Oklahoma State Continues Road Stretch at Baylor

Complete notes available here

The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (3-4 overall; 0-4 Big 12) travels to Waco, Texas, this week for its second consecutive road game, facing Baylor (3-4 overall; 1-3 Big 12) at McLane Stadium with kickoff set for Saturday, October 26, at 2:30 p.m. CT.

On the Air
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Ted Emrich and Charles Arbuckle 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
The Oklahoma State football team is not ranked this week but has been ranked in the top 15 this season in both the Associated Press poll and the US LBM Coaches Poll. Including 2024, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 17 years. OSU has been ranked in the top 25 every season since 2008. Although the first College Football Playoff rankings won't be released until November 5, it's worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in eight of the past nine seasons entering 2024. The Cowboys have also been included in 43 of the 60 all-time CFP Rankings, which is tied for the eighth-most appearances in the country. Baylor is not ranked.

The Series
Saturday's game marks the 43rd overall meeting between Oklahoma State and Baylor in a series that dates to 1914. The 2024 matchup marks a renewal of the series after the teams did not face each other in 2023. Prior to that, OSU and BU faced off for 27 consecutive years, beginning with the first season of Big 12 Conference play in 1996. OSU holds a 23-19 all-time advantage in the series, with Baylor holding a 9-8 edge in Waco. OSU has won 20 of the past 28 over Baylor, including a 36-25 win in the last game played in Waco in 2022, and eight of the 13 games played in Waco since the formation of the Big 12. A win would give the Cowboys their second ever three-game winning streak in Waco with the first coming on a stretch of four wins from 1997 through 2003. Coach Mike Gundy is 11-8 in his career against Baylor, while Baylor coach Dave Aranda is 1-3 against Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 3-4 on the year after nearly upsetting No. 13 BYU on the road last week. The Cowboys scored with just over a minute remaining to take the lead but fell by three points in the final seconds of the game. Injuries have sidelined several key contributors for some or all of the season, including preseason All-Americans Collin Oliver and Nick Martin, as well as safety Trey Rucker, right tackle Jake Springfield, quarterback Garret Rangel, linebacker Justin Wright and receiver Da'Wain Lofton. The setbacks have had an impact on the team, but there have been standouts who have played well. Running back Ollie Gordon II returned to form in a big way last week, recording three touchdowns in the first half at BYU and finishing with 127 yards from scrimmage. His efforts led the way to the Cowboys scoring the most points that the Cougars have allowed this season. Safety Trey Rucker missed that game, but he still leads all Power Conference players in tackles per game has been the biggest standout on unit that ranks in the FBS top 15 with nine interceptions. The Cowboys also excel in other important team stats. They are No. 3 in the FBS in fewest penalties, No. 6 in fewest penalty yards, No. 13 in net punting, No. 20 punt return defense and No. 24 in kickoff return defense. Punter Wes Pahl would rank second in the FBS in yards per punt if he had enough to qualify for the NCAA rankings.

Continued Success
• Entering 2024, Oklahoma State has made 18th consecutive bowl appearances and secured 18 consecutive winning seasons, both school-record streaks. OSU's bowl streak is the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS, and the is longest active streak for any school with the same head coach.
• Mike Gundy has coached the Cowboys to five New Year's Six bowl games since the 2009 season. The Pokes appeared in the 2010 Cotton Bowl, the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, the 2014 Cotton Bowl, the 2016 Sugar Bowl and the 2022 Fiesta Bowl.
• Since 2010, Oklahoma State has eight seasons with at least 10 wins, an outright Big 12 title (2011), a share of the Big 12 South title (2010) and two more appearances in the conference championship game. OSU reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
• Oklahoma State is one of only four teams to post a winning season every year since 2010, joining Alabama, Boise State and Wisconsin. It is one of only two Power Five teams with winning seasons each of the past 18 years, joined by Wisconsin.
• Including 2024, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons and reached the top 10 in 11 of those 17 years.
• Entering 2024, OSU has finished in the top three of the Big 12 in four of the past five seasons and has finished in the top three 10 times in the 13 seasons since the conference moved away from divisions.

An Oklahoma State Win Would ...
• Make it 98-25 in its past 123 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
• Make it 11-9 in its past 20 road games.
• Give it wins in 13 of its past 20 and in 26 of its past 36 games following a loss.
• Make it 4-4 or better for a 19th consecutive season.
• Give it wins in 12 of its past 18 games.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in October games to 51-23.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in Big 12 games to 103-67 and move him to one game away from tying Bill Snyder for the second-most Big 12 wins in conference history.
• Improve its all-time record vs. Baylor to 24-19 and its record vs. Baylor in Waco to 9-9.
• Give it wins in 21 of its past 29 games against Baylor and in nine of its past 14 trips to Waco.
• Give it three straight wins against Baylor in Waco, amrking its second ever three-game winning streak in Waco with the first coming on a stretch of four wins from 1997 through 2003.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record against Baylor to 12-8.
• Make it 35-16 in its past 51 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Brennan Presley has multiple catches in 37 straight games, the second longest active streak in the FBS.
• Trey Rucker has recorded at least 10 tackles in four of his six games played this season.
• Oklahoma State is 4-for-4 on two-point conversion attempts this season and the four successful two-point conversions are tied for the most in the FBS.
• Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in 11 of the past 18 games.
• OSU, LSU and Georgia Tech are the only Power Conference teams who have allowed fewer than five sacks in 2024.
• OSU's offensive line has not allowed a sack in 10 of its past 17 games.
• OSU is 13-2 in the past 15 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 82-10 when winning the turnover battle.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 49-4 when not committing a turnover.
• OSU has held 35 of its past 47 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
• OSU has won 86 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, the longest since at least 1980 and likely the longest in college football history. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, the streak begins at the same date and includes 94 games.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 44 of its past 65 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 51 of its past 59 games.
• OSU is 40-18 in its past 58 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 51-9 in its past 60 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.
• Over the past 56 games, OSU has held opponents to 281-for-872 (32.2%) on third down.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Ollie Gordon II

Da'Wain Lofton

Nick Martin

Collin Oliver

Wes Pahl

Brennan Presley

Garret Rangel

Trey Rucker

Jake Springfield

Justin Wright

Oklahoma State University Athletics