Kickoff: 6 PM CT
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium (Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Television: FS1
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live-tweets during the game
How the Cowboys Can Win
Oklahoma State is favored by three touchdowns in this game and with good reason. They’re coming off their best season in years, and while they lost plenty of personnel on both sides of the ball, they’re still bringing back a lot of talent with a decent amount of experience. As long as the offense—specifically Spencer Sanders—limits mistakes, then it will be up to the defense to shut down Central Michigan’s potent offense.
How the Chippewas Can Win
Central Michigan is also coming off their best season in years, a 9-win campaign that ended with a bowl win over Washington State. Lew Nichols III returns after leading the nation last season with 1,848 rushing yards, and quarterback Daniel Richardson is back after a solid year last year. Central Michigan will likely look to establish the run game in order to open up the pass game, and if they’re able to score early, then they could definitely make this a close one.
Staff Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Craig | 38-24 Oklahoma State |
| Matt | 37-28 Oklahoma State |
| Zack | 38-17 Oklahoma State |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Improve the Cowboys’ home winning streak to nine games, matching the third-longest streak in school history and the longest since the nine-game streak from Oct. 20, 2012 – Dec. 7, 2013.
- Improve the Cowboys’ non-conference home winning streak to 10 games, matching the fourth-longest streak in school history and the longest since the 15-game streak from Sept. 19, 2009 – Sept. 3, 2016.
- Make the Cowboys 15-2 in its past 17 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
- Improve the Cowboys to 12-0 in Thursday games in the Mike Gundy era, with a 9-0 record in the regular season.
- Make the Cowboys 88-29-5 in home openers.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in season openers to 16-2 and his record in home openers to 18-0.
- Give the Cowboys 27 consecutive wins in home openers, increasing the longest streak in school history.
- Give the Cowboys wins in 47 of its past 53 home openers.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- OSU has won eight consecutive home games.
- OSU has given up just 12 offensive touchdowns in its past seven games.
- OSU has held eight of its past 12 opponents under 100 yards rushing.
- OSU has held eight of its past 11 opponents under 200 yards passing.
- OSU has held 22 of its past 24 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
- OSU has won 79 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.
- OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 24 of its past 31 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 24 of its past 25 games.
- OSU is 32-12 in its past 44 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 39-6 in its past 45 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 43-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 69-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won three of its past four overtime games.
- OSU has forced 29 turnovers in its past 18 games.
- Over the past 25 games, OSU has held opponents to 104-for-374 (27.8%) on third down.