Kickoff: 2:30 PM CT
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium (Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Television: FS1
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
The Oklahoma State Cowboys pulled off their best win of the season on Friday night when they jumped on Kansas State early and hung on to the bitter end to come away with the 29-21 victory. Now the Cowboys continue their trek to turnaround a rough start to the season as they host the #23 Kansas Jayhawks.
Long gone are the days of Kansas sitting at the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Long gone are the days of a scheduled win for the Cowboys. The Jayhawks have rapidly turned their program around the last few years, and Oklahoma State will have their hands full as they take the field on Saturday afternoon.
How the Cowboys Win
Oklahoma State is just a 3-point underdog against the Jayhawks, and they have a chance to pull off another upset victory in Stillwater if they can control the ground game on both sides of the ball. Kansas has the second-highest scoring offense in the conference right now, right behind Oklahoma, and it’s largely due to their ability to run the ball.
Averaging 232.2 rushing yards per game as a team, the Jayhawks have two very capable running backs in Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. The two duo has already combined for over 1,000 yards rushing, and with 6 touchdowns apiece, they are very familiar with the end zone.
On the flip side, Kansas is in the middle of the conference when it comes to defending the run game, so if Ollie Gordon can get something going on the ground, I like Oklahoma State’s chances of at least making a game out of this one.
How the Jayhawks Win
Kansas has the ability to hurt you at every level on offense. If the Jayhawks can take care of the ball, they shouldn’t have too much trouble outscoring Oklahoma State, even if the Cowboys are able to find the end zone themselves.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Craig | 35-28 Kansas |
| Matt | 28-25 Kansas |
| Zack | 38-28 Kansas |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in home games to 92-29.
- Improve OSU’s all-time record against Kansas to 42-30-2 and its record vs. KU in Stillwater to 19-14-1.
- Give OSU wins in 13 of its past 14 games against Kansas and seven straight wins over KU in Stillwater.
- Give OSU wins in 17 of its past 19 and 20 of its past 23 games played at Boone Pickens Stadium.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Kansas to 14-2.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 97-62.
- Make OSU 25-10 in its past 35 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
- Make OSU 9-3 in its past 12 and 18-8 in its past 26 games vs. opponents ranked in the AP Top 25.
- Improve OSU to 33-25 vs. AP ranked teams since the beginning of the 2011 season.
- Mark Mike Gundy’s 39th 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.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- The Cowboy defense has produced a shutout half in two of four games this season.
- OSU has held 30 of its past 34 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
- OSU has won 83 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 33 of its past 48 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 41 of its past 42 games.
- OSU is 34-16 in its past 50 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 45-8 in its past 53 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 46-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 75-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won three of its past five overtime games.
- Over the past 41 games, OSU has held opponents to 181-for-632 (28.6%) on third down.