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The Basics

The Oklahoma State football team (0-0 overall; 0-0 Big 12) opens its 125th season when it hosts South Dakota State (0-0 overall; 0-0 Missouri Valley Football Conference) at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 31, at Boone Pickens Stadium.

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. The Cowboys are 23-3 at home since the beginning of the 2020 season, matching the third-highest home win total in the FBS, behind only Alabama and Clemson. OSU is among the top 10 teams in the FBS in wins since 2010 with 130 and has eight 10-win seasons during that time frame, good for eighth-most in the FBS. The Cowboys have several other accolades in the past 14 years, including an outright Big 12 title, a share of the Big 12 South title and appearances in the Big 12 Championship game in 2021 and 2023. Oklahoma State is also one of only three teams in the FBS to post a winning season every year from 2006-23, and the Cowboys have been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 14 of the past 16 seasons entering 2024. 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. The theme of the first game is "Aggie Day" and fans are encouraged to dress in orange clothing. The pregame block party on Hall of Fame Avenue will include a BBQ competition for fans.

On the Air

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Shawn Kenney, Taylor McHargue and Tori Petry 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.

All About Openers

Saturday's game marks the eighth time in the past nine years that Oklahoma State has opened the season in Stillwater. It also marks the 66th time OSU has opened its season at home. OSU's overall record in season openers is 78-40-6, while its overall record in home openers is 89-29-5 and its overall record in season openers at home is 55-5-5. Oklahoma State has won 28 consecutive home openers for the longest such streak in school history, and the Cowboys have won 48 of their past 54 home openers. When it comes to season openers overall, OSU has won each of its past nine and 18 of its past 20. The 2024 season also marks the 14th time during Mike Gundy's tenure that the Cowboys have opened with a home game, and the Cowboys are undefeated in the previous 13. OSU has outscored opponents 888-300 in home openers during the Gundy era by an average score of 47-16. Gundy is 17-2 overall in season openers, with his only setbacks at No. 13 Georgia in 2007 and versus No. 1 Florida State in 2014.

In the Rankings

The Oklahoma State football team is ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll and No. 18 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. It marks the fifth time since 2016 that the Cowboys have started a season ranked in the AP Top 25 and continues a run of OSU being ranked in every season since 2008. The coaches poll also extended a school record of receiving votes in the preseason coaches poll to 18 straight years. Through the 2023 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 14 of the past 16 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 16 years. 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. South Dakota State is the No. 1 team in both the Stats Perform and AFCA preseason FCS polls.

The Series

Saturday's game marks the first meeting between Oklahoma State and South Dakota State. Coach Mike Gundy's record against FCS teams is 15-0. South Dakota State coach Jimmy Rogers has not faced OSU or an FBS team as a head coach.

Success at Home

Oklahoma State has put together an impressive 23-3 record at Boone Pickens Stadium since the beginning of the 2020 season to rank among the best home performers in all of college football. Here's a look at how it compares to the rest of the country:

Most Home Wins Since 2020

Oklahoma State from a Distance

Oklahoma State football wrapped up its 18th consecutive season with a winning record and bowl appearance last year, improving an active streak that only one other FBS schools can claim. OSU's eighth 10-win season over the past 14 years also helped it maintain its spot in the FBS top 10 in total wins since 2010, securing its status as a top program in college football. The foundation for success is long-established in Stillwater, and OSU's 125th season provides a chance to build on it with several returning pieces. According to ESPN's returning production percentages, the Cowboys rank No. 4 in the FBS with 77% of its overall production from 2023 returning in 2024, including 79% of its offensive production and 74% of its defensive production. OSU also brings back 50 of 72 overall letterwinners and double-digit starters on each side of the ball. The Cowboys, who have three of the four Big 12 newcomers on the schedule, will lean heavily on that experience as they begin play in the first year of a 16-team Big 12 Conference, aiming to return to the conference championship game for a third time in four seasons.

Continued Success

The 2023 season was just the latest chapter in a long story of success for the Oklahoma State program.

• Oklahoma State made its 18th consecutive bowl appearance and has secured its 18th consecutive winning season, both of which are 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.

• Through the 2023 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 14 of the past 16 seasons and reached the top 10 in 11 of those 16 years.

• 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 ...

• Give it 29 consecutive wins in home openers, increasing the longest streak in school history. Only Florida (34) has a longer active streak among all FBS teams.

• Give it wins in nine of its past 11 games.

• Increase a school record to 10 consecutive wins in season openers. In addition to the active streak of nine, the next longest were eight straight wins in season openers from 1981-88 and from 1928-35.

• Give it wins in 10 straight, 16 of its past 17, 19 of its past 21 and 36 of its past 44 season openers.

• Improve Mike Gundy's record in September games to 57-14.

• Improve Mike Gundy's record against non-Power conference teams to 44-5.

• Improve Mike Gundy's record in season openers to 18-2 and his record in home openers to 20-0.

• Improve Mike Gundy's record in non-conference games to 65-16.

• Improve Mike Gundy's record against FCS teams to 16-0.

• Improve its all-time record against South Dakota State to 1-0.

• Improve its record in season openers to 79-40-6 and its record in home season openers to 56-5-5.

• Make it 90-29-5 in home openers.

• Give it wins in 49 of its past 55 home openers.

• Make it 26-5 in its past 31 non-conference games and 48-11 in its past 59 non-conference games.

• Make it 32-12 in its past 44 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.

• Make it 158-74 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.

• Make it 145-44 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.

• Make it 95-24 in its past 119 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game

• OSU has won nine consecutive season openers and 28 consecutive home openers, both OSU records.

• Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in nine of the past 11 games.

• OSU is 10-0 in the last 10 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.

• OSU's offensive line has not allowed a sack in six of its past 10 games.

• OSU has held 34 of its past 43 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.

• OSU has won 85 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 92 games.

• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 40 of its past 58 games.

• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 47 of its past 52 games.

• OSU is 39-16 in its past 55 games decided by fewer than 10 points.

• OSU is 49-8 in its past 57 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 80-8 when winning the turnover battle.

• OSU has won four of its past six overtime games.

• Over the past 50 games, OSU has held opponents to 240-for-769 (31.2%) on third down.