Kickoff: 7 PM CT
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium (Stillwater, Oklahoma)
Television: ESPN2
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
Just one month ago, the Oklahoma State Cowboys were 2-2, and bowl eligibility seemed out of reach. Three games later in which the Cowboys were the underdog in each one, and Oklahoma State is 5-2 and just one win away from their expected win-total for the entire season.
The Cowboys host the Cincinnati Bearcats for America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration, and while this one appears like it should be an easy win for orange black, no Big 12 team should be taken lightly. Just a couple of weeks ago, Houston managed to defeat West Virginia on a last-second Hail Mary touchdown to pick up their first conference win. The Bearcats are hoping for a similar upset today in Stillwater.
Oklahoma State is trending in a positive direction, not just in the wins column and polls voting, but also in the way they have been playing. The offense is moving the ball better and scoring more effectively, and the defense is coming up with big plays when the team needs them the most. Still, there’s plenty to be worked on, and Cincinnati is the perfect opponent to go again when looking to take another step in the right direction.
How the Cowboys Win
If Oklahoma State wants to win their fourth game in a row and become bowl eligible, then they need to keep winning the turnover battle. In the last 3 weeks, the Cowboys have turned teams over 8 times while only turning it over themselves twice. I feel pretty confident that if Oklahoma State wins the turnover battle today, they will come away with another victory.
How the Bearcats Win
If Cincinnati wants to have any chance at beating Oklahoma State today, they have to stop Ollie Gordon. The Bearcats have one of the best rush defenses in the conference so far this season, but Gordon has been on a rampage the last few weeks, rushing for triple digits in each of the last four games. Stopping him will be key to Cincinnati getting enough stops to come away with a win.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Craig | 33-28 Oklahoma State |
| Matt | 30-25 Oklahoma State |
| Zack | 33-24 Oklahoma State |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Make the Cowboys bowl eligible for an 18th straight year, extending a school-record streak and the sixth-longest
active streak in the nation. - Improve OSU’s record in Homecoming games to 58-38-6. It would also give the Cowboys wins in seven of their past eight and 13 of their past 16 on Homecoming.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in home games to 93-29.
- Improve the Cowboys’ record against Cincinnati to 3-1 and its record vs. UC in Stillwater to 1-1.
- Give the Cowboys wins in 18 of its past 20 and 21 of its past 24 games played at Boone Pickens Stadium.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 99-62. The 99 career Big 12 wins would move him past Mack Brown to stand alone with the third-most in the history of the conference.
- Make the Cowboys 27-10 in its past 37 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
- Make the Cowboys 91-23 in its past 114 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight games.
- OSU has only turned the ball over two times in the past three games.
- The Cowboys have forced eight turnovers in the past three games.
- OSU has held 32 of its past 37 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 36 of its past 51 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 42 of its past 45 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 78-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won three of its past five overtime games.
- Over the past 44 games, OSU has held opponents to 202-for-676 (29.9%) on third down.