Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Postgame Notes

Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Postgame Notes

22/RV/RV Oklahoma State vs. 9/10/11 Oklahoma
November 4, 2023 | Stillwater, Okla. (Boone Pickens Stadium) | Attendance: 54,105
Final Score: Oklahoma State 27, No. 9 Oklahoma 24
Updated Records: Oklahoma State 7-2 overall (5-1 Big 12); Oklahoma 7-2 overall (4-2 Big 12)

Postgame Notes

Oklahoma State outlasted Oklahoma, 27-24, in a back-and-forth game for its fifth straight conference win and second consecutive win over the Sooners in Stillwater.
With the Bedlam win, Oklahoma State maintained its spot atop the conference in a three-way tie with Texas and Iowa State.
The win improved Oklahoma State's record to 10-3 in its last 13 games against AP top-25 teams. OSU has also won three of its past four matchups with AP top-10 opponents.
Head coach Mike Gundy recorded his 100th career Big 12 win, making him the third coach in history to reach the milestone. The only other two coaches to reach 100 Big 12 wins are Bob Stoops and Bill Snyder.
Oklahoma State held the Sooners to 24 points, their second lowest scoring total of the season. Oklahoma entered Saturday ranked fourth in the country in scoring, averaging 41.9 points per game. On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys posted 27 points against a Sooner defense that entered the game allowing just 18.9 points per game (22nd nationally, third in the Big 12).
Oklahoma State won the turnover battle, 3-1, matching Oklahoma's season-high in turnovers. Entering the game, the Sooners ranked third nationally and first in the Big 12 in turnover margin, entering the game at +10 on the season.
Noting Ollie Gordon II's performance against Oklahoma on Saturday:
- Career-high 33 rushes for 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns along with an 18-yard reception
- Has rushed for 100+ yards in six straight games, tied for the sixth-longest streak in program history and the fourth Cowboy to do so since 1988
- Has scored multiple touchdowns in four straight games with 10 total scores, including three consecutive games with 2+ rushing touchdowns
- Marked the most rushing yards allowed (137) by Oklahoma this season, while his two rushing touchdowns also matched Oklahoma's season-high allowed
Rashod Owens had a career game in the Bedlam win:
- Career-high receptions and yards with 10 catches for 136 yards, surpassing previous marks of nine receptions for 112 yards against Kansas.
- Became the first Oklahoma State player with double-digit receptions since the 2021 Fiesta Bowl, when Brennan Presley and Tay Martin each had 10.
- Totaled the highest receiving yardage allowed to a player by the Oklahoma defense this season, besting the previous total of 134 by UCF's Javon Baker.
Brennan Presley continued a string of impressive Bedlam performances in his career:
- On Saturday, he caught eight passes for a season-high 97 yards to go along with 32 return yards
- In 2022, he finished the game with 158 all-purpose yards, including 118 receiving, his highest total of the season
- In 2021, he compiled 174 all-purpose yards, highlighted by a 100-yard kickoff-return touchdown, the first and only of his career
Alan Bowman completed 28 of 42 pass attempts for 334 yards, just two yards shy of his season-high, and rushed for his second touchdown of the season. During OSU's five-game win streak, Bowman has thrown just two interceptions.
Xavier Benson was all over the field on Saturday, recording seven tackles, a sack, a quarterback hurry, a forced fumble and recovery and three tackles for loss, which is the most by a Cowboy this season.
Oklahoma State did not allow a sack for the third straight game, its first time doing so since 2012, and has surrendered just one sack in the past five games for the first time since the last two games in 2011 and first three in 2012. In Big 12 play only, OSU is tops in the conference with just two sacks allowed.
With three more takeaways against the Sooners, the Cowboy defense has forced multiple turnovers in five straight games with a total of 13. It is the first time OSU has recorded multiple turnovers in five consecutive games since 2013 and its highest total in a five-game span since forcing 14 in 2015. Oklahoma State entered Saturday ranked third in the nation with 323 turnovers forced since 2010.
For the fifth straight game, Oklahoma State scored on its opening drive to take an early 7-0 lead over the Sooners after Ollie Gordon II found the end zone with a 20-yard run. OSU has scored first in every Big 12 game played this season.
OSU's 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on its opening possession marked the first offensive touchdown allowed in the first quarter by Oklahoma this season.
On Oklahoma's second drive of the game, Xavier Benson managed a strip-sack and recovered a fumble just two plays later. He entered Saturday with half a sack on the season and no fumbles forced or recovered in his career.
Oklahoma State dominated the ball in the opening quarter with a 11:39 time of possession compared to Oklahoma's 3:21. The two teams finished the game with possession times of 37:14 and 22:46, respectively.
Alan Bowman opened the second quarter with a 13-yard rushing score to put the Cowboys back on top, 14-7. It was the longest run of his career and his fourth career rushing touchdown.
The Cowboys entered the half with a 17-14 edge, marking Oklahoma's first deficit at halftime this season.
Nickolas Martin once again led OSU in tackles with nine total and six solo, extending a streak to five straight games with nine or more tackles.
Dylan Smith reeled in his second career interception on Oklahoma's first possession of the second half. It was just Dillon Gabriel's fifth interception of the season.
In the fourth quarter, Kody Walterscheid recovered a fumble for the first time this season and third time in his career.
Alex Hale nailed his 19th and 20th field goals of the season on Saturday, elevating him to a tie for seventh-most by a Cowboy in a single season. His 26 attempts are also now tied for seventh-most by a Cowboy in a single season.
Oklahoma State entered Saturday with the nation's second-best fourth down defense, surrendering just 3 of 16 attempts (18.8%), and added to the total with two more fourth down stop against Oklahoma, including one with 1:01 remaining in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Justin Kirkland made his first FBS start on Saturday after spending one season at Utah Tech.
Oklahoma State's game captains against the Sooners were Jake Springfield, Collin Oliver, Brennan Presley and Elijah Collins.
The 1983 Cowboy football team was honored at halftime of Saturday's game for the 40th anniversary of their Bluebonnet Bowl championship. The squad doubled its win total from the year prior and the season marked the most successful year of head coach Jimmy Johnson's five-year stint in Stillwater.

