Oklahoma State Plays at Arizona for First Time Since 2012

Complete notes available here.

The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (1-3 overall; 0-1 Big 12) travels to Arizona (3-1 overall; 0-1 Big 12) this week for the Cowboys' first Big 12 road game of 2025 and their first matchup with the Wildcats since 2012. Kickoff at Arizona Stadium is set for 2 p.m. CDT/12 p.m. MST Saturday, October 4.

On the Air
The game will be televised live on TNT and simulcast on truTV and HBO Max with J.B. Long, Mike Golic Jr. and Jared Greenberg 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 Series
Saturday's game marks the 10th overall meeting between Oklahoma State and Arizona in a series that dates to 1931. The 2025 matchup marks the first time the teams have met as conference foes and the first time they have faced off since 2012. Oklahoma State holds a 5-4 advantage in the series, with Arizona holding a 4-1 edge in games played in Tucson. OSU's lone win at Arizona came in 1932 in its first trip to Tucson. The series has been played just three times since 1942, with OSU winning an Alamo Bowl matchup in 2010 and a 2011 game in Boone Pickens Stadium, and Arizona winning the last contest in 2012 in Tucson. OSU interim coach Doug Meacham is in his second career game as a head coach, and Arizona coach Brent Brennan has never faced Oklahoma State.

In the Rankings
Oklahoma State is not ranked, but the Cowboys have been ranked at some point in every season from 2008-24. Through the 2024 season, 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. Although the first College Football Playoff rankings won't be released until November, it's worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in eight of the past 10 seasons entering 2025. The Cowboys have also been included in 43 of the all-time CFP Rankings, which ranks among the most appearances in the country. Arizona is not ranked.

Boone Pickens Stadium Named the Best in the Country
Oklahoma State's Boone Pickens Stadium is the best college football stadium in the country according to USA TODAY, which used reviews from Yelp, Tripadvisor and Google to compile college football stadium rankings for 2025. In more than 1,700 combined reviews between the three services, Boone Pickens Stadium has an average of 4.8 stars to edge out Kansas State's Bill Snyder Family Stadium and Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium for the top spot among the 136 Football Bowl Subdivision venues.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play. Last week's game against Baylor marked the first career game as a head coach for interim head coach and offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, and the Cowboys' best first-half offensive yards total since 2021. OSU breaks in another new position this week, as former quality control coach Clint Bowen takes the reins as interim defensive coordinator after being elevated to the job on September 28. The Cowboys are comprised of a majority of newcomers, as 62 of the 114 players on the roster (54%) were not part of the team in December. Through four games, 16 of OSU's players with at least one start are newcomers. Bright spots so far have included redshirt freshman running back Rodney Fields Jr., who turned in a 100-yard rushing game in his first career start against Tulsa, and linebacker Bryan McCoy Jr., who has led the team in tackles in three of the four games. Quarterback Hauss Hejny sustained an injury in the opening quarter of the 2025 season, but Zane Flores stepped in and has played well in his first career playing time. The best defensive effort so far came in the season opener when the Cowboys allowed just 225 total yards to mark their lowest yards allowed in a game since a shutout of Texas Tech in 2021. The OSU offense has not had a turnover in three of OSU's four games, ranking among the NCAA top 10 in fewest turnovers this season.

An Oklahoma State Win Would ...
• Improve Doug Meacham's record as a head coach to 1-1.
• Improve its all-time record against Arizona to 6-4 and its record against Arizona in Tucson to 2-4.
• Improve its record in games played in the state of Arizona to 9-6.
• Give it wins in eight of its past 11 games played in the state of Arizona.
• Make it 36-24 in its past 60 games overall, dating to 2020.
• Make it 99-31 in its past 130 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Oklahoma State has gone each of its past two games without turning the ball over. The Cowboys have not had a three-game stretch without a turnover since the 2012-13 seasons. OSU has not had a three-game stretch without an offensive turnover in one season since the first three games of 2004.
• Oklahoma State has converted 5 of its past 7 two-point conversion attempts dating to last season.
• OSU is 14-4 in the past 18 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 83-12 when winning the turnover battle.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 50-6 when not committing a turnover.
• OSU has held 35 of its past 53 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
• OSU has won 87 of its past 88 games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, OSU has won 95 of its past 96.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 55 of its past 67 games.
• OSU is 40-20 in its past 60 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 52-9 in its past 61 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Oklahoma State Plays at Arizona for First Time Since 2012

Players Mentioned

Rodney Fields Jr.

Zane Flores

Hauss Hejny

Bryan McCoy Jr.

Related Videos