Oklahoma State Faces Texas Tech in Final Road Game of 2021

Complete Notes Available Here

The Basics
Tied atop the Big 12 standings, the Oklahoma State football team (9-1 overall; 6-1 Big 12) faces its final road test when it travels to Lubbock to face Texas Tech (6-4 overall; 3-4 Big 12) at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, November 20, in Jones AT&T Stadium.

On the Air
The game will be televised by FOX with Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman on the call. It 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 The Varsity Network app.

In the Rankings
Oklahoma State was No. 10 in last week's College Football Playoff rankings, with this week's edition released Tuesday evening. Entering this week, OSU has been included in 13 consecutive CFP polls dating to November 5, 2019. The Cowboys have been in the CFP rankings in six of the last seven seasons. OSU is ninth in this week's AP Top 25, continuing a streak of 14 consecutive seasons in the poll. The streak, which began in 2008, is the 10th-longest active streak in the nation. Including this season, OSU has appeared in the top 15 of the AP poll in 12 of the past 14 seasons. It has had a top 10 ranking in the AP poll at some point in 10 of those 14 years. The Cowboys are No. 9 in this week's USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. Texas Tech is not ranked in any of the major polls.

The Series
Saturday's game marks the 49th meeting between Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, with the series dating to 1935. The 2021 season also marks the 26th consecutive year the teams have met. TTU owns a 23-22-3 edge in the all-time series, but Oklahoma State has won 10 of the last 12. Texas Tech holds a 13-7-2 advantage in Lubbock, but the Cowboys have won five of the last six played at TTU. Coach Mike Gundy is 12-4 in his career against Texas Tech, while TTU coach Sonny Cumbie is facing OSU for the first time as a head coach.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 9-1 on the year and tied atop the Big 12 standings with two games remaining in the regular season. With a win against Texas Tech and other conference games falling into place Saturday, the Cowboys could clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship game. The Pokes have improved as the year has gone and are now a significant part of the conversation when it comes to the reaching the College Football Playoff. They have beaten their past three opponents by a combined score of 142-23. OSU's 39.7-point average margin of victory over the past three weeks ranks No. 1 in college football - 7.3 better than second-place Wisconsin, 8.7 better than fourth-place Alabama, 10.3 better than seventh-place Georgia and 18.7 better than 12th-place Notre Dame during that timeframe. OSU has a 5-1 mark against FPI top-50 opponents (with a 12.2 points-per-game margin) and three wins vs. teams ranked at game time. Its lone loss came on the road by three points to a preseason AP top-10 team. Its ESPN Strength of Record is No. 6 nationally. The Oklahoma State defense has performed at a historic level all season. OSU is now among the top five teams in the FBS in sacks (No. 1), tackles for loss (No. 2), third-down defense (No. 2), total defense (No. 3) rushing defense (No. 5) and first downs defense (No. 5). Although the defense has garnered most of the headlines, the Cowboy offense has taken its game to the next level of late. Over the past three weeks, the Cowboys have averaged more than 47 points and more than 500 yards of offense per game. In short, OSU is peaking on both sides of the ball.

An Oklahoma State Win Would ...
• Keep OSU on top of the 2021 Big 12 standings and could secure it a spot in the Big 12 title game.
• Mark the 10th 10-win season in program history and the seventh since 2010.
• Make it 10-1 or better for the first time since 2015 and for the fifth time in the Mike Gundy era.
• Give it wins in 12 of its past 13 games and 18 of its past 22 games, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Make it 5-1 in its past six away games.
• Make it 11-2 in its last 13 games vs. Texas Tech, and 6-1 in its last seven in Lubbock.
• Make the Cowboys 23-23-3 all-time vs. Texas Tech and 8-13-2 vs. TTU in Lubbock.
• Improve Mike Gundy's career record vs. Texas Tech to 13-4.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in Big 12 games to 90-56.
• Make it 146-67 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
• Make it 134-38 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
• Make it 81-17 in its past 98 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating back to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU is averaging 47.3 points and 500.7 yards of offense in its last three games.
• OSU has surrendered only one offensive touchdown in the last 12 quarters.
• OSU has held five of its last eight opponents under 100 yards rushing.
• OSU has held six of its last seven opponents under 200 yards passing.
• OSU has held 19 of its last 21 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• OSU has won 78 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 and longest since at least 1980.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 21 of its last 27 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 21 straight games.
• OSU has held its opponent to fewer than 20 first downs in nine straight games.
• Malcolm Rodriguez has recorded at least five tackles in 18 straight games.
• Tay Martin has a touchdown reception in three of his last four games.
• OSU is 30-11 in its last 41 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 38-6 in its last 44 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 42-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 68-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its last four overtime games.
• OSU has forced 22 turnovers in its past 14 games.

Oklahoma State Faces Texas Tech in Final Road Game of 2021

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Players Mentioned

Tay Martin

Malcolm Rodriguez

Oklahoma State University Athletics