Cowboys seek a fourth-straight Homecoming win.
The Basics
The Oklahoma State football team (3-5 overall; 0-5 Big 12) returns to Stillwater this week to face Arizona State (5-2 overall; 2-2 Big 12) in the 103rd edition of "America's Greatest Homecoming," with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, November 2, in Boone Pickens Stadium. It marks OSU's first home game in 28 days, and it is OSU's latest Homecoming game since 2002 and just the third November Homecoming since 1985.
On the Air
The game will be televised live on FS1 with Connor Onion and Mark Helfrich 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.
Noting the Cowboys in Homecoming Games
Oklahoma State is 58-38-6 in Homecoming games. The Cowboys have won seven of their past eight and 13 of their past 16 on Homecoming. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy holds a 13-5 overall record in OSU's Homecoming games.
Homecoming Activities
Homecoming is a big deal at Oklahoma State and is referred to as “America’s Greatest Homecoming.” This year's events mark the 103rd time that Oklahoma State has hosted its nationally recognized Homecoming celebration. The first Homecoming was hosted in 1920 by the OSU Alumni Association and it has been held every year since then except for 1943 (canceled due to World War II) and 2020 (canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Friday's night's "Walkaround" is Homecoming's most famous and highly attended event, but the week is full of daily events to commemorate the occasion, including Sunday's dyeing of the Edmon Low Library fountain, Tuesday's Harvest Carnival & Chili Cook-Off, Wednesday's Hester Street Painting, Friday's pep rally after Walkaround and Saturday morning's Sea of Orange Parade down Main Street. For a full list of activities, visit the OSU Alumni Association website, www.orangeconnection.org/homecoming.
Every Home Game Sold Out in 2024
For the first time in program history, Oklahoma State sold every ticket for every home football game prior to the start of the season. It also marks the second consecutive season sellout for Cowboy football, though last year’s sellouts were not completed prior to the season opener. It continues a trend of Oklahoma State producing one of the best home-field advantages in college football, as the Cowboys are 25-5 at home since the beginning of the 2020 season. Fans still looking to be part of the action can visit SeatGeek - the official partner of OSU Athletics - to purchase for verified resell tickets. Fans can also visit www.okstate.com/tickets to join the wait list for football season tickets.
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. Arizona State is not ranked but is receiving votes in the coaches poll.
The Series
Saturday's game marks the sixth meeting between Oklahoma State and Arizona State, as well as the third consecutive season the teams have met, with the Cowboys leading the series 3-2. The first matchup came in 1984, as OSU upset No. 12 ASU, 45-3, in Tempe to open a 10-win season for the Cowboys. The Sun Devils came out on top in the next two meetings, winning 30-3 in Stillwater in 1991 and 12-10 in Tempe in 1993. The Cowboys have won each of the past two meetings, winning 34-17 in Stillwater in 2022 and 27-15 last season in Tempe. Coach Mike Gundy is 2-0 against Arizona State, while ASU coach Kenny Dillingham is 0-1 against Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State is 3-5 on the year after dropping a road game at Baylor last week. The Cowboys have scored their highest point totals in Big 12 play over the past two weeks, but have come up just short of registering their first conference win of the season. Injuries have sidelined several key contributors for some or all of the season, including preseason All-Americans Collin Oliver and Nick Martin, as well as safety Trey Rucker, safety Dylan Smith, right tackle Jake Springfield, left tackle Dalton Cooper, quarterback Garret Rangel, defensive end Jaleel Johnson, linebacker Justin Wright, receiver Da'Wain Lofton and others. The setbacks have had an impact on the team, but there have been standouts who have played well. Wide receiver Brennan Presley has been the most consistent star this season, as he now ranks No. 10 in the FBS with 56 catches this season and leads the team 825 all-purpose yards, six receiving touchdowns, six punt returns, 11 kickoff returns and more. He has also rushed for a touchdown, thrown for a touchdowns and caught three two-point conversions. His 227 all-purpose yards at Baylor last week are the most for any player in a Big 12 game this season. Safety Trey Rucker has been the standout of the year on defense, as his average of 10.0 tackles per game ranks fifth among all power conference players.
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 ...
• Make it 98-26 in its past 124 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
• Improve its record in Homecoming games to 59-38-6. It would also give the Cowboys wins in eight of their past nine and 14 of their past 17 on Homecoming.
• Make it 25-5 at Boone Pickens Stadium since 2020, ranking among the top 10 teams in the FBS in home wins during that time.
• Give it wins in 13 of its past 21 and in 26 of its past 37 games following a loss.
• Give it wins in 12 of its past 19 games.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in November games to 42-31.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in Big 12 games to 103-68 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. Arizona State to 4-2 and its record vs. Arizona State in Stillwater to 2-1.
• Give it three straight wins vs. Arizona State, with one in each of the last three seasons.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record against Arizona State to 3-0.
• Make it 35-17 in its past 52 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• Brennan Presley has multiple catches in 38 straight games, the second longest active streak in the FBS.
• Trey Rucker has recorded at least 10 tackles in four of his seven games played this season.
• Oklahoma State is 5-for-5 on two-point conversion attempts this season and the five successful two-point conversions more than any other FBS team.
• Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in 11 of the past 19 games.
• OSU's offensive line has not allowed a sack in 10 of its past 18 games.
• OSU is 13-2 in the past 15 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 82-10 when winning the turnover battle.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 49-4 when not committing a turnover.
• OSU has held 35 of its past 48 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 45 of its past 66 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 52 of its past 60 games.
• OSU is 40-18 in its past 58 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 51-9 in its past 60 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.
• Over the past 57 games, OSU has held opponents to 284-for-881 (32.2%) on third down.
