Game Notes - Oklahoma State Hosts No. 22 Texas - Oklahoma State University Athletics

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Game Notes - Oklahoma State Hosts No. 22 Texas

September 26, 2016 | Cowboy Football

Complete Release in PDF Format

Up next for Oklahoma State football
No. 22/25 Texas
11 a.m. CT | Oct 1, 2016 | Boone Pickens Stadium (60,218)

TV: ABC (Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham, Dr. Jerry Punch)
In Stillwater: Suddenlink 5/HD 105, DirecTV 5, Dish 5, U-verse 5/HD 1005
In OKC: Cox 8/HD 705, DirecTV 5, Dish 5, U-verse 5/HD 1005
In Tulsa: Cox 8/HD 1008, DirecTV 8, Dish 8, U-verse 8/HD 1008
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb & Robert Allen)
National Radio: None
Satellite Radio: Sirius channel 84, XM channel 84
Internet - Mobile App: http://okla.st/osutunein - TuneIn Radio App
Live Stats: okstate.com
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The Basics
                The Oklahoma State football team (2-2 overall; 0-1 Big 12) returns home to host Texas (2-1 overall; 0-0 Big 12) at 11 a.m. Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium.

On the Air
                The game will be televised by ABC with Mike Patrick, Ed Cunningham and Dr. Jerry Punch on the call. The contest 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.

In the Rankings
                Oklahoma State is unranked in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls. Texas is No. 22 by the A.P. and No. 25 by the coaches.
                Since Mike Gundy took over as head coach in 2005, the Cowboys have beaten five ranked opponents while OSU was unranked by the Associated Press. Of those five wins, four came at home.

Oklahoma State From a Distance
                Sitting at 2-2 through four games, Oklahoma State has had a bit of an uneven start to the season, but the dominant offensive traits have been the ability to throw the ball around and move the chains and the dominant defensive traits have been the ability to force turnovers and create havoc in opposing backfields. The Cowboys are 11th nationally with 340.0 passing yards per game and 15th nationally with 101 first downs gained. OSU leads the Big 12 and is 14th nationally with nine turnovers gained and is 15th nationally with 8.8 tackles for loss per game.
                Rushing offense has not come easy for the Cowboys the past two seasons, but a light of optimism has come through recently, as OSU's offensive line has paved the way for a 100-yard back each of the last two times out against two good teams in Pittsburgh and Baylor.
                Looking beyond just this season, turnovers and non-offensive touchdowns rank among Oklahoma State's signature traits this decade. In fact, the Cowboys lead the nation with 39 non-offensive touchdowns since 2010 and are third in America with 181 turnovers forced since 2010. Only Houston and Oregon have forced more during that time span.
                An explosive aerial attack has also been at the core of Oklahoma State's identity this decade, with the Cowboys ranking in the top 10 nationally in passing yards per game four times since 2010. Only Texas Tech and Washington State can claim more than Oklahoma State during that time span.
                On special teams, the Cowboys have a recent tradition of blocking kicks, as the Cowboys have blocked 14 kicks since the start of the 2013 season. Only Georgia Tech (16), Temple (15) and BYU (15) have blocked more during that span of time.

Texas From a Distance
                Employing a two-quarterback system that resembles what Oklahoma State used last year, Texas is off to a 2-1 start. The Longhorns opened the season with a thrilling 50-47 win over No. 10 Notre Dame, then followed that with a comfortable 41-7 win over UTEP. The 'Horns lone road contest of the season resulted in a 50-43 loss to California.
                Freshman quarterback Shane Buechele is completing 66 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns against two interceptions, but he is also a threat to run. Buechele shares time with Tyrone Swoopes, who has carried 21 times for 88 yards and three touchdowns. D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren III are the Longhorns' top rushing threats. Texas uses a balanced passing attack that has five different receivers posting between 92 and 175 yards.
                Just three games into the season, the Longhorns have amassed an impressive 11 sacks. The pressure comes from all over, evidenced by the fact that eight different players have recorded a sack this season, with Breckyn Hager, Kevin Vaccaro and Malcolm Roach good for two sacks apiece.
                An underrated performer is punter Michael Dickson, who is averaging 50.4 yards per punt and is a central reason for the Longhorns' outstanding 44.7 net punting average.