The Oklahoma State Win...

Marked Mike Gundy's 100th career Big 12 win, making him the third coach in history to reach the milestone. The only other two coaches to reach 100 Big 12 wins are Bob Stoops and Bill Snyder.
Marked the Cowboys' 11th win over an AP Top 10 team since 2008.
Gave it wins in two straight and three of its past four games against AP Top 10 teams.
Made it 10-3 in its past 13 and 19-8 in its past 27 games vs. opponents ranked in the AP Top 25.
Improved it to 34-25 vs. AP ranked teams since the beginning of the 2011 season.
Marked Mike Gundy's 40th career win vs. AP Top 25 opponents. Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney are the only other active coaches with more wins over AP Top 25 teams at their current schools.
Improved Mike Gundy's record in November games to 39-30.
Improved Mike Gundy's record in home games to 94-29.
Improved its record against Oklahoma to 21-90-7 and its record vs. OU in Stillwater to 9-40-5.
Gave it wins against Oklahoma in two of the past three matchups.
Gave it wins in 19 of its past 21 and 22 of its past 25 games played at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Improved Mike Gundy's record against Oklahoma to 4-15.
Made it 28-10 in its past 38 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.

Notable Streaks and Trends

Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in six straight games.
OSU has forced 13 turnovers and only surrendered five turnovers in the past five games.
OSU has held 34 of its past 39 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 44 of its past 47 games.
OSU is 37-16 in its past 53 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
OSU is 48-8 in its past 56 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
Dating back to 2008, OSU is 79-8 when winning the turnover battle.
Over the past 46 games, OSU has held opponents to 213-for-704 (30.3%) on third down.

Players Mentioned

Xavier Benson

Alan Bowman

Elijah Collins

Ollie Gordon II

Alex Hale

Justin Kirkland

Nick Martin

Collin Oliver

Rashod Owens

Brennan Presley

Dylan Smith

Jake Springfield

Kody Walterscheid

Oklahoma State University Athletics