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
The Oklahoma State Cowboys are back in front of the home crowd for America’s Greatest Homecoming on Saturday as they play host to the Cincinnati Bearcats. The losing streak for the Cowboys continues, but the Bearcats are one of three teams in the Big 12 that have yet to lose in conference play.
Oklahoma State is still searching for its first conference win since November 25, 2023, and today doesn’t exactly feel like the day, but perhaps it could be a sneaky opportunity for the Cowboys. The Bearcats enter today’s meeting riding a 5-game win streak after losing their season-opening game 20-17 to Nebraska. Cincinnati is still a bit of a question mark in the Big 12, as they have beaten some solid teams, but they weren’t exactly convincing against UCF last week.
Oklahoma State has to play an efficient game to have a chance, and Cincinnati wants to keep its Big 12 Championship Game hopes alive, so this should be a fun one.
How the Cowboys Win
The defense has shown signs of improvement over the last few weeks, but the offense has been too predictable. Even if the defense stiffens up and holds Cincinnati to a decent number of points, the offense is going to have to do something besides a few trick plays in the first quarter. Maybe Sam Jackson V can have a better game at quarterback now that he’s got one under his belt, or perhaps giving Noah Walters a shot early in the game is the move. If the Cowboys can score and the defense gets at least a few stops, then they have a chance to win this game.
How the Bearcats Win
Quarterback Brendan Sorsby might be the most underrated field general in the conference. He’s thrown for 14 touchdowns and run for 5, but he’s only thrown one interception this season. For Cincinnati, it’s all about the turnover battle today. The Bearcats don’t turn the ball over much, but they don’t force a lot of turnovers either. Losing the turnover battle could cost them the game, but if they take care of the ball, they should be just fine.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Staff | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Caleb | Cincinnati 31 – Oklahoma State 15 |
| Craig | Cincinnati 33 – Oklahoma State 10 |
| Matt | Cincinnati 38 – Oklahoma State 17 |
| Zack | Cincinnati 31 – Oklahoma State 17 |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Mark Doug Meacham’s first career win as a head coach.
- Improve OSU’s all-time record against Cincinnati to 4-1.
- Improve OSU’s record against Cincinnati in Stillwater to 2-1.
- Make OSU 36-26 in the past 62 games overall, dating to 2020.
- Make OSU 6-3 in the last nine and 12-6 in the last 18 games when playing as an unranked team against an
AP Top 25 opponent. - Make OSU 11-9 in the past 20 and 20-14 in the past 34 games vs. AP-ranked teams.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- Oklahoma State has not turned the ball over in three of its six games this season.
- Oklahoma State has converted 5 of its past 7 two-point conversion attempts dating to last season.
- OSU is 14-6 in the past 20 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 83-13 when winning the turnover battle.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 50-6 when not committing a turnover.
- OSU has held 35 of its past 55 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
- OSU has won 87 of its past 88 games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, OSU has won 95 of its past 96.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third-down conversion rate in 57 of its past 69 games.
- OSU is 40-20 in its past 60 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 52-9 in its past 61 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.