Kickoff: 2:30 PM CT
Location: Amon G. Carter Stadium (Ft. Worth, Texas)
Television: ABC
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live-tweets during the game
The no. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys survived Texas Tech last week in Stillwater, pulling away late to win 41-31, and the conference competition is about to really heat up. Today the Cowboys travel to Ft. Worth to take on the no. 13 TCU Horned Frogs, who are also 5-0 on the season.
The Cowboys and the Horned Frogs rank at the top of the Big 12 standings, and this matchup could be a preview of the Big 12 Championship Game on December 3rd. TCU is a slight favorite, which can likely be credited to home field advantage, but no matter where these teams play, a tough game should be expected.
How the Cowboys Can Win
Slowing down TCU quarterback Max Duggan has to be priority one of Oklahoma State’s defense. The Cowboys had an elite defense a season ago; they were one of the best in the country. This season, they have a solid group in the box, but the secondary has been all over the place, and not in a good way. If the line can get pressure on Duggan, and the linebackers can keep him contained if he scrambles, then all it will take is some decent coverage by the defensive backs to keep the Horned Frogs from racking up the points like they have done in each of their 5 games so far.
How the Horned Frogs Can Win
The obvious answer here is to torch the Cowboy secondary. Max Duggan is completing a ridiculous 73.2% of his passes so far, and he has 14 touchdowns to just one interception. Duggan is playing like an elite passer, and while he is not quite as deadly with his feet as Spencer Sanders is, he’s playing like the best quarterback in the conference. Still, it’s going to take more than scoring points to beat the Cowboys, who also have a pretty elite offense.
The key for TCU to win is to force the Cowboys into turnovers. Since 2005, Oklahoma State has lost just 4 game when committing 0 turnovers, and they have only lost 8 games since 2008 when winning the turnover battle. If the Horned Frogs can force Spencer Sanders into making mistakes, they’ll have a shot at winning, but if Sanders plays to his potential, then there might be nothing that even Max Duggan can do to help them to a win.
Staff Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Craig | 42-35 Oklahoma State |
| Matt | 38-35 TCU |
| Zack | 37-34 Oklahoma State |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Make the Cowboys 6-0 for the second straight season and for the sixth time in the Mike Gundy era.
- Make the Cowboys 7-1 in its past eight road games.
- Extend the road winning streak to four games, matching the fifth-longest road winning streak in school history.
- Improve the regular season conference winning streak to eight games, matching the second-longest streak in school history and the longest since the eight-game streak from Dec. 6, 2014 – Nov. 14, 2015.
- Mark the fourth-straight conference road win, matching the fourth-longest streak in school history.
- Improve the record against TCU to 18-13-2 and the record against TCU in Fort Worth to 6-8-2.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against TCU to 7-4.
- Make the Cowboys 20-2 in its past 22 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season. It would mark the third time in school history that OSU has won at least 20 games in a 22-game stretch. The previous times were included in a 21-2 stretch in the 2010-11 seasons and a 20-1-1 stretch in the 1943-46 seasons.
- • Make the Cowboys 8-1 in the past nine and 17-6 in the past 23 games vs. AP Top 25 teams.
- • Mark Mike Gundy’s 38th career win vs. AP Top 25 opponents. Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney are the only other active coaches with more wins over AP Top 25 teams at their current schools.
- • Make the Cowboys 10-3 in its past 13 games when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- Oklahoma State and Ohio State are the only two FBS teams to win every game by double digits this season.
- Spencer Sanders has thrown for 16 touchdowns against just two interceptions in his past 237 pass attempts for an interception rate of 0.8%.
- OSU has won a school-record 12 consecutive home games.
- OSU has won three consecutive road games.
- OSU has held nine of its past 17 opponents under 100 yards rushing.
- OSU has held 21 consecutive opponents under 200 yards rushing.
- OSU has held 24 of its past 26 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
- OSU has won 81 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 26 of its past 36 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 29 of its past 30 games.
- OSU is 32-12 in its past 44 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 43-6 in its past 49 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 45-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 72-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won three of its past four overtime games.
- OSU has forced 34 turnovers in its past 23 games.
- Over the past 30 games, OSU has held opponents to 126-for-454 (27.8%) on third down.