Oklahoma State makes the trip west to visit Provo, Utah and the BYU Cougars for a Friday night matchup!
Here’s the complete Gameday schedule plus previews from The Animals! All Gameday coverage is LIVE on 98.1 FM, ESPN 640AM plus streaming on the Sports Animal app, website and the iHeartRadio app. Matt Meyer is the Executive Producer of Gameday coverage on WWLS and keeps you up-to-date on all the action from across College Football with Scoreboard updates served up by Twin Peaks.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 18th
5a-9a: Morning Animals and Oklahoma State Gameday coverage
9a-12p: The Drive w/ Matt Ravis
11a-2p: Middle of the Day Show w/ Mark Rodgers
2p-6p: Jim Traber & Al Eschbach along w/ Berry Tramel and Dean Blevins
6p-7p: Inside Sports w/ Al Eschbach
7p-9p: Oklahoma State Countdown to Kickoff/Bud Light Gametime LIVE “On the Road” from Grady’s Pub in Yukon with Anheuser Busch specials. Gideon Hamilton and Tyler “Teabag” Adams anchor pregame coverage with in-depth previews and analysis along with special guests and take you right up to kickoff.
KICKOFF @ 9:15pm – OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS vs. BYU COUGARS / TV: ESPN
9:15p-12:30a: ESPNRadio
12:30a-2:30a: Oklahoma State Football Feedback/Bud Light GameTime “On the Road” from Grady’s Pub in Yukon with Anheuser Busch specials. Gideon Hamilton and Tyler “Teabag” Adams deliver instant reaction to the game plus take your calls and texts at 405-900-WWLS (9957).
Game Previews from The Animals
Gideon Hamilton: The Oklahoma State Cowboys are still searching for answers in the 2024 season. The good news is the team will have nearly two weeks to find them headed into their next game. OSU travels to Provo late Friday night for a meeting with undefeated BYU. The Cowboys are coming off their most embarrassing outing of the season, allowing an astounding 389 yards rushing to West Vriginia, a team also now 3-3 on the year. Oklahoma State faces a defensive crisis headed into what was thought to be the easier part of this year’s schedule at the start of conference play. Beginning with the undefeated Cougars, three of their next four games will be on the road. Also they have yet to play BYU, Arizona State and Texas Tech. Those three teams have combined to lose two games total this season. The Cowboys will need a quick gimmick defensively or to return to a nearly exclusive running team offensively in order to steer this season in the right direction.
Game Notes: Oklahoma State Ready for Friday Night Game at BYU: Cowboys visit BYU for first time in program history.
The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (3-3 overall; 0-3 Big 12) travels to Provo, Utah, this week for its first game in program history at BYU (6-0 overall; 3-0 Big 12), with kickoff at LaVell Edwards Stadium set for Friday, October 18, at 9:15 p.m. CT/8:15 p.m. MT. It marks a return to action for the Cowboys after their first open date of the season last week. It is also the third time in four games that OSU has faced an AP Top 25 team and is OSU’s first Friday road game since winning at Oregon State to open 2019.
On the Air
The game will be televised on ESPN with Anish Shroff, Andre Ware and Paul Carcaterra on the call. It will also be carried live on the Cowboy Radio Network, with Dave Hunziker handling play-by-play, John Holcomb providing analysis and Robert Allen reporting from the sideline. Fans outside of the Cowboy Radio Network can listen to the OSU broadcast for free through The Varsity Network app. The game will also be broadcast on national radio via the Gridiron Radio Network with Noah Britt, Jon Reynolds and Robbie Bullough on the call.