An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Be the Cowboys' fifth in their last seven meetings with Texas.
• Mark the third time that the Cowboys have beaten a ranked Texas team. The previous two wins came in 2011 and 2013.
• Snap Texas's eight-game winning streak over the Cowboys in Stillwater that dates back to 1997.
• Be Mike Gundy's fifth career win over Texas. Prior to Gundy, no other OSU coach had beaten the Longhorns more than once.
• Improve the Cowboys to 38-17 in Big 12 Conference games since 2010.
• Improve the Cowboys to 27-8 in their last 35 games played against teams from the state of Texas.
• Mark the 18th time that the Cowboys have beaten an opponent ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press poll since Mike Gundy took over as head coach in 2005.
• Mark the 11th time that the Cowboys have beaten a ranked opponent at Boone Pickens Stadium under Mike Gundy.
• Improve the Cowboys to 29-7 in their last 36 home games under Mike Gundy.
• Mark the ninth time in the last 10 seasons that the Cowboys have won their Big 12 home opener.
• Bring Mike Gundy to within four victories of the 100-win mark for his career.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Texas Game
• Oklahoma State has won 14 of its last 19 games overall, dating back to the end of the 2014 season.
• Oklahoma State has won four of its last six games played against teams from the state of Texas.
• An Oklahoma State running back has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last two games. Prior to that, the last time the Cowboys had a 100-yard rusher in back-to-back games was Joseph Randle in the final two games of the 2012 regular season.
• Oklahoma State is outscoring its opponents by a 59-17 margin in the first quarter of games this season.
• Oklahoma State has attempted at least 40 passes in six of its last seven games.
• Oklahoma State has put up at least 500 yards of total offense each of the last two games.
• Oklahoma State's defense has forced at least one turnover in 14 of the last 15 games.
• Oklahoma State holds a 42-28 advantage in points off turnovers through four games this season.
• Dating back to 2005, the Cowboys have won 25 of their last 26 games when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to the 2008 season, the Cowboys have won 45 of their last 49 games when winning the turnover battle.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown 18 touchdown passes against just four interceptions in his last 10 games, dating back to the 2015 season.
• Quarterback Mason Rudolph has thrown just two interceptions in 159 pass attempts this season.
• Receiver James Washington has at least one catch in each of his last 23 games.
• Receiver James Washington is averaging 7.5 receptions and 192.5 yards per receiving in his last two games.
• Of Zach Sinor's 16 punts this season, 12 have been downed inside the opponent 20-yard line, with no touchbacks.

The Series
                Texas holds a 24-6 all-time series advantage over Oklahoma State, including an 8-1 mark over the Cowboys in Stillwater. The Cowboys have won four of the last six series meetings, but the Longhorns have won each of the last eight matchups played in Stillwater. OSU's last home win over Texas was a 42-16 wipeout in 1997.

Oklahoma State vs. Ranked Opponents
                Oklahoma State has won 17 games over opponents ranked in the top 25 of the Associated Press poll since Mike Gundy took over as head coach in 2005. Included in that tally are five wins over teams ranked in the top 10 and four wins over teams ranked in the top five.
                Of Gundy's 17 wins over ranked opponents, 10 have come at home, six on the road and one on a neutral field.

Lone Star Strong
                A significant factor in Oklahoma State's ascent up the Big 12 standings in recent years has been the Cowboys' success against teams from Texas, against whom the Pokes have compiled a 26-8 record in their last 34 meetings. Oklahoma State's record vs. each of its Texas opponents since 2009:

Texas Tech: 7-0
Texas: 4-3
Baylor: 4-4
Texas A&M: 3-0
UTSA: 3-0
TCU: 3-1
Rice: 1-0
Lamar: 1-0
Total: 26-8

Connections
• Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford served on Mike Gundy's coaching staff at Oklahoma State from 2005-06. Bedford and Gundy both served as OSU assistants under Pat Jones in 1993 and 1994.
• Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer served on the same Georgia Tech staff as Texas defensive line coach Brick Haley from 2002-03.
• Oklahoma State receivers coach Kasey Dunn and Texas receivers coach Charlie Williams both served as assistants at Arizona from 2004-06, with Dunn coaching the Wildcat running backs and Williams coaching the receivers.
• Oklahoma State linebacker Jordan Burton and Texas receiver Dorian Leonard were teammates at Longview HS in Longview, Texas.
• Oklahoma State defensive tackle DeQuinton Osborne was a teammate of Texas safety Jason Hall and offensive lineman Garrett Graf at South Grand Prairie HS.
• Oklahoma State running back Jeff Carr and Texas receiver Davion Curtis were teammates at Temple HS in Temple, TX.
• Oklahoma State's Lemaefe Galea'i and Ja'Ron Wilson both attended Euless Trinity HS, which also produced Texas offensive lineman Patrick Vahe and defensive lineman Chris Daniels.
• Oklahoma State cornerback Madre Harper and Texas quarterback Shane Buechele were teammates at Arlington Lamar HS.
• Oklahoma State's Obi Obialo and Dylan Galloway were teammates of Texas offensive lineman Connor Williams at Coppell HS in Coppell, Texas.
• Oklahoma State safety Za'Carrius Green and Texas defensive lineman Marcel Southall were teammates at Duncanville HS.
• Oklahoma State cornerback Bryce Brown and Texas receiver Jerrod Heard were teammates at Denton Guyer HS.
• Oklahoma State linebacker Brian Ciszewski and Texas defensive lineman Andrew Fitzgerald both hail from Marcus HS in Flower Mound, Texas.