Postgame Notes: Oklahoma State 44 South Dakota State 20
Oklahoma State vs. South Dakota State Postgame Notes
17/18 Oklahoma State vs. 1/1 (FCS) South Dakota State
August 31, 2024 | Stillwater, Okla. (Boone Pickens Stadium) | Attendance: 52,202
Final Score: No. 17 Oklahoma State 44, South Dakota State 20
Updated Records: Oklahoma State 1-0 overall (0-0 Big 12); South Dakota State 0-1 overall (0-0 MVFC)
Postgame Notes
• Oklahoma State defeated South Dakota State, 44-20, to extend its win streak in season openers to nine and improve Mike Gundy to 16-0 against FCS opponents.
• The Cowboys also extended their win streak in season openers to 29, giving OSU the second longest active streak in the FBS (Florida).
• The loss snapped a 29-game win streak for South Dakota State and was the first loss for second-year head coach Jimmy Rogers. The Jackrabbits entered the contest ranked No. 1 in the FCS poll.
• OSU’s 44 points was the most allowed by the Jackrabbits in regulation since Oct. 6, 2018, when Indiana State put up 48.
• The 24-point margin of defeat was South Dakota State’s largest since Dec. 16, 2017, when it lost to James Madison in the FCS semifinals, 51-16.
• With seven receptions against South Dakota State, Brennan Presley moved into third in program history in pass receptions with 232.
Pass Receptions
1. 293 Rashaun Woods (293-4414) 1999-03
2. 253 Justin Blackmon (253-3564) 2008-11
3. 232 Brennan Presley (232-2583) 2020-present
4. 226 James Washington (226-4472) 2014-17
5. 224 Hart Lee Dykes (224-3510) 1985-88
• Ollie Gordon II rushed for 104 yards, marking his 11th career 100-yard rushing game after having done so nine times last season.
• Alan Bowman went 25-of-34 passing with 267 yards and three touchdowns against the Jackrabbits. This is the second time that Bowman has thrown for three touchdowns in a game as a Cowboy, with the other being in the 2023 Big 12 Championship game against Texas.
• Trey Rucker finished with 15 tackles, nine solo, against South Dakota State, setting a new career-high.
• Oklahoma State held the Jackrabbits to 0-for-4 on fourth-down conversions on Saturday. The Cowboys held opponents to 6-for-25 (24%) on fourth down last season.
• OSU’s veteran offensive line didn’t allow a sack in the season opener. Last season, the Cowboys gave up just three sacks in their final eight games and had six games in which they didn’t allow a sack.
• Korie Black recorded the second interception of his career in the first quarter.
• OSU won the turnover battle 1-0, thanks to Black’s interception. The Cowboys have now won 11-straight games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• Gavin Freeman secured his first reception as a Cowboy with 3:13 remaining in the first quarter.
• Alan Bowman found Brennan Presley from six yards out for the first Oklahoma State touchdown of the 2024 season with 2:03 to go in the opening quarter. The touchdown was the 17th of Presley’s career.
• A 12-yard touchdown run marked Ollie Gordon II’s first score of the season. It was the 27th touchdown and 24th rushing touchdown of his career.
• Gordon II found the endzone once again on OSU’s first possession of the third quarter, this time on a 22-yard reception from Bowman.
• The receiving touchdown for Gordon II was his fourth of his career and first since Oct. 14, 2023 against Kansas.
• Alan Bowman hit Rashod Owens for a 58-yard touchdown with 6:29 to play in the third quarter. It was Oklahoma State’s longest touchdown through the air since Sept. 23, 2023, when Bowman hit Jaden Nixon for a 60-yard score.
• The 58-yard touchdown catch was the longest reception of Owens’ career, and it was the seventh score of his career.
• Gordon II scored his third touchdown of the afternoon with 2:29 left in the third quarter, running it in from the 1-yard line.
• Ollie Gordon II’s three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) marked the seventh multi-touchdown game of his career and fourth time he has scored three times in a game.
• Logan Ward hit a 52-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, the longest made field goal for the Cowboys since a 53-yard field goal by Alex Hale on Oct. 6, 2023, against Kansas State
• OSU’s 18-point lead early in the third quarter put South Dakota State at a larger deficit than it had faced at any point during its 29-game win streak (14).
• Oklahoma State scores on its first three possessions of the game (field goal, touchdown, touchdown), marking the first time they have done so since Oct. 14, 2023, vs. Kansas.
• Logan Ward’s 42-yard field goal with 8:15 remaining in the first quarter was the first made field goal of his career.
• Iman Oates and Parker Robertson made their first career starts against the Jackrabbits.
• Kobe Hylton, Ayo Shotomide-King, Gavin Freeman, Trent Howland, Ike Esonwune, Kyler Pearson, Obi Ezeigbo, Kade Welcher, Josh Ward, Isaia Glass all made their Oklahoma State debuts on Saturday.
• Oklahoma State’s game captains were Brennan Presley, Nick Martin, Joe Michalski, Parker Robertson.
The Oklahoma State win ...
• Marked 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.
• Marked wins in nine of its past 11 games.
• Increased 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.
• Marked wins in 10 straight, 16 of its past 17, 19 of its past 21 and 36 of its past 44 season openers.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record in September games to 57-14.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record against non-Power conference teams to 44-5.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record in season openers to 18-2 and his record in home openers to 20-0.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record in non-conference games to 65-16.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record against FCS teams to 16-0.
• Improved its all-time record against South Dakota State to 1-0.
• Improved its record in season openers to 79-40-6 and its record in home season openers to 56-5-5.
• Improved to 90-29-5 in home openers.
• Marked wins in 49 of its past 55 home openers.
• Improved to 26-5 in its past 31 non-conference games and 48-11 in its past 59 non-conference games.
• Improved to 32-12 in its past 44 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Improved to 158-74 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
• Improved to 145-44 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
• Improved to 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 10 consecutive season openers and 29 consecutive home openers, both OSU records.
• Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in 10 of the past 12 games.
• OSU is 11-0 in the last 11 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• OSU's offensive line has not allowed a sack in seven of its past 11 games.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 41 of its past 59 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 48 of its past 53 games.
• OSU is 50-8 in its past 58 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 49-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 81-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• Over the past 51 games, OSU has held opponents to 243-for-782 (31.1%) on third down.