Kickoff: 2:30 PM CT
Location: Milan Puskar Stadium (Morgantown, West Virginia)
Television: ESPN
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
After suffering a 33-7 defeat at home—perhaps the most embarrassing loss of Mike Gundy’s tenure as head coach in Stillwater—the Oklahoma State Cowboys looked like they were on the road to missing a bowl game for the first time since 2005. Since then, however, the Cowboys have pulled off two quality upsets—a 29-21 win over Kansas State and a 39-32 victory over Kansas—and at 4-2, they look capable of not just making a bowl game, but maybe—MAYBE—getting to 10 wins.
Oklahoma State faces perhaps their toughest test yet on Saturday afternoon when they take on the West Virginia Mountaineers in Morgantown. West Virginia is fresh off a last-second loss to the Houston Cougars, but 10 days of preparation puts the Mountaineers in a good spot. Add to it that the Cowboys have to play on the road in one of the toughest environments in college football, and this one has the makings of another classic Big 12 shootout.
How the Cowboys Win
Oklahoma State has picked off opposing passers in each of the last two games. West Virginia has the worst passing game in the conference. The Cowboys are going to have keep the pressure on quarterback Garrett Greene, keeping an eye on the fact that he can scramble if needed.
At the same time, the Cowboys have not turned the ball over in the last two games. If Oklahoma State manages to win the turnover battle in Morgantown, they can win the game.
How the Mountaineers Win
If West Virginia wants to bounce back from that loss against Houston, they just need to keep it simple. The Mountaineers are a better team than the Cougars, but they let Houston score right before halftime to take a lead before eventually giving up the big Hail Mary touchdown as the game clock expired at the end of the game. West Virginia needs to keep the Cowboys from making big plays, and if they can do that, they can secure a win on their home field.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Craig | 33-28 West Virginia |
| Matt | 29-23 West Virginia |
| Zack | 31-30 West Virginia |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Improve the all-time record against West Virginia to 10-5 and its record vs. WVU in Morgantown to 5-2.
- Give the Cowboys wins in eight of its past nine games against West Virginia and five straight wins over WVU in Morgantown.
- Make the Cowboys 8-6 in its past 14 road games.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against West Virginia to 9-3.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 98-62. The 98 career Big 12 wins would tie Mack Brown for the third-most in the history of the conference.
- Make the Cowboys 26-10 in its past 36 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
- Make the Cowboys 90-23 in its past 113 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- OSU has not turned the ball over in back-to-back games.
- The Cowboys have forced five turnovers in the past two games.
- OSU has held 32 of its past 36 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
- OSU has won 84 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. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, the streak begins at the same date and includes 91 games.
- The Cowboy defense has produced a shutout half in two games this season.
- OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 35 of its past 50 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 42 of its past 44 games.
- OSU is 36-16 in its past 52 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 46-8 in its past 54 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 48-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 77-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won three of its past five overtime games.
- Over the past 43 games, OSU has held opponents to 194-for-661 (29.3%) on third down.