PROVO, Utah — This Friday at 10:15 p.m. ET, No. 13 BYU (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) will face off against Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-3) in a Big 12 showdown broadcasted on ESPN. The betting line has BYU favored by 9.5 points. Historically, Oklahoma State has a 3-0 advantage in the series between the two teams.
The stakes are high for No. 13 BYU, which is looking to recover from last year’s double-overtime defeat against the Cowboys. A victory will also keep the Cougars competitive in the conference race alongside teams like Iowa State and Texas Tech. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State is desperate for a significant win to prevent a potential four-game losing streak in Big 12 play, a situation not seen for the Cowboys since 2005, the same year they ended the season with a losing record under head coach Mike Gundy.
One of the central battles of this matchup will revolve around Oklahoma State’s struggling run defense, which currently sits at the bottom of the Big 12, permitting 235.0 rushing yards and 5.5 yards per carry on average. BYU has yet to see a player reach the 100-yard mark on the ground this season; however, with a fully healthy backfield, they may finally see a breakout performance in the running game.
Both teams have key players to keep an eye on. For Oklahoma State, quarterbacks Alan Bowman and Garret Rangel have struggled significantly, contributing to the team’s losing streak. In practice this week, Gundy has opened up the competition for the starting position, indicating a shift could be on the horizon. The starting quarterback is under pressure to complete plays effectively; both have combined for six interceptions and only a 50% completion rate in their last three games.
On the side of BYU, the defense has caused considerable problems for opponents, largely due to the pressure exerted by linebackers Jack Kelly, Isaiah Glasker, and Harrison Taggart. Glasker and Kelly have accounted for five sacks and a total of 12 tackles-for-loss in the season thus far. Kelly leads the team in quarterback hurries with seven, while Taggart is currently the top tackler for BYU, recording 34 tackles.
In terms of statistics, BYU wide receiver Parker Kingston is recognized as one of only three players in Big 12 history to achieve both passing and receiving touchdowns in multiple games. Additionally, when unranked, Oklahoma State has an impressive record against AP Top 25 opponents, winning five consecutive games and 11 out of their last 14. BYU stands out in passing efficiency defense, topping the FBS with a rating of 90.59. On the other hand, Oklahoma State’s Brennan Presley has made receptions in 36 consecutive games, marking the second-longest active streak in FBS. Furthermore, BYU has had 16 different players score touchdowns this season, and quarterback Jake Retzlaff averages 15.3 points per game, placing him 25th nationally.
