No. 24 Oklahoma State heads north for a Saturday night test at Iowa State, with kickoff set for Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. CT on FS1 from Jack Trice Stadium.
The matchup starts with Oklahoma State’s offense, and the numbers point to a clear edge on that side of the ball. The Cowboys are putting up 529.1 total yards per game, good for second nationally, and their passing attack has been especially explosive at 341.0 yards per game, also second. Even the ground game has plenty of punch, with Oklahoma State averaging 188.1 rushing yards per game.
Iowa State’s defense will be charged with trying to slow all of that down, but the Cyclones enter the game giving up 370.1 total yards per game, which ranks 82nd. Against the run, they allow 152.0 yards per game, and through the air, they’re giving up 218.1. Oklahoma State has also put together a perfect run on field goals, going 18-for-18 with a long of 47.
There is, however, some room for Iowa State to create pressure through turnovers. Oklahoma State has lost 11 turnovers this season, while the Cyclones have forced eight.
Special teams could matter here too. Oklahoma State’s net punting sits at 38.83, and its kickoff return average is 10.44, which ranks 138th. Iowa State has been much stronger in punt returns at 15.00 per return, and its kickoff return defense is allowing 22.50.
Flip the script, and Iowa State brings a much more modest offense into the game. The Cyclones are averaging 339.9 total yards per contest, which ranks 108th, while Oklahoma State’s defense is giving up 364.0 yards per game. Iowa State averages 163.0 rushing yards per game and 176.9 passing yards per game.
The Cowboys’ defense has been steadier against the run, allowing 137.6 rushing yards per game, and it gives up 226.4 through the air. Iowa State has been careful with the ball, too, with only six turnovers lost, while Oklahoma State has forced 10.
In the kicking game, Iowa State has made 9 of 11 field goals, with a long of 51. The Cyclones’ net punting stands at 38.97.
Oklahoma State’s punt return unit has been productive at 15.71 per return, and Iowa State’s kickoff return average of 29.75 ranks ninth nationally. Oklahoma State’s kickoff return defense is allowing 18.71.
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Oklahoma State's Recruiting Surge Just Picked Up Another Intriguing Sign
Stillwater linebacker Bryson Brown added another local name to Oklahoma States growing recruiting momentum, giving the Cowboys a defender with a hometown connection and a bit of late-cycle intrigue. Browns commitment also fits the broader pattern of Oklahoma State building early buzz on the defensive side, as the program continues to stack pieces for its next class.
Browns decision is notable because it comes after a recruiting path that had already taken him elsewhere, and because the timing lines up with a shifting landscape for both programs. Baylors coaching change opened the door for movement, while Oklahoma States strong start under Eric Morris has helped make Stillwater look like an increasingly appealing destination for defensive prospects. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Still Has A Real Big 12 Path If One Thing Breaks Right
The Big 12 race still has a few twists left, and Oklahoma State is hanging around long enough to keep the conversation going. With Utah, Arizona, BYU, the Cowboys and Texas Tech all jockeying for Arlington, the remaining schedules matter almost as much as the standings themselves, and Oklahoma States position is more encouraging than it might have looked a few weeks ago. The title picture is crowded, but there is still a believable route for the Cowboys if the right results fall their way.
What makes it interesting for Oklahoma State is how much of the leagues math is tied to a handful of games that could reshape the bracket in a hurry. The Cowboys need help elsewhere, of course, but they also have a chance to control their own part of the equation in the coming stretch, with one matchup looming larger than the rest as a potential separator in the chase for the conference championship game. If that one breaks in OSUs favor, the rest of the path starts to look a lot clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State's Defensive Rebuild Is Starting To Turn Heads In Recruiting
Oklahoma States defensive rebuild is beginning to show up where it matters most for a staff trying to change the conversation: on the recruiting trail. The Cowboys have added commitments from cornerback Jlynnd Kellow and linebacker Bryson Brown, giving new defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity a pair of defensive pieces who were willing to back off other pledges and buy into whats being built in Stillwater.
Kellow, a three-star cornerback from Willis High School in Texas, had been committed to Mississippi State before landing with the Cowboys, while Brown comes from Stillwater after previously being pledged to Baylor. For Oklahoma State, the significance goes beyond simply adding bodies to the class. Flips like these suggest the staff is starting to sell a clearer defensive path, and that kind of traction can matter as much as any one commitment when a rebuild is trying to gain momentum. [Read more 🡒]