Oklahoma State at West Virginia Postgame Notes
Notable
Fewest Yards of Total Offense Allowed by OSU since 2000
133 at West Virginia, 2021
139 vs. Savannah State, 2012
141 vs. Texas State, 2000
143 vs. Kansas, 2021
156 at Baylor, 2020
175 at South Alabama, 2017
Game notes:
Oklahoma State held West Virginia to 2.3 yards of offense per play, it was the Cowboys’ best performance against an FBS school since at least 2000. The only performance better than 2.3 was 2.0 against FCS Savannah State in 2012.
In its last two games, Oklahoma State held Kansas to three points and West Virginia to three. It’s the first time since the final game of 1974 and the first game of 1975 that OSU held consecutive opponents without a touchdown and was the first time since 1948 and 1949 that OSU held consecutive conference opponents without a touchdown.
Oklahoma State had a season high with eight sacks. It was the second-most in a game in school history and the most for OSU since 2004.
Eight sacks matched the highest total against any Power Five conference team in a game this season.
The Oklahoma State defense limited West Virginia to 2-of-14 third down conversions. Including last week’s performance against Kansas, opposing offenses are 2-of-27 on third down conversions the last two games.
After gaining 64 yards and kicking a field goal on its opening drive of the game, West Virginia was limited to minus-3 yards of total offense for the remainder of the first half.
Oklahoma State outgained West Virginia, 115-12, in total offense during the second quarter.
Through three quarters, the Oklahoma State defense limited WVU to 82 yards of total offense (82 passing, one rushing).
Oklahoma State’s Korie Black recovered a muffed punt midway through the third quarter to set up the touchdown that gave the Cowboys a 17-3 lead. It was Black’s second muffed punt recovery of the season, as he also had one against Missouri State.
The win over West Virginia was Spencer Sanders’ 20th as Oklahoma State’s starting quarterback. The only other OSU QBs with 20 or more career wins as a starter are Mason Rudolph (32), Mike Gundy (28), Brandon Weeden (23) and Zac Robinson (23).
West Virginia entered the game leading the Big 12 and ranked eighth nationally by averaging 28.59 yards per kickoff return. The Cowboys held the Mountaineers to 107 yards on five returns (21.4 avg.)
West Virginia entered the game leading the Big 12 and ranking fourth nationally with 7.2 tackles for loss per game. The Mountaineers could muster only three against the Cowboys.
West Virginia’s Jarret Doege entered the game leading the Big 12 by averaging 258.9 passing yards per game. In his most recent outing, he threw for 370 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa State. Against Oklahoma State, he was held to 109.
In his two previous games against TCU and Iowa State, West Virginia’s Leddie Brown averaged 110.0 rushing yards per game on 4.8 yards per carry and scored five total touchdowns. Against Oklahoma State, he was limited to 24 yards on 10 carries (2.4 avg.)
Game captains for Oklahoma State were West Virginia transfer Josh Sills, Sione Asi, Devin Harper and Jake Schultz.
Cowboy Back Braden Cassity went down with an injury in the first quarter, which created an opportunity for increased playing time for Logan Carter and Quinton Stewart.
For the third consecutive game, quarterback Spencer Sanders and receiver Tay Martin connected for a touchdown pass. Martin had two touchdown receptions from Sanders in the game for his first multi-touchdown game since his sophomore year at Washington State in 2018.
Jason Taylor II and Kody Walterscheid both recorded their first sacks of the season to become the 15th and 16th different Oklahoma State defenders with a sack this year.
The Oklahoma State Win ...
- Kept the Cowboys in the top two of the 2021 Big 12 standings.
- Made it 8-1 or better for the first time since 2015 and for the fifth time in the Mike Gundy era.
- Made it 4-1 in its past five away games.
- Gave it seven straight wins vs. the Mountaineers and four straight wins in Morgantown.
- Made the Cowboys 9-4 all-time vs. West Virginia and 4-2 vs. WVU in Morgantown.
- Improved Mike Gundy's career record vs. West Virginia to 8-2.
- Improved Mike Gundy's record in Big 12 games to 88-56.
- Gave it wins in 10 of its past 11 games and 16 of its past 20 games, dating back to the 2020 season.
- Made it 144-67 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
- Made it 132-38 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
- Made it 79-17 in its past 96 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating back to 2010.
Notable Streaks and Trends Including the West Virginia Game
- OSU's defense has allowed fewer than 100 yards of offense in a half in seven of its past eight games. The Cowboys limited Baylor to 99 yards in the first, Tulsa to 89 yards in the first, Boise State to 64 yards in the second, K- State to 84 yards in the second, Texas to 92 yards in the second, Kansas to 49 yards in the first and 94 yards in the second and West Virginia to 61 in the first and 72 in the second.
- OSU has held 18 of its past 20 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
- OSU has won 77 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.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 20 straight games.
- OSU has held its opponent to fewer than 20 first downs in eight straight games.
- Malcolm Rodriguez has recorded at least five tackles in 17 straight games.
- OSU is 37-6 in its past 43 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 69-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has forced 23 turnovers in its past 13 games.
Oklahoma State is limiting opponents well under their scoring average this season. A look at the past six OSU opponents:
PPG Entering vs.
OSU Game OSU
Boise State 42.5 20
Kansas State 31.0 20
Baylor 42.8 14
Texas 44.5 24
Iowa State 33.7 24
Kansas 17.6 3
West Virginia 29.6 3