Cowboys Set to Open 122nd Season vs. Missouri State

Complete Notes Available Here

The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (0-0 overall; 0-0 Big 12) opens its 122nd season when it hosts Missouri State (0-0 overall; 0-0 MVFC) at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 4, at Boone Pickens Stadium.

Get Your Tickets
Season tickets, three-game bundles and single-game tickets are available at okstate.com/tickets or by calling the OSU ticket office at 877-ALL-4-OSU. Fans interested in tickets can also text the OSU ticket office at 877-255-4678. Tickets for the Missouri State game are available from the OSU ticket office for as low as $25. The game's themes of "Together In Orange Again" & "Thank You Healthcare Workers" will be bolstered by a performance from the Jason Scott Band at the pregame black party. Fans are encouraged to wear a "Sea Of Orange" in preparation for launching a new pregame show as tradition at the game.

On the Air
The game will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ with Courtney Lyle, Brandon Weeden and Shane Sparks 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.

All About Openers
Saturday's game marks the fifth time in the past six years that Oklahoma State has opened the season in Stillwater. It also marks the 63rd time OSU has opened its season at home. OSU's overall record in season openers is 75-40-6, while its overall record in home openers is 86-29-5 and its overall record in season openers at home is 52-5-5. Oklahoma State has won 25 consecutive home openers for the longest such streak in school history, and the Cowboys have won 45 of their past 51 home openers. When it comes to season openers overall, OSU has won each of its past six and 15 of its past 17. Saturday's game also marks the 11th time during Mike Gundy's tenure that the Cowboys have opened with a home game, and the Cowboys are undefeated in the previous 10. OSU has outscored opponents, 780-227, in home openers during the Gundy era for an average score of 49-14. Gundy is 14-2 overall in season openers, with his only setbacks at No. 13 Georgia in 2007 and vs. No. 1 Florida State in 2014.

In the Rankings
Oklahoma State was voted No. 22 in the preseason edition of the 2021 USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. The Cowboys have now been ranked in the preseason top 25 in the coaches poll in five of the past six and eight of the past 11 years. OSU has received votes in the preseason coaches poll each of the past 15 seasons. OSU is also receiving votes in the AP Top 25, and are just one spot out of the rankings for the equivalent of No. 26. OSU has reached the top 15 of the AP poll at some point in 11 of the past 13 seasons and has seen a top 10 ranking in the AP poll at some point in nine of those 13 years. Although the first 2021 College Football Playoff rankings won't be released until November 2, it's worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in five of the past six seasons entering 2021. Missouri State is ranked No. 24 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 and is also receiving votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Preseason Top 25, coming in at the equivalent of No. 27.

The Series
Saturday's game marks the ninth meeting between Oklahoma State and Missouri State, with the Cowboys going 8-0 in a series that dates back to 1993. All eight of the previous matchups have been played in Stillwater, with OSU winning the first meeting in 1993, 45-7, and winning the most recent in 2018, 58-17. Although the Cowboys have faced the Bears eight times, OSU has squared off a few more times with schools who are currently part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, going 13-0 overall. This year's game will mark Missouri State coach Bobby Petrino's first time facing the Cowboys, while Mike Gundy is 4-0 in his career against the Bears. Gundy is also a perfect 12-0 when facing FCS teams.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State football has established itself as a top-tier program in the nation in recent history, becoming one of just 10 Power Five programs with more than 100 wins since 2010. The Cowboys have won 72% of their games (101-40) during that timeframe and have now extended school-record streaks of 15 consecutive bowl bids and 15 consecutive winning seasons into the next decade. That kind of foundation paved the way to another solid performance last season, and leaves reason to believe that the 2021 season can continue the upward trend of Cowboy football. OSU's high-powered offense established the team's status as a national power, but in recent years the defense has emerged to carry the torch in several important wins. In 2021, that offense returns five starters - including its quarterback - and several promising young players, while a now-established defense returns its leading tackler and a total of nine starters from a year ago. Add experienced specialists with potential for national awards, and 2021 should be another chapter in OSU's story of success.

An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Make it 9-0 all-time vs. Missouri State and 14-0 against teams in the MVFC.
• Make it 16-1 in its past 17 non-conference games and 38-6 in its past 44 non-conference games.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record vs. FCS teams to 13-0.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in non-conference games to 55-12.
• Make it 10-2 in its past 12 games played when not ranked by the AP.
• Improve it to 42-18 in its past 60 games and 56-24 in its past 80 games.
• Make it 75-16 in its past 91 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating back to 2010.
• Improve its record in season openers to 76-40-6 and its record in home season openers to 53-5-5.
• Make it 87-29-5 in home openers.
• Give it wins in 13 of its past 14, 16 of its past 18 and 33 of its past 41 season openers.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in season openers to 15-2 and his record in home openers to 17-0.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record vs. non-Power Five opponents to 37-4.
• Give it 26 consecutive wins in home openers, increasing the longest streak in school history.
• Give it wins in 46 of its past 52 home openers.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU has scored on defense in three of its past six games.
• OSU has held 12 of its past 14 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• OSU has won 73 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 is 26-10 in its past 36 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 31-5 in its past 36 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 41-3 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 64-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its past four overtime games.
• OSU has forced a total of 10 turnovers in its past four games.
• OSU has had a 100-yard rusher in seven of its past 10 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 11 straight games.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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