yards or been driven backwards on 20 of their 33 third down plays.
• Other notable rankings include No. 19 nationally in passing yards allowed at 143.0, No. 4 in tackles for loss at 11.0 and No. 8 in sacks with 4.0 per game.
• Devin Harper recorded OSU's first interception of the season last game, returning it 24 yards for a touchdown.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Boise State Game
• Oklahoma State has won 20 of its last 24 games overall.
• OSU is 15-2 in its last 17 games decided by less than 10 points.
• OSU has won 17 straight games when leading at halftime, a streak that began on Sept. 17, 2016.
• Justice Hill has rushed for at least 100 yards in eight of his last 12 games and in 12 of his last 19 games.
• OSU has won three straight overtime games.
• OSU has had at least one 100-yard receiver in six of its last seven games.
• OSU has had a 100-yard rusher in 10 of its last 16 games.
• OSU has outrushed its opponent in 13 of its last 16 games and in 15 of its last 19 games.
• Oklahoma State has won 34 of its last 43 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• OSU has forced at least one turnover in 29 straight games and in 38 of the last 39 games, dating to 2015.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 33 of their last 35 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, the Cowboys have won 57 of their last 62 games when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won eight straight non-conference games.
• Dillon Stoner has at least one catch in each of his last 15 games.
• Jalen McCleskey has at least one catch in 39 of his 41 career games played.
Talking Points vs. Boise State – Offense
• Entering week three, Oklahoma State has the nation's No. 1 offense at 674.5 yards per game. Balance has been key, as OSU boasts the nation's No. 7 passing offense at 377.0 yards per game and the nation's No. 13 rushing offense at 297.5 yards per game.
• Senior quarterback Taylor Cornelius has stepped into the starting role for the first time in his career and has put up the numbers Cowboy fans have come to expect, and then some. With a total of 728 passing yards in the first two games of the season, Cornelius now owns the OSU record for most combined passing yards in a quarterback's first two career starts. He did it on 25-for-35 passing for 300 yards and five touchdowns in the season opener and on 25-for-40 for 428 yards and a score in last week's win vs. South Alabama. Cornelius now ranks No. 5 among all FBS players with 379 yards of total offense per game and No. 7 at 364 passing yards per game.
• Tylan Wallace and Tyron Johnson were the leading men on the other end of the passing game in last week's win, as both recorded career best numbers on the night. Wallace finished with 10 catches for 166 yards and a score while Johnson hauled in five grabs for 137 yards. Wallace also has receiving touchdowns in each of the first two games.
• Justice Hill has been impressive in a limited role through the first two games as big score differences have allowed him to rest on the sideline for much of the season thus far. The Tulsa native finished with a game-high 122 yards on the ground in the season-opener despite playing very little outside of the first quarter. It was the 15th time he's hit the 100-yard mark in his career. He finished last week's win over South Alabama with just nine carries, but scored two touchdowns in the process. His three rushing touchdowns lead the Big 12 and rank 13th nationally.
Talking Points vs. Boise State – Defense
• The Cowboys rank No. 9 nationally in total defense, allowing just 237.0 yards per game. The Cowboys held just one opponent under that average last season.
• One of the biggest strengths of the OSU defense is its strength up front. OSU has recorded 22 tackles for loss through two games to rank No. 4 in FBS. They also have nine sacks on the year, a mark that ties for second nationally. Each of those numbers leads the Big 12.
• OSU linebackers seemed to thrive in OSU's new 4-2-5 scheme in the first two games. Calvin Bundage has been OSU's most disruptive player so far, leading the team in both games with 7 total tackles in each game. He has 14 total tackles to lead the team on the season, while fellow linebackers Justin Phillips and Devin Harper share the second-place spot at eight tackles each.
• In Jim Knowles' first two games as defensive coordinator, the Cowboys have held their opponents to 18 three-and-outs. In other impressive displays, 39 of opponent's 55 offensive first-down plays have produced three yards or less and OSU opponents have gained zero yards or been driven backwards on 20 of their 33 third down plays.
• Other notable rankings include No. 19 nationally in passing yards allowed at 143.0, No. 4 in tackles for loss at 11.0 and No. 8 in sacks with 4.0 per game.
• Devin Harper recorded OSU's first interception of the season last game, returning it 24 yards for a touchdown.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Boise State Game
• Oklahoma State has won 20 of its last 24 games overall.
• OSU is 15-2 in its last 17 games decided by less than 10 points.
• OSU has won 17 straight games when leading at halftime, a streak that began on Sept. 17, 2016.
• Justice Hill has rushed for at least 100 yards in eight of his last 12 games and in 12 of his last 19 games.
• OSU has won three straight overtime games.
• OSU has had at least one 100-yard receiver in six of its last seven games.
• OSU has had a 100-yard rusher in 10 of its last 16 games.
• OSU has outrushed its opponent in 13 of its last 16 games and in 15 of its last 19 games.
• Oklahoma State has won 34 of its last 43 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• OSU has forced at least one turnover in 29 straight games and in 38 of the last 39 games, dating to 2015.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 33 of their last 35 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, the Cowboys have won 57 of their last 62 games when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won eight straight non-conference games.
• Dillon Stoner has at least one catch in each of his last 15 games.
• Jalen McCleskey has at least one catch in 39 of his 41 career games played.
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