Postgame Notes: 2OT Oklahoma State 39 - Arkansas 31

16/17 Oklahoma State vs. RV/- Arkansas

September 7, 2024 | Stillwater, Okla. (Boone Pickens Stadium) | Attendance: 52,202

Final Score: Oklahoma State 39, Arkansas 31 (2OT)

Updated Records: Oklahoma State 2-0 overall; Arkansas 1-1 overall

Postgame Notes

• Oklahoma State rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat Arkansas, 39-31, in double overtime and improve to 2-0 for the eighth season in a row.
• Trailing 21-7 at halftime, Oklahoma State outscored Arkansas 32-10 in the second half and overtime and won the turnover battle 2-0 after the break. The Cowboys also posted 308 yards of offense in that span, bouncing back from a 77-yard showing over the first 30 minutes.
• Last season, Oklahoma State was one of nine FBS teams (and only Big 12 team) to overcome multiple deficits of 14+ points. Following Saturday’s comeback, the Cowboys have done so three times in the past six games.
• Saturday marked the first time an SEC opponent played inside Boone Pickens Stadium since Oklahoma State’s 24-10 victory over Georgia on September 5, 2009. Additionally, OSU has now won its last four home games against current members of the SEC (Arkansas in 2024, Oklahoma in 2023 and 2021, Texas in 2022)
• Oklahoma State won the turnover battle for the second-straight week, this time by a 3-1 margin. It scored 10 points off those takeaways and has won 12 games in a row when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• Saturday’s victory improved Oklahoma State’s record at Boone Pickens Stadium to 25-3 since the beginning of the 2020 season, good for the second-highest win total among FBS teams in that span. Here’s how it compares to the rest of the country:

Most Home Wins Since 2020

Alabama                           26

Oklahoma State               25

UTSA                                 24

North Carolina State       24

Clemson                           24

Liberty                              23

Michigan                           23

Ohio State                        23

• The Cowboy offensive line did not surrender a sack for the second week in a row to open the 2024 season. Dating back to last season, OSU has allowed just three total sacks in their last 10 games and none in eight of the past 12.
• Behind an overtime shutout, Oklahoma State has now won five of its last seven overtime games while handing Arkansas its first overtime loss under head coach Sam Pittman (3-0 previously). OSU has also won six of its last seven games decided by one possession and is 35-16 in one-possession games since 2015.
• Oklahoma State stopped Arkansas on both of its fourth-down attempts after holding South Dakota State to 0-for-4 in the season opener. Dating back to the start of last season, OSU has held opponents to 6-for-31 (19%) on fourth down.
• Nick Martin had another outstanding game against Arkansas with 4.5 tackles for loss, tied for the eighth-most ever by a Cowboy in a single game. He also posted 16 total tackles, just one shy of his career-best, and three quarterback hurries.
• Brennan Presley finished the game with nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown alongside one three-yard touchdown run, both of which came during OSU’s second-half comeback. It was the 5th multi-touchdown game of Presley’s career and first since October 28, 2023, against Cincinnati. The nine receptions also moved him closer to second on the all-time list:

Pass Receptions

1. 293 Rashaun Woods (293-4414) 1999-03
2. 253 Justin Blackmon (253-3564) 2008-11
3. 241 Brennan Presley (241-2674) 2020-present
4. 226 James Washington (226-4472) 2014-17
5. 224 Hart Lee Dykes (224-3510) 1985-88

• A week after leading all Power Four players with 15 tackles in the season opener, Trey Rucker set a new career high with 17 against Arkansas.
• Ollie Gordon II’s 12-yard touchdown run in the second overtime proved to be the difference for the Cowboys, in addition to giving him four rushing scores on the season and a touchdown in nine of his last 11 games.
• Kale Smith cut Oklahoma State’s deficit to 14-7 with 8:50 remaining in the second quarter after intercepting Taylen Green’s pass and returning it 73 yards for a touchdown. It marked the first interception of Smith’s career, OSU’s first pick-six since Cameron Epps did so against Kansas State on October 6, 2023, and the longest pick-six by a Cowboy since Jason Taylor’s 85-yard score at Texas on October 16, 2021.
• Playing in the second FBS game of his career, Obi Ezeigbo reeled in his first two career sacks and added nine total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.
• Shea Freibaum turned the momentum of the game when he recovered a muffed punt by Isaiah Sategna with 10:23 remaining in regulation, setting up a game-tying touchdown drive for the Cowboys. It was the first fumble recovery of his career.
• Kody Walterscheid fell on a fumble by Ja’Quinden Jackson with 3:25 remaining in the third quarter to force OSU’s second turnover of the day. It marked Walterscheid’s fourth career fumble recovery, the most recent coming on November 4, 2023, against Oklahoma.
• Jeff Roberson ended Arkansas’ opening drive with the first sack of his career, dropping Taylen Green nine yards behind the line of scrimmage and forcing the Razorbacks out of field goal range.
• Jake Schultz caught a 63-yard pass from Alan Bowman on OSU’s go-ahead scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, marking the longest play by the Cowboys this season. Entering Saturday, Schultz had 22 receiving yards in his career and hadn’t caught a pass since September 9, 2023, at Arizona State.
• Logan Ward hit three more field goals on Saturday, including a key 38-yarder with less than a minute remaining in regulation, to move to 6-for-7 on the season.
• Josh Ford recorded his first career start and catch against Arkansas, while Isaia Glass made his first start as a Cowboy and 16th of his career.
• Cooper Lai made his first career appearance against the Razorbacks.
• Oklahoma State’s game captains were Collin Oliver, Logan Ward, Ollie Gordon II and Korie Black.
• Former Oklahoma State defensive end and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Leslie O’Neal was added to the Cowboy Football Ring of Honor during halftime of Saturday’s game. A two-time All-American and 1984 Big Eight defensive player of the year, O’Neal still holds the program records for single-season and career sacks with 16 and 34, respectively.

The Oklahoma State Win...

• Gave it wins in 10 of its past 12 games.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record in September games to 57-14.
• Marked Mike Gundy's 26th career win against a current member of the SEC.
• Improved Mike Gundy's record in non-conference games to 66-16.
• Improved its all-time record against Arkansas to 16-30-1 and its record against Arkansas in Stillwater to 5-4-1.
• Made it 27-5 in its past 32 non-conference games and 49-11 in its past 60 non-conference games.
• Made it 33-12 in its past 45 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Made it 159-74 in its history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
• Made it 146-44 in its history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
• Made it 96-24 in its past 120 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends

• OSU is 12-0 in the last 12 games when winning or tying the turnover battle.
• OSU's offensive line has not allowed a sack in eight of its past 12 games.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 42 of its past 60 games.
• OSU is 40-16 in its past 56 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 82-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.
• Over the past 51 games, OSU has held opponents to 254-for-801 (31.7%) on third down.