That Friday Feeling
Oklahoma State has an all-time record of 58-46-7 in Friday games, but the Cowboys have only played 15 Friday games since 1959 and just six of those matchups occurred in the regular season. The complete list of OSU’s Friday regular-season matchups since the end of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s tenure as President of the United States:
| Date | Opponent | Conf. | Result | Score | Site | OSU/Oppt. AP Rk. |
| 9/14/2007 | at Troy | L | 23-41 | A | NR/NR | |
| 10/8/2010 | at Louisiana | W | 54-28 | A | 22/NR | |
| 11/18/2011 | at Iowa State | * | L 2ot | 31-37 | A | 2/NR |
| 9/8/2017 | at South Alabama | W | 44-7 | A | 11/NR | |
| 8/30/2019 | at Oregon State | W | 52-36 | A | RV/NR | |
| 10/6/2023 | KANSAS STATE | * | W | 29-21 | H | NR/RV |
Winning as an Underdog
When playing as an unranked team, Oklahoma State has won five consecutive and 11 of its past 14 games against AP Top 25 teams:
| Date | Opponent | Conf. | Result | Score | Site | Oppt. AP Rk. |
| 10/1/2016 | TEXAS | * | W | 49-31 | H | 22 |
| 10/29/2016 | WEST VIRGINIA (HC) | * | W | 37-20 | H | 10 |
| 10/27/2018 | TEXAS (HC) | * | W | 38-35 | H | 6 |
| 11/10/2018 | at Oklahoma | * | L | 47-48 | A | 6 |
| 11/17/2018 | WEST VIRGINIA | * | W | 45-41 | H | 7 |
| 12/31/2018 | vs. Missouri | W | 38-33 | N | 23 | |
| 9/21/2019 | at Texas | * | L | 30-36 | A | 12 |
| 9/28/2019 | KANSAS STATE | * | W | 26-13 | H | 24 |
| 10/19/2019 | BAYLOR (HC) | * | L | 27-45 | H | 18 |
| 10/26/2019 | at Iowa State | * | W | 34-27 | A | 23 |
| 12/29/2020 | vs. Miami (Fla.) | W | 37-34 | N | 18 | |
| 9/25/2021 | KANSAS STATE | * | W | 31-20 | H | 25 |
| 10/14/2023 | KANSAS | * | W | 39-32 | H | 23 |
| 11/4/2023 | OKLAHOMA | * | W | 27-24 | H | 10 |
The five-game streak is the longest active streak in the country and matches the fifth-longest streak since 1980. It is also the longest in program history.
Longest Streaks of Wins over AP Top 25 Teams as an Unranked Team (Since 1980) – via OptaStats
| Michigan | 7 | 9/14/1985 – 9/27/2008 |
| Maryland | 6 | 9/29/2007 – 11/15/2008 |
| Boston College | 6 | 11/22/2003 – 11/15/2008 |
| Clemson | 6 | 11/06/2004 – 9/03/2007 |
| Oklahoma State | 5 | 10/26/2019 – 11/04/2023 (Active) |
| Iowa | 5 | 10/13/2007 – 11/05/2011 |
| Colorado | 5 | 9/01/2001 – 8/30/2003 |
| Syracuse | 5 | 10/01/1994 – 11/02/1996 |
| Clemson | 5 | 9/20/1986 – 10/02/1993 |
In the Rankings
The Oklahoma State football team is not ranked this week but has been ranked in the top 15 this season in both the Associated Press poll and the US LBM Coaches Poll. Including 2024, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 17 years. OSU has been ranked in the top 25 every season since 2008. Although the first College Football Playoff rankings won’t be released until November 5, it’s worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in eight of the past nine seasons entering 2024. The Cowboys have also been included in 43 of the 60 all-time CFP Rankings, which is tied for the eighth-most appearances in the country. BYU is ranked No. 13 in both the AP and coaches polls.
The Series
Saturday’s game will mark the fourth overall meeting between Oklahoma State and BYU, with the Cowboys winning the first two matchups at neutral sites, as well as the latest matchup at home. The first contest was the 1974 Fiesta Bowl that saw OSU knock off No. 17 BYU, 16-6, in Tempe, Arizona, the second was the 1976 Tangerine Bowl that saw the No. 14 Cowboys defeat the Cougars, 49-21, in Orlando, Florida, and the latest was the 2023 regular season finale that saw the No. 21 Cowboys win, 40-34, in double overtime in Stillwater. The 2024 game will mark the second conference game between the programs, as well as the first game at BYU in the series. Mike Gundy has is 1-0 against BYU and BYU coach Kalani Sitake is 0-1 against Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 3-3 on the year and returns to action Friday after having its first of two open weekends last week. The matchup with No. 13 BYU marks the third time in four games that the Cowboys have faced an AP-ranked team. Injuries have sidelined preseason All-Americans Collin Oliver and Nick Martin on defense, as well as right tackle Jake Springfield on offense. The setbacks have had an impact on the team, but there have been standouts who have played well. The biggest standout halfway through the regular season has been safety Trey Rucker, who leads all Power Conference players in total tackles (69) and is second in solo tackles (40). He also has a pair of interceptions that both came in the first half against Utah. He leads OSU defense that ranks among the top 40 in the FBS and top six in the conference in defensive touchdowns, red zone defense, fourth down defense, passes Intercepted and tackles for loss. On offense, Oklahoma State leads the Big 12 in fewest sacks allowed and is among the national leaders in that stat as well as fewest fumbles lost, tackles for loss allowed. The Cowboys are No. 16 in the FBS with 299 passing yards per game. Individually, wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling has been the biggest standout of late, as he notched 157 receiving yards at Kansas State to become the Cowboy to have multiple 150+ receiving yards games in the team’s first five contests since Justin Blackmon during the 2010 season. He is among the top 15 FBS players in receiving yards with 556 in 2024. The Cowboys also excel in other important team stats, as they are among the FBS top 25 in fewest penalties, fewest penalty yards, net punting, punt return defense and kickoff return defense. Punter Wes Pahl would lead the FBS in yards per punt if he had enough to qualify for the NCAA rankings.
