(Oklahoma State Athletics media relations contributed to this article)
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State is set to honor the 2015 Sugar Bowl team on October 11, as the Pokes play host to Houston.
More details about the event will be released as we get closer to the game.
This marks the 10-year anniversary of the 2015 team, which started the season unranked before going 10-0 to start the season and climbing all the way to No. 4 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls.
There were some really impressive wins that season, which included a 49-29 win over then No. 5 TCU, marking the third-largest win over an AP top 10 team in program history. They beat Texas 30-27, before beating Iowa State and Texas Tech with a pair of 17-point comeback wins.
The Cowboys’ 70-53 win over Tech down in Lubbock marked the program’s second-highest point total since the end of World War II, and the 859 all-purpose yards are still the most the Pokes have put up in a road game in program history.
The Pokes were fourth in the FBS in turnover margin, sixth in sacks, seventh in passing offense, ninth in turnovers gained and red zone scoring percentage. They were also in the top 20 in scoring offense, interceptions per game, passing efficiency and tackles for loss.
The 4,591 passing yards is still the third-most ever put up by the Pokes in program history, while the numbers for total offense, touchdowns scored, fewest interceptions thrown, passing touchdowns, points scored, completion percentage, pas efficiency, all-purpose yards, first downs, total tackles, tackles for loss and sacks all ranking in the top 10 in program history.
The team also produced three touchdowns on fumble returns to tie for the most in school history and set a school record that still stands with an 80.0% fourth down conversion rate on 10 attempts.
Individually, defensive end Emmanual Ogbah headlined the roster in 2015 as a first team All-America selection and the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after ranking No. 4 in the FBS with 13.0 sacks – a number that still ranks as the most at OSU since Hall of Famer Leslie O’Neal produced 16.0 in 1984.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington both ranked among the top 20 FBS players in several passing and receiving categories, while Washington’s 50.0 yards per reception average on four catches at Texas Tech still stands as a school record.
Led by head coach Mike Gundy in his 11th year in Stillwater, the 2015 Cowboys produced five first team All-Big 12 honorees in Ogbah, safety Jordan Sterns, tight end Blake Jarwin, cornerback Kevin Peterson and linebacker Jordan Burton. Washington and defensive end Jimmy Bean also received second team honors.
Statistical leaders for the year included leading passer Rudolph, leading rusher Chris Carson, leading receiver Washington, leading tackler Sterns, tackles for loss and sacks leader Ogbah and leading scorer Ben Grogan. Quarterback J.W. Walsh was the team leader with 13 rushing touchdowns, which also ranked No. 1 among all Power Five quarterbacks for the year.
Three different receivers turned in 100-yard games, including Washington on five occasions, Marcell Ateman twice and David Glidden once. Carson also produced a 100-yard rushing game against UTSA, while Rudolph and Walsh produced 300-yard passing games, with Rudolph surpassing 400 yards on three occasions.
Gundy was honored as the 2015 AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year for the team’s performance, while Ogbah was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award and a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Award, Bednarik Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy, in addition to his All-America and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Players from the 2015 roster who went on to be selected in the NFL Draft included Ogbah, Carson, Washington, Rudolph, Ateman, Vincent Taylor, Tre Flowers and Jordan Brailford.
