Oklahoma State University Athletics
Tracking the Trends: Cowboy Football Looks to Win 28th Consecutive Home Opener
August 31, 2023 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State Cowboy football enters its game on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium against Central Arkansas with the second-longest active winning streak in home openers in college football.
Three head coaches have led the Cowboys to 27 straight wins in season's inaugural games in Stillwater, dating back to 1996 under coach Bob Simmons. It's the longest streak in OSU history. Simmons won five home openers, while Les Miles and Mike Gundy are perfect in home openers, with Miles recording a 4-0 record and Gundy at an ongoing 18-0.
The 27-game streak started in 1996 under Simmons with a 23-20 victory in overtime over Missouri State in Stillwater. OSU trails only Florida, which has 33, for the longest active streak in the FBS.
In the span, OSU has put forth impressive performances on both sides of the ball, leading to several convincing victories. Most notably, OSU routed Savannah State 84-0 in the home opener of the 2012 season. That game was one of three shutouts the Cowboy defense has pitched in the years. OSU's dominant defense allowed no more than 20 points in 17 games, including 13 games at 10 points or less.
Likewise, the offensive units through the years have showcased some of the highest scoring totals in the NCAA. In home openers, OSU has exploded 50 or more points in 11 of its last 27 home openers. The Cowboys put up 50 or more points in four straight home openers between 2016-19, which started with a 61-7 landslide over Southeastern Louisiana in the 2016 opener. Gundy has coached all 11 of the scoring outbursts of over 50 points.
The Cowboys have outscored their opponents a combined 1,169-415 in home opening games, with the overall point differential at +754. OSU has averaged just over 43 points per game, while allowing just around 15 points from their opponents per game.
Two wins have come against ranked opponents. In 1998, the unranked Cowboys beat No. 25 Mississippi State in the Stillwater opener 42-23. It happened again in 2009 when No. 9 OSU took down 13th-ranked Georgia, 24-10.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on Saturday and will be streamed on ESPN+.
