Oklahoma State gets the honor of being the first Big 12 school to open up the 2019 football season when they play at Oregon State on Friday night. While the orange and black fanbase still has multiple questions concerning their latest version of Cowboy football, here are ten things that we do know going into the game.
1. We Don’t Do This Very Often
This game marks the first time since 2015 the Cowboys have opened their season on the road, and the 52nd time overall they have opened the season with a road game. OSU’s overall record in season openers is 71-41-5.
It also marks just the third time during Mike Gundy’s tenure that the Cowboys have opened with a true road game, although it will mark the sixth time a Gundy-led team will open a season away from Stillwater.
2. We Don’t Do This Very Often, Part II
The Beavers are opening a season at home for the first time since 2015 when they defeated Weber State, 26-7
3. New To The Show
Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson makes his FBS debut against Oregon State after spending the previous two seasons as a successful offensive coordinator at Princeton.
Offensive line coach Charlie Dickey, a 32-year coaching veteran who previously served as the offensive line coach under Bill Snyder at Kansas State from 2009-18, also makes his Cowboy debut against the Beavers.
4. What’s In A Name?
Oregon State tight ends coach Brian Wozniak and Oklahoma State running backs coach John Wozniak have no family relation.
5. A Star Is Born
Wide receiver Tylan Wallace is a preseason All-America selection by nearly every major national outlet and OSU’s most accomplished player. He finished last season as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award given the nation’s best pass catcher and is primed for another big season in 2019.
6. No Strangers To The Month Of August
Oregon State is opening a season in the month of August for the ninth time in program history.
The Beavers are 5-3 in August and 2-0 specifically on August 30. Oregon State defeated Utah, 24-7, in 2007 and then Portland State, 29-14, in 2014.
7. Never Before
For the first time in the Mike Gundy era (since 2005), Oklahoma State will feature a pair of cornerbacks in their third year as starters. A.J. Green, a true senior, and Rodarius Williams, a redshirt junior, both came in the same recruiting class and have been everyday starters since the beginning of the 2017 season.
8. A Mainstay On The Line
The Oregon State offensive line has 92 career starts with senior Blake Brandel accounting for 36 of them. He has started every game of his collegiate career, and his streak of 36 in-a-row is close to breaking into Oregon State’s top five all-time. He needs four to tie Maurice Wilson (1989-92) and Reggie Tongue (1992-95) for the fourth-best streak by a Beaver.
9. Protect The Ball And Play The Run
Since 2005, when the Cowboys win the turnover battle, they are 67-8 (89.5 pct.). They are 34-2 (94.4 pct.) in games when they commit zero turnovers.
Oklahoma State is 91-21 under Gundy when outrushing the opponent (81.3 pct.) and is 39-5 when holding the opponent under 100 yards on the ground (88.6 pct.).
10. You’ve Been Around For A While, Haven’t You?
Two of Oregon State’s twenty-two seniors, quarterback Jake Luton and defensive lineman LaMone Williams, were each granted a sixth year by the NCAA for 2019. Williams will be in his sixth season with the Beavers and Luton in his third.
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The Beavers have a running back who was pretty much the offensive highlights last season. He ran for nearly 1,400 yards and almost 6 yards per carry.
That experience on the Oregon State offensive line is really my only worry about this game. The questions surrounding Oklahoma State’s D-line are going to be answered pretty quickly.