On Saturday, the Oklahoma State Cowboys will head into Provo, Utah, to take on the BYU Cougars. However, if they leave with their fourth straight loss, the Cowboys risk ending one of the most impressive streaks in the nation.
Oklahoma State Streak in Danger of Ending in 2024
The Cowboys own the second most consecutive winning seasons, 18, in the Power Five, behind only Wisconsin (22) and one ahead of Alabama (17). But with just six games remaining in the 2024 season, they’re in danger of the streak snapping.
Mike Gundy’s squad is 3-3, losing their last three games against Big 12 opponents Utah, Kansas State, and West Virginia. And with a road matchup against undefeated BYU on deck, Oklahoma State will almost assuredly enter Week 9 at 3-4.
Despite the Cowboys nearing a .500 record several times under Mike Gundy — having finished with five 7-6 records since he took over in 2005 — his only losing season came in Year 1.
While Gundy has yet to secure a College Football Playoff berth, he has come close, boasting two 12-win seasons, multiple double-digit-win records, 12 bowl victories, and one conference title.
Nothing has gone right for the Cowboys this season. Reigning Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II has averaged just 3.8 yards per carry, only surpassing the century mark once: Week 1 vs. FCS-level South Dakota State (28-126-3 rushing line). Since then, Gordon has taken 73 carries for 258 yards and just one score.
The passing attack has been even more inept, with seventh-year signal-caller Alan Bowman completing under 60% of his passes for 1,653 yards, 12 TDs, and eight INTs. In fact, he’ll be benched in favor of redshirt sophomore Garret Rangel this week.
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The result has been a bottom-four rank in yards per game (390.2) in the Big 12, but the defense has actually been worse.
The Cowboys have allowed a whopping 493.5 yards per game, the fifth-most in the country. Their 27.2 PPG conceded is an easier figure to stomach, but it’s still the third-worst mark in the conference.
According to the all-new College Football Network Football Playoff Meter, Gundy and Co. don’t have a win probability over 58% the rest of the way, beginning with a 23.4% chance of defeating the Cougars in Provo.
- at Baylor: 57.4%
- vs. Arizona State: 57.4%
- at TCU: 50.8%
- vs. Texas Tech: 51.8%
- at Colorado: 49.6%
The FPM projects the Cowboys to finish the season 6-6, but they could easily go 4-8, as their final four contests could go either way, especially with how the other teams are playing right now.
If Oklahoma State can’t turn things around, its streak of 18 consecutive winning seasons will come to an unceremonious end, signaling the most damaging chapter in the Gundy era.
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