Continued Success
• Entering 2024, Oklahoma State has made 18th consecutive bowl appearances and secured 18 consecutive winning seasons, both school-record streaks. OSU’s bowl streak is the sixth-longest active streak in the FBS, and the is longest active streak for any school with the same head coach.
• Mike Gundy has coached the Cowboys to five New Year’s Six bowl games since the 2009 season. The Pokes appeared in the 2010 Cotton Bowl, the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, the 2014 Cotton Bowl, the 2016 Sugar Bowl and the 2022 Fiesta Bowl.
• Since 2010, Oklahoma State has eight seasons with at least 10 wins, an outright Big 12 title (2011), a share of the Big 12 South title (2010) and two more appearances in the conference championship game. OSU reached the top 10 of the Associated Press poll in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
• Oklahoma State is one of only four teams to post a winning season every year since 2010, joining Alabama, Boise State and Wisconsin. It is one of only two Power Five teams with winning seasons each of the past 18 years, joined by Wisconsin.
• Including 2024, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 15 of the past 17 seasons and reached the top 10 in 11 of those 17 years.
• Entering 2024, OSU has finished in the top three of the Big 12 in four of the past five seasons and has finished in the top three 10 times in the 13 seasons since the conference moved away from divisions.
An Oklahoma State Win Would …
• Mark Mike Gundy’s 41st career win vs. an AP Top 25 opponent. No other active coach has more.
• Mark its sixth consecutive win against an AP Top 25 opponents when playing as an unranked team, extending the longest streak in program history. It would also improve OSU to 12-3 in its past 15 of those matchups.
• Make it 3-3 in its past six road games against AP-ranked teams.
• Make it 11-6 in its past 17 and 20-11 in its past 31 games vs. AP-ranked teams.
• Make it 11-8 in its past 19 road games.
• Give it wins in 13 of its past 19 and in 26 of its past 35 games following a loss.
• Make it 4-3 or better for a 19th consecutive season.
• Give it wins in 12 of its past 17 games.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record in October games to 51-22.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record in Big 12 games to 103-66 and move him to one game away from tying Bill Snyder for the second-most Big 12 wins in conference history.
• Improve its all-time record vs. BYU to 4-0 and its record vs. BYU in Provo to 1-0.
• Improve Mike Gundy’s record against BYU to 2-0.
• Make it 35-15 in its past 50 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• When unranked, Oklahoma State has won five straight games against AP Top 25 opponents.
• Brennan Presley has multiple catches in 36 straight games, the second longest active streak in the FBS.
• Trey Rucker has recorded at least 10 tackles in four of six 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 17 games.
• OSU, LSU and Georgia Tech are the only Power Conference teams who have allowed fewer than four sacks in 2024.
• OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in 10 of its past 16 games.
• OSU is 13-1 in the past 14 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• OSU has held 35 of its past 46 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 64 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 51 of its past 58 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 55 games, OSU has held opponents to 276-for-862 (32.0%) on third down.
This Week in BIG12 Football – Week 7
- Big 12 running backs have rushed for 175 yards or more in a game six times this season, which equals the other P4 conferences combined
- According to ESPN’s FPI, BYU (No. 3) and Iowa State (No. 5) rank in the nation’s top five for strength of record.
- Arizona State and Texas Tech are the only programs in the nation with four wins in one-score games this season.
- Six Big 12 quarterbacks rank in the top 20 nationally in passing yards per game with no other conference having more than four. (CU’s Shedeur Sanders, TCU’s Josh Hoover, UC’s Brendan Sorsby, OSU’s Alan Bowman, TTU’s Behren Morton and UA’s Noah Fifita).
- The Conference accounts for five of the top ten P4 teams in rushing yards per game; UCF (first), K-State (third), Kansas (sixth), Arizona State (seventh) and West Virginia (eighth).
- Three of the top five rushers nationally in yards per game, and five of the top 10 in Power 4, come from the Big 12. (Tahj Brooks, TTU; DJ Giddens, K-State; Cam Skattebo, ASU; RJ Harvey, UCF; Micah Benard, Utah).
- Four of Power 4’s top 10 in receiving yards per game are from the Big 12: Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan (123.7), TCU’s Jack Bech (117.0), Colorado’s Travis Hunter (97.8) and Oklahoma State’s De’Zhaun Stribling (92.7).
- K-State allowed -29 rushing yards on Saturday, which were the fewest given up by an FBS team this season. It also marked the fewest allowed in a Big 12 game since 2006.
- Iowa State’s 6-0 mark is the second-best start to a season in program history, trailing only a 7-0 start in 1938.
- BYU has started 6-0 for the sixth time in school history as Kalani Sitake joins LaVell Edwards as the only BYU head coaches to do it twice.
