Oklahoma State Postgame Notes: OSU 31 - No. 25 Kansas State 20

Game Notes

• Kansas State entered the game averaging 31.0 points and 374.0 yards of total offense per game. The Cowboys limited the Wildcats to 20 points and 260 yards of total offense. The Cowboy defense forced two turnovers and held K-State to 2-for-12 on third down (16.7 percent).
• With the game in the balance in the fourth quarter, the Oklahoma State defense held K-State to minus-six yards of offense in the final stanza and forced three consecutive three-and-outs.
• For the game, the Cowboys forced seven K-State three-and-outs.
• After pitching a second-half shutout against Boise State in its previous game, the Oklahoma State held Kansas State without a touchdown until the 1:08 mark of the third quarter.
• Oklahoma State’s 31 points and 481 yards of total offense both set season highs.
• Entering the game, the most points Kansas State had allowed in a game was 23. Oklahoma State had 28 points at the 10:51 mark of the second quarter.
• By the end of the first quarter, Oklahoma State had 98 yards passing, which was more than its output for the entire game against Boise State (82 yards). The Cowboys finished with a season-best 344 passing yards.
• For the second consecutive week, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez made a game-changing play. He recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the first quarter. In OSU’s win at Boise State last week, he forced a fumble late in the first half that led directly to what amounted to the game-winning touchdown. 
• Malcolm Rodriguez’s touchdown was Oklahoma State’s second non-offensive touchdown of the season. LD Brown scored on a 98-yard kickoff return against Tulsa.
• Safety Kolby Harvell-Peel’s interception late in the second quarter was his second in as many weeks. Harvell-Peel has intercepted at least two passes in each of the last three seasons.
• Kolby Harvell-Peel set a season-high with eight tackles in the game
• For the first time this season, Oklahoma State fielded the same starting offensive line in consecutive games.
• Running back Jaylen Warren carried the ball 27 times for 123 yards. It marked his second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance after he carried 32 times for 218 yards in the previous game against Boise State.
• Spencer Sanders connected with Jaylen Warren for a 52-yard pass completion on OSU’s first play from scrimmage. It was the Cowboys’ longest pass play of the season to date.
• Sanders finished with 344 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions. 344 passing yards set a season high and marked the third-highest total of his career.
• The Cowboys held a 21-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. 21 points matched a season high for points in a quarter for OSU. The Cowboys scored on each of their first four offensive possession for the first time since Aug. 30, 2019 at Oregon State.
• Oklahoma State cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse broke up three passes on Kansas State’s opening possession. Entering the game, his career high for passes broken up in a game was two. As a team, OSU broke up a season-high five passes in the game and had nine quarterback hurries.
• After missing all but one series in the previous two games due to injury, Oklahoma State receiver Tay Martin returned to the lineup and set OSU career highs with nine receptions for 100 yards. He also had one receiving touchdown.
• Making their Oklahoma State debuts in Saturday’s game were true freshman receiver Blaine Green and true freshman cowboy back Silas Barr. On Barr’s first play, he served as a blocker on Spencer Sanders’ first quarter touchdown run.
• Kansas State’s Malik Knowles scored on a 99-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown to go against Oklahoma State this season and the first since Texas’ D’Shawn Jamison scored on a 100-yard return last season.
• Game captains for Oklahoma State were Jaylen Warren, Hunter Woodard, Brock Martin and Jake Schultz.

The Oklahoma State Win...

• Made it 4-0 for the second straight season and for the sixth time in the Mike Gundy era.
• Marked its sixth straight win, securing its longest winning streak since OSU won seven straight in 2016. OSU's five-game winning streak entering the game is tied for the seventh-longest active streak in the FBS.
• Made the Cowboys 42-26 all-time vs. Kansas State and 23-9 vs. Kansas State in Stillwater.
• Gave it three straight wins vs. Kansas State, marking the longest streak for either team in the series since OSU won three straight in 2007, 2010 and 2011.
• Made it 9-4 in its past 13 games against Kansas State.
• Made it 7-1 in its past eight home games against Kansas State.
• Improved Mike Gundy's career record vs. Kansas State to 9-5.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record in Big 12 games to 84-55
• Improved it to 12-3 in its past 15 games, 21-8 in its past 29 games, 45-18 in its past 63 games and 59-24 in its past 83 games.
• Made it 13-2 in its past 15 games played when not ranked by the AP.
• Made it 11-5 in its past 16 games and 15-8 in its past 23 games vs. AP Top 25 teams.
• Made it 9-3 in its past 12 games when playing as a team outside of the AP Top 25 against a team ranked in the AP Top 25.
• Improved it to 26-22 vs. AP ranked teams since the beginning of the 2011 season.
• Marked Mike Gundy's 32nd career win vs. AP Top 25 opponents. Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney are the only other active coaches with more wins over AP Top 25 teams at their current schools.

A Chip on Our Shoulder

In recent years, Oklahoma State has thrived when underestimated. Since the beginning of the 2016 season, the Cowboys are 9-3 when not included in the AP Top 25 and facing an AP Top 25 opponent. Included in those numbers is a 3-1 record vs. top 10 teams and 6-1 record when playing at Boone Pickens Stadium. Here's a look at the matchups:

Year     Opponent                       Result     Score

2016     No. 22 Texas                   W            49-31

2016     No. 10 West Virginia       W            37-20

2018     No. 6 Texas                     W            38-35

2018     at No. 6 Oklahoma          L             47-48

2018     No. 7 West Virginia         W            45-41

2018     vs. No. 23 Missouri          W            38-33

2019     at No. 12 Texas                L             30-36

2019     No. 24 Kansas State        W            26-13

2019     No. 18 Baylor                   L             27-45

2019     at No. 23 Iowa State       W            34-27

2020    vs. No. 18 Miami (FL)      W            37-34

2021     No. 25 Kansas State        W            31-20

Notable Streaks and Trends Through the Kansas State Game

• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 15 straight games.
• OSU has held 13 of its past 15 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• OSU is 34-5 in its past 38 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 42-3 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 66-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has forced 16 turnovers in its last eight games.
• OSU has had a 100-yard rusher in nine of its last 14 games.