Kickoff: 11 AM CT
Location: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (Manhattan, Kansas)
Television: ESPN
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
Despite losing a close one to the Utah Utes last week, the game was a lot farther apart than the final score showed. After being benched to start the second half, quarterback Alan Bowman came in late and led the Cowboys to two late touchdown drives to make a game of it in the end, but the fact of the matter is that Oklahoma State cannot afford to play from behind this weekend when they travel to the Little Apple to take on the Kansas State Wildcats.
K-State was embarrassed last week in Provo when they dropped a 38-9 decision to BYU. The Cougars were out-gained by more than 100 yards in total offense, but BYU scored on a fumble recovery and a punt return, but good field position on a number of drives made scoring easy for the home team.
Oklahoma State has had Kansas State’s number, winning 5 of the last 6 meetings, include 3 of the last 5 in Manhattan. A win for either team could save an opportunity for an appearance in the Big 12 Championship game, while a loss will likely put them on the outside looking in.
How the Cowboys Win
Enough is enough. Ollie Gordon entered the season as arguably the best running back in the nation, but he’s looked below average in the last few weeks. Whether opposing teams are keying in on him, loading the box, or just flat our destroying the offensive line, something has to give. If Oklahoma State cannot get him going in this one, it could be another day of playing from behind.
How the Wildcats Win
The key to beating the Cowboys is winning the turnover battle. Last week, Utah turned it over 3 times—once more than the Cowboys—and still pulled out the win, but that was the first time in 14 games that the Cowboys lost when winning the turnover battle. The likeliest form of turnovers is intercepting Alan Bowman, so if they can pressure him enough to make bad decisions, then Kansas State could definitely win the game.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Staff | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Caleb | 35-31 Oklahoma State |
| Craig | 28-24 Oklahoma State |
| Matt | 31-24 Kansas State |
| Zack | 31-27 Oklahoma State |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Give the Cowboys wins in 13 of its past 17 and in 26 of its past 33 games following a loss.
- Mark Mike Gundy’s 41st career win vs. an AP Top 25 opponent. No other active coach has more.
- Make the Cowboys 3-2 in its past five road games against AP-ranked teams.
- Make the Cowboys 11-7 in its past 18 road games.
- Make the Cowboys 4-1 or better for the seventh time in the past eight years and for the 14th time in the Mike Gundy era.
- Give the Cowboys wins in 12 of its past 15 games.
- Make the Cowboys 11-5 in its past 16 and 20-10 in its past 30 games vs. AP-ranked teams.
- Make the Cowboys 11-7 in its past 18 games when both teams are ranked in the AP Top 25.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 103-64 and move him to one game away from tying Bill Snyder for the second-most Big 12 wins in conference history.
- Improve Oklahoma State’s all-time record vs. Kansas State to 44-27 (20-18 in Manhattan).
- Give the Cowboys wins five of the past six and 11 of its past 16 games against K-State.
- Give the Cowboys wins in three of its past five trips to Manhattan.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Kansas State to 11-6.
- Make the Cowboys 35-13 in its past 48 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- Brennan Presley has one receiving touchdown in every game this season.
- Brennan Presley has multiple catches in 34 straight games, the second longest active streak in the FBS.
- Trey Rucker has recorded at least 14 tackles in three of four games this season.
- Oklahoma State is 4-for-4 on two-point conversion attempts this season and the four successful two-point conversions are more than any other team in the FBS.
- Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 of the past 15 games.
- OSU and Georgia Tech are the only Power Conference teams who have allowed fewer than two sacks in 2024.
- OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in nine of its past 14 games.
- OSU is 13-1 in the past 14 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
- OSU has held 35 of its past 44 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
- OSU has won 86 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, the longest since at least 1980 and likely the longest in college football history. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, the streak begins at the same date and includes 94 games.
- OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 44 of its past 62 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 50 of its past 56 games.
- OSU is 40-17 in its past 57 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 51-8 in its past 59 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 49-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 82-9 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.
- Over the past 53 games, OSU has held opponents to 264-for-835 (31.6%) on third down.