Game Notes: Oklahoma State Back on the Road to Face West Virginia

Complete Notes (PDF)

The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (4-2 overall; 2-1 Big 12) heads back on the road this week as it travels to face West Virginia (4-2 overall; 2-1 Big 12) at 2:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 21, at Milan Puskar Stadium. It will be Mike Gundy's 400th game with OSU as a player or coach.

On the Air
The game will be televised live on ESPN with Mike Monaco, Robert Griffin III and Kris Budden 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. The broadcast can also be heard on SiriusXM channel 392.

In the Rankings
The Oklahoma State football team is not ranked, but is receiving votes in both the AP Top 25 and the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll this week. Through the 2022 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 13 of the past 15 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 15 years. Although the first College Football Playoff rankings won't be released until November 1, it's worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in seven of the past eight seasons entering 2023. West Virginia is not ranked, but is also receiving votes in both major polls.

Mike Gundy's 400th Game as a Cowboy
Saturday's game will mark a milestone for OSU coach Mike Gundy: his 400th game as an Oklahoma State Cowboy. He was on the team as a player for 46 games in four seasons from 1986 through 1989, was an assistant coach for 116 games in 10 seasons from 1990-95 and 2001-04, and has been with the program for 237 games in 19 seasons as the head coach from 2005 until now. Add all that up, and the upcoming game at West Virginia is his 400th game in the orange and black. It's safe to say that no one has been a bigger part of Cowboy football than Mike Gundy.

The Series
Saturday's game marks the 15th meeting between Oklahoma State and West Virginia in a series that began in 1928. The 2022 season also marks the 12th consecutive year the teams have met. The Cowboys own a 9-5 all-time series advantage, including a 4-2 edge in Morgantown. OSU has won seven of the past eight against the Mountaineers and has won four straight games played in Morgantown. Mike Gundy is 8-3 in his career against West Virginia, while WVU's Neal Brown is 1-3 against OSU.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
The Oklahoma State football team is coming off back-to-back wins against the two best teams it has faced to this point, defeating Kansas State, 29-21, and No. 23 Kansas, 39-32, in front of sellout crowds at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Cowboy defense produced five total turnovers in those two wins while the offense didn't have a turnover in either game. The star of the latest win over Kansas was undoubtedly sophomore running back Ollie Gordon II, who produced more than 51% of OSU's offensive yardage with 168 rushing yards and 116 receiving yards with two total touchdowns. It was a historic performance, as no other FBS player in the past seven seasons has reached those rushing and receiving totals in the same game. It was also the latest in an impressive stretch for Gordon, who has now turned in three consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Quarterback Alan Bowman also impressed last week, throwing for 336 yards and a pair of touchdowns to reach his highest single game passing yards total since the 2020 season. He helped receiver Rashod Owens record career highs with nine catches for 112 yards. The Cowboy defense came up big up front against KU's No. 6 in the FBS rushing offense by holding it to a season-low 90 yards on the ground. OSU also sacked KU quarterback Jason Bean four times, while the Jayhawks entered the game allowing just one sack per game. Linebackers Nick Martin and Collin Oliver and safeties Kendal Daniels and Cameron Epps have been the biggest defensive playmakers of late, each making key things happen in big moments. One of the most notable Cowboys on the season is placekicker Alex Hale. The Australian senior is making a case for the Groza Award as he leads the FBS with 2.5 made field goals per game and has made nine over the past two games - a first in school history. He has also made all three of his attempts from longer than 50 yards this year.

An Oklahoma State Win Would ...
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in October games to 49-21.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in road games to 55-40.
• Improve its all-time record against West Virginia to 10-5 and its record vs. WVU in Morgantown to 5-2.
• Give it wins in eight of its past nine games against West Virginia and five straight wins over WVU in Morgantown.
• Make it 8-6 in its past 14 road games.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record against West Virginia to 9-3.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in Big 12 games to 98-62.
• Make it 26-10 in its past 36 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Make it 90-23 in its past 113 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU has not turned the ball over in back-to-back games.
• The Cowboys have forced five turnovers in the past two games.
• OSU has held 32 of its past 36 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
• OSU has won 84 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. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, the streak begins at the same date and includes 91 games.
• The Cowboy defense has produced a shutout half in two games this season.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 35 of its past 50 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 42 of its past 44 games.
• OSU is 36-16 in its past 52 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 46-8 in its past 54 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 48-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 77-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its past five overtime games.
• Over the past 43 games, OSU has held opponents to 194-for-661 (29.3%) on third down.

Game Notes: Oklahoma State Back on the Road to Face West Virginia

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Players Mentioned

Alan Bowman

Kendal Daniels

Cameron Epps

Ollie Gordon II

Alex Hale

Collin Oliver

Rashod Owens

Oklahoma State University Athletics