Game Notes: Oklahoma State Ready for Iowa State

Complete Notes

The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (3-0 overall; 2-0 Big 12) hosts Iowa State (3-1 overall; 3-0 Big 12) this week for its first game since Oct. 3, following back-to-back open weeks. The Cowboys face the Cyclones at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Boone Pickens Stadium.

On the Air
The game will be televised by FOX with Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman 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
OSU is ranked in both the AP Top 25 (No. 6) and the Amway Coaches Poll (No. 6). Including 2020, OSU has reached the top 15 of the AP poll at some point in 11 of the past 13 seasons. OSU has also seen a top 10 ranking in the AP poll at some point in nine of those 13 years. The AP ranking marks the highest for OSU since it was voted No. 6 in week four of the 2017 season. OSU remains the highest ranked Big 12 team and is followed by No. 17 Iowa State and No. 20 Kansas State. Oklahoma, West Virginia and Texas are unranked, but are receiving votes in both polls. Although the College Football Playoff rankings won't be released until later in the year, it is worth noting that OSU has appeared in the CFP rankings four of the past five seasons entering 2020. Iowa State is ranked No. 17 by the AP and No. 18 by the coaches.

The Series
Saturday's game marks the 55th meeting between Oklahoma State and Iowa State, with the series dating back to 1926. The 2020 season also marks the 10th consecutive year the teams have met. OSU owns a 32-19-3 all-time series advantage, including a 17-7-2 advantage in games played in Stillwater. OSU has won nine of the past 11 matchups, as well as five of the past six games played in Stillwater. Coach Mike Gundy is 9-3 in his career against Iowa State, while ISU coach Matt Campbell is 1-3 in his career against OSU.

History Repeats Itself
Oklahoma State's last game was Oct. 3. With a scheduled bye week following that game and the postponement of the Baylor game last week, OSU will have 23 days between games. This stretch marks the first time OSU has had consecutive open weeks between regular season games since 1918, when Oklahoma A&M had three-straight open weekends after its opener due to an outbreak of influenza in the 1918 pandemic.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State returns to action this Saturday after back-to-back open weekends, and, at 3-0, is the only undefeated team the Big 12. The Cowboys got there with wins over Tulsa, West Virginia and Kansas, and were led by strong defensive performances in each win. OSU held its first three opponents to a combined total of 27 points. This is the fewest points allowed by OSU in a three-game stretch since the Cowboys limited Missouri State, Arkansas State and Florida Atlantic to 25 points in the first three games of the 2006 season. The 9.0 points allowed on average is enough to rank the Cowboys No. 2 in the FBS when it comes to scoring defense. As great as that number is, the most impressive stat along the way has probably been OSU's third down defense. The Cowboys have held their opponents to a combined total of 7-for-43 on third down attempts for a national-best .163 conversion rate. The OSU defense is also among the national leaders when it comes to sacks (No. 4), total defense (No. 6), 4th-down defense (No. 6), pass efficiency defense (No. 7), tackles for loss (No. 7), first downs defense (No. 9), rushing defense (No. 10), defensive touchdowns (No. 11) and passing yards allowed (No. 13). The OSU offense has battled injuries at quarterback and on the offensive line, but has done enough to win each game. True freshman Shane Illingworth has started at quarterback each of the past two games in place of an injured Spencer Sanders, and he threw three touchdown passes in the last game. Running back Chuba Hubbard and wide receiver Tylan Wallace both turned in their best games of the year so far at KU, and are now in the FBS top 11 in rushing and receiving yards per game, respectively. Kicker Alex Hale has been the brightest star on special teams, starting his career at 8-for-8 on field goal attempts this season and ranking No. 2 in the FBS with 2.67 made field goals per game.

An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Improve it to 37-15 in its past 52 games and 51-21 in its past 72 games.
• Make it 9-4 in its past 13 games and 13-7 in its past 20 games vs. AP Top 25 teams.
• Improve it to 24-21 vs. AP ranked teams since the beginning of the 2011 season.
• Mark Mike Gundy's 30th career win vs. AP Top 25 opponents. Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney are the only other active coaches with 30 wins over AP Top 25 teams at their current schools.
• Make it 8-2 in its past 10 games at Boone Pickens Stadium.
• Make OSU 47-14 at Boone Pickens Stadium since the start of the 2011 season.
• Make it 4-0 for the first time since 2015 and for the fifth time in the Mike Gundy era.
• Make it 33-19-3 all-time vs. Iowa State and 18-7-2 vs. Iowa State in Stillwater.
• Give it wins in 10 of its past 12 games against Iowa State.
• Improve Mike Gundy's career record vs. Iowa State to 10-3.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in Big 12 games to 80-52.
• Improve it to 61-31 in Big 12 games since 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU is 22-8 in its past 30 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU has scored on its opening drive in 17 of its past 25 games.
• OSU is 27-3 in its past 30 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• OSU has outrushed its opponent in 31 of its past 43 games and in 33 of its past 46 games.
• OSU has had at least one 100-yard receiver in 21 of its past 34 games.
• OSU has had a 100-yard rusher in 31 of its past 43 games.
• OSU has forced a turnover in 48 of its past 56 games and in 57 of its past 66 games, dating to 2015.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 39-3 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 62-7 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three straight overtime games.
• OSU has held its last seven Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• Oklahoma State has not allowed any of its first three opponents to score more than one touchdown.
• Chuba Hubbard has rushed for at least 100 yards in 17 of his past 20 games. He also has a rushing touchdown in 17 of those 20 games.
• Alex Hale has made all eight of the first field goal attempts of his career. One more make will give him the 10th-longest streak in school history.
• Dillon Stoner has at least one catch in 40 of his past 41 games.
• OSU has scored on a play of at least 50 yards in eight of its past 12 games.
• OSU has won 71 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active stretch of time in the FBS.

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Players Mentioned

Alex Hale

Chuba Hubbard

Shane Illingworth

Spencer Sanders

Dillon Stoner

Tylan Wallace

Oklahoma State University Athletics