Complete notes available here
The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (1-0 overall; 0-0 Big 12) hosts Arkansas (1-0 overall; 0-0 SEC) on Saturday, September 7, for the first meeting between the programs since 1980. Kickoff at Boone Pickens Stadium is set for 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
Every Home Game Sold Out in 2024
For the first time in program history, Oklahoma State sold every ticket for every home football game prior to the start of the season. It also marks the second consecutive season sellout for Cowboy football, though last year’s sellouts were not completed prior to the season opener. It continues a trend of Oklahoma State producing one of the best home-field advantages in college football. The Cowboys are 24-3 at home since the beginning of the 2020 season, matching the second-highest home win total in the FBS, behind only Alabama. OSU is among the top 10 teams in the FBS in wins since 2010 with 131 and has eight 10-win seasons during that time frame, good for eighth-most in the FBS. The Cowboys have several other accolades in the past 14 years, including an outright Big 12 title, a share of the Big 12 South title and appearances in the Big 12 Championship game in 2021 and 2023. Oklahoma State is also one of only three teams in the FBS to post a winning season every year from 2006-23, and the Cowboys have been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 14 of the past 16 seasons entering 2024. Fans still looking to be part of the action can visit SeatGeek – the official partner of OSU Athletics – to purchase for verified resell tickets. Fans can also visit www.okstate.com/tickets to join the wait list for football season tickets.
Stripe the Stadium
Oklahoma State fans are encouraged to “Stripe the Stadium” for this week’s game against Arkansas, dressing in either orange or white clothing according to the seating map available on the OSU football schedule at www.okstate.com.
On the Air
The game will be streamed live on ABC with Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek and Taylor McGregor 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.
Honoring a Legend: Leslie O’Neal Joins the Cowboy Football Ring of Honor
Former Oklahoma State defensive end and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Leslie O’Neal will be added to the Cowboy Football Ring of Honor inside Boone Pickens Stadium during halftime of Saturday’s game. A two-time All-American who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020, O’Neal anchored two of the best defenses in school history in 1984 and 1985. He was a dominant force on teams which allowed a total of just 34 touchdowns over two seasons, the lowest totals in the modern era at OSU. He was named Big Eight defensive player of the year in 1984 and earned All-Big Eight honors in each of his last three seasons as a Cowboy. O’Neal set a school record that stands to this day by registering 16.0 sacks for 118 yards lost in 1984. He also remains the OSU career leader with 34.0 sacks. He was a first-round draft choice of the San Diego Chargers in 1986 and played until his retirement following the 1999 season. During his career, the defensive end was selected to the Pro Bowl six times, while recording 136.0 career sacks. His career sack totals still rank among the top 15 players in the history of the NFL. During his career, the Cowboys played in the Bluebonnet Bowl and consecutive Gator Bowls. He was a unanimous All-American in 1985 and is one of eight representatives from Oklahoma State in the College Football Hall of Fame, joined by coach Lynn “Pappy” Waldorf (inducted in 1966), Bob Fenimore (inducted in 1972), Barry Sanders (inducted in 2003), Thurman Thomas (inducted in 2008), coach Jimmy Johnson (inducted in 2012), Terry Miller (inducted in 2022) and Justin Blackmon (inducted in 2024). O’Neal also holds membership in the OSU Athletics Hall of Honor. Now, he joins Thurman Thomas, Barry Sanders, Bob Fenimore and Terry Miller as members of the Cowboy Football Ring of Honor.
In the Rankings
Although this week’s rankings won’t be released until Tuesday, the Oklahoma State football team is ranked No. 17 in the preseason Associated Press poll and No. 18 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. It marks the fifth time since 2016 that the Cowboys have started a season ranked in the AP Top 25 and continues a run of OSU being ranked in every season since 2008. The coaches poll also extended a school record of receiving votes in the preseason coaches poll to 18 straight years. Through the 2023 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 14 of the past 16 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 16 years. 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. Arkansas is not ranked in either preseason poll.
The Series
Saturday’s game marks the renewal of a long-running series that has been dormant since 1980. The series began in 1912 and includes 46 prior matchups, with 32 games in 38 years from 1943-80 and 19 straight meetings from 1962-80. It is just the 10th time the teams have played in Stillwater, as previous meetings have also included games played in Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Little Rock. At just a 181-mile drive, Arkansas is the closest FBS program to Stillwater outside of in-state foes Tulsa and Oklahoma. Arkansas leads the all-time series, 30-15-1, and the series in Stillwater is tied at 4-4-1. Mike Gundy has never faced Arkansas and Sam Pittman has never faced Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 1-0 after defeating back-to-back defending FCS national champions South Dakota State in the season opener. The Cowboys gave the Jackrabbits their largest margin of defeat in seven years with a 44-20 victory, improving OSU’s FBS-leading win streak in home openers to 29 games. Heisman Trophy candidate Ollie Gordon II picked up right where he left off with 146 total yards and three touchdowns, while receivers Brennan Presley, Rashod Owens and De’Zhaun Stribling each showed they are capable of making big plays. On the defensive side, safety Trey Rucker had 15 tackles to rank as the most for a Power Four player in a game this season, while cornerback Korie Black recorded a big interception and Collin Oliver five hurries and two tackles for loss with a sack. Preseason All-America linebacker Nick Martin added the seventh double-digit tackle of his career as well. On special teams, kicker Logan Ward went three-for-three in field goal attempts in his first career start at placekicker, hitting from 52, 42 and 25 yards.
Success at Home
Oklahoma State has put together an impressive 24-3 record at Boone Pickens Stadium since the beginning of the 2020 season to rank among the best home performers in all of college football. Here’s a look at how it compares to the rest of the country:
Most Home Wins Since 2020
1.
Alabama
26
2.
Oklahoma State
24
UTSA
24
NC State
24
Clemson
24
6.
Liberty
23
Michigan
23
Ohio State
23
Continued Success
The 2023 season was just the latest chapter in a long story of success for the Oklahoma State program.
• Oklahoma State made its 18th consecutive bowl appearance and has secured its 18th consecutive winning season, both of which are 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.
• Through the 2023 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 14 of the past 16 seasons and reached the top 10 in 11 of those 16 years.
• 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 …
• Give it wins in 10 of its past 12 games.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record in September games to 57-14.
• Mark Mike Gundy’s 26th career win against a current member of the SEC.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record in non-conference games to 66-16.
• Improve its all-time record against Arkansas to 16-30-1 and its record against Arkansas in Stillwater to 5-4-1.
• Make it 27-5 in its past 32 non-conference games and 49-11 in its past 60 non-conference games.
• Make it 33-12 in its past 45 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Make it 159-74 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
• Make it 146-44 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
• Make it 96-24 in its past 120 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 of the past 12 games.
• OSU is 11-0 in the last 11 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in seven of its past 11 games.
• OSU has held 34 of its past 43 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
• OSU has won 85 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 93 games.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 41 of its past 59 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 48 of its past 53 games.
• OSU is 39-16 in its past 55 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 50-8 in its past 58 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 49-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 81-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won four of its past six overtime games.
• Over the past 50 games, OSU has held opponents to 243-for-782 (31.1%) on third down.
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Publish date : 2024-09-02 05:51:00
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