Oklahoma State 29 Kansas State 21 Postgame Notes

Oklahoma State vs. RV/RV Kansas State

October 6, 2023 | Stillwater, Okla. (Boone Pickens Stadium) | Attendance: 53,855

Final Score: Oklahoma State 29, Kansas State 21

Updated Records: Oklahoma State 3-2 overall (1-1 Big 12); Kansas State 3-2 overall (1-1 Big 12)

Postgame Notes

• Behind strong efforts on each side of the ball, Oklahoma State toppled Kansas State, 29-21, to avenge last season’s 48-0 defeat at the hands of the Wildcats in Manhattan. The win marked the second time in program history that the Cowboys beat a team after suffering a 40-point shutout against that team in the previous season (1971-72 vs. Iowa State).
• Alex Hale nailed five field goals on Saturday, tying for the most in program history. He is the first Cowboy to make five field goals in a game since Quinn Sharp did so against TCU on October 27, 2012. He also matched a career long with a 53-yard field goal at the 12:03 mark in the third quarter.
• In his second career start, Cameron Epps recorded the first two interceptions of his career, a pair of pass breakups and five tackles. A closer look at what made Epps’ performance notable:
• First freshman with two interceptions in a game since Shaun Lewis (vs. Oklahoma, November 27, 2010)
• First freshman with a pick-six since Ramon Richards (at Kansas State, November 1, 2014)
• First game with two interceptions and a pick-six since Chad Whitener (vs. TCU, November 7, 2015)
• First time with two interceptions in a half since A.J. Green (at West Virginia, October 28, 2017)
• First pick-six since Jason Taylor II (at Texas, October 16, 2021)
• First game with two interceptions since Jason Taylor II (vs. Texas, October 22, 2022)
• Nickolas Martin recorded 17 tackles against the Wildcats, the most by a Cowboy since Jordan Sterns had 19 tackles against Oklahoma on December 3, 2016. Martin also added a sack, a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss and the first interception of his career.
• Kansas State entered the game allowing just 73.2 rushing yards per game, sixth-best in the nation and tops in the Big 12, however, Oklahoma State had its best game of the season on the ground with 174 yards.
• Despite entering the game with a Big 12-best 3.5 sacks per game, the Wildcats were unable to post a sack against the Cowboy offensive line. It was the first time all season that Kansas State did not record a sack.
• The Cowboy defense limited the Wildcats to 372 yards of offense, their lowest output of the season. Kansas State entered the game 15th in the NCAA in total offense, averaging 482.2 yards per game. Kansas State also managed just 21 points on Saturday, well below its season average of 39.5.
• Will Howard entered Saturday having thrown for over 250 yards in each of Kansas State’s first four games of the season, but was held to just 152 passing yards by the Cowboy defense, his lowest total since throwing for 65 yards against Texas on November 26, 2021.
• The Cowboy defense intercepted Will Howard three times on Saturday, its first time recording three interceptions in a game since November 12, 2022, against Iowa State.
• The Cowboys struck first with a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive at the 7:54 mark of the first quarter, which was capped off by a two-yard rushing score from Ollie Gordon, his third of the year.
• OSU’s touchdown on its opening drive marked the first score on a game-opening drive since October 22, 2022, against Texas. The drive also lasted 5:24, OSU’s longest touchdown drive to begin a game since November 23, 2019, at West Virginia, when it used 5:31.
• Cameron Epps’ pick-six late in the first half was Oklahoma State’s 13th non-offensive touchdown since the beginning of the 2020 season, tying Mississippi State and Ohio State for 11th-most in the NCAA.
• The Cowboys held a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes of play, their largest first quarter edge since a 28-0 margin against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on September 17, 2022.
• Ollie Gordon II notched his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game on Saturday. He carried the ball a career-high 21 times and ran for 136 yards, matching his career-high set against West Virginia on November 26, 2022.
• Rashod Owens set a number of career-highs against the Wildcats, including catches with five, receiving yards with 75 and longest reception with a 45-yard snag in the second quarter.
• Early in the second quarter, Jaden Bray reeled in the longest reception of his career with a 45-yard catch.
• Trey Rucker posted a career-high in tackles with 11, including the fifth tackle for loss in his career.
• Late in the first half, Jaleel Johnson brought down Will Howard for a 7-yard sack, the first of his career.
• Anthony Goodlow made his first start for Oklahoma State on Friday after starting 22 games at Tulsa.
• Dylan Smith, Kam Franklin, Poasa Utu and AJ Ridener all appeared in their first career games on Saturday.
• Oklahoma State’s game captains were Josiah Johnson, Collin Clay, Brennan Presley and Preston Wilson.

The Oklahoma State Win...

• Improved Mike Gundy's record in October games to 47-21.
• Gave it wins in 10 of its past 14 and in 23 of its past 30 games following a loss.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record in home games to 91-29.
• Improved its all-time record against Kansas State to 43-27 and its record vs. KSU in Stillwater to 24-9.
• Gave it wins in 10 of its past 15 games against K-State three straight wins over K-State in Stillwater.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record against Kansas State to 10-6.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record in Big 12 games to 96-62.
• Made it 24-10 in its past 34 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Made it 89-23 in its past 112 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends

• OSU has held 31 of its past 35 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 34 of its past 49 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 42 of its past 43 games.
• OSU is 35-16 in its past 51 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 46-8 in its past 54 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 47-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 76-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• Over the past 41 games, OSU has held opponents to 187-for-648 (28.9%) on third down.