OSU’s Defense Is Playing at a Historic Level Right Now

Jim Knowles’ unit just did something that no OSU defense has done in nearly 90 years.

Oklahoma State held West Virginia to just 3 points today, and they held Kansas to 3 points last week. It’s the first time the Cowboys have held back-to-back opponents to 3 points or less within a single season since 1934(!)

This defense has been good all year, but today they were insane. Historic, actually.

Where do I even start?

Mike Gundy called West Virginia’s offensive line the best in the Big 12 earlier this week. OSU’s front six made them look lost.

Devin Harper and Brock Martin sacked Jarrett Doege twice. Collin Oliver, Tyler Lacy, Jason Taylor II and Kody Walterschied got to him once. That’s 8 in total, the 2nd most in school history and tied for the most against a P5 team this season among any team.

The analytics told the tale before the game even started. According to PFF, Harper is the highest rated blitzing linebacker in the country, and Doege is the most sacked QB in the conference. A perfect storm for the OSU pass rush.

“We just run the schemes the Jim [Knowles] draws up for us,” Harper said on the Cowboy Radio Network. “Playing with our hair on fire like we’re supposed to. Win November, that’s what we try to do.”

The Mountaineers drove down and kicked a field goal on the opening drive of the game. The drive lasted over 5 minutes and spanned 64 yards.

They finished the game with 133 yards in TOTAL. So, after the first drive it was a total of 69 yards (40 of them came on the final drive). The 133 total yards allowed is the least in the Gundy era and the 2.3 yards per play allowed is OSU’s best against an FBS school since at least 2000. The only one better overall was the Savannah State game in 2012 with 2.0 yards per play.

I could go on and on with stats, but here’s a list of just a few others:

• Fewer than 100 yards allowed in a half in 7 of the last 8 games.
• Held 18 of the last 20 opponents below season scoring average
• Less than 50% 3rd down conversion percentage allowed in 20 straight games
• Less than 20 first downs allowed in 8 straight games
• Won 77 consecutive games when holding opponents under 20 points (started on Sept. 3, 2003)

There were a few times where it seemed like West Virginia’s offense was starting to put a drive together. But every single time, somebody made a play to stop it in its tracks. Most of those plays were tackles for loss or sacks.

“Everyone brings their own energy,” Harper said. “We just go out there and play freely.”

West Virginia running back Leddie Brown came into the game averaging nearly 5 yards per carry. He averaged 2.4 today.

“We prepared well throughout the week, and it showed up today,” Martin said on the Cowboy Radio Network.

Christian Holmes made an incredible play on a Doege 4th down pass and picked it off midway through the 4th. Just look again for yourself, he undercuts and leaps over the top to make the catch.

In total, OSU forced 2 takeaways. The other being a muffed punt by WVU in the 3rd quarter. Could’ve been more too. Taylor forced a fumble that Harper tried to scoop up and run back. Instead he kicked it and West Virginia fell on it. The Mountaineers recovered their own fumble twice.

Today was upset central across the college football landscape. Not only did Oklahoma State escape that same fate in a hostile road environment, they won in style. Thanks largely in part to the OSU defense.