10 Things to Know, Including Eye-Popping Stats on OSU’s Defense, After Its Win Over WVU

West Virginia was an underdog by only 3.5 points on its own turf Saturday against Oklahoma State.

It proceeded to lose by 21 points in a game the Cowboys and their defense dominated from opening kick to final snap.

The win moved OSU to 8-1 on the season and kept it in the mix for the Big 12 title. So, after the smoke has cleared from the day that was, here are 10 things to know about the game from nuggets on the OSU defense’s dominance to big picture season success and more.

1. OSU’s defense allowed only 133 yards of offense against West Virginia on Saturday. It is the fewest yards allowed by an OSU defense since 2000. (My gosh, West Virginia, not a good category to be in alongside Savannah State and the 2012 massacre.)

• 133 at West Virginia, 2021
• 139 vs. Savannah State, 2012
• 141 vs. Texas State, 2000
• 143 vs. Kansas, 2021
• 156 at Baylor, 2020
• 175 at South Alabama, 2017

2. OSU has allowed only 3 points in consecutive wins over Kansas and West Virginia, marking the first time since the final game of 1974 and the first game of 1975 it has held consecutive opponents without a touchdown. It’s the first time since 1949 it held conference opponents without a touchdown in consecutive games.

3. OSU’s eight sacks against West Virginia set a new season high and was the second-most in a game in school history (and most in a game since 2004). It matched the highest sack total against any Power Five team in a game this season. (Jarret Doege is nodding along from an ice bath somewhere in Morgantown right now.)

4. West Virginia was held to 2-of-14 on attempted third down conversions. Last week, Kansas was 0-of-13 on attempted third down conversions.

5. OSU has won 77 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active stretch of time in the FBS and longest since at least 1980.

6. Look at this. Somebody elect Jim Knowles for president immediately, if not sooner.

7. The win Saturday made OSU 8-1 or better for the first time since 2015 and for the fifth time in the Mike Gundy era.

8. OSU’s winning streak over West Virginia improved to seven with the win Saturday. It has won four-straight in Morgantown.

9. OSU’s defense has allowed fewer than 100 yards of offense in a half in seven of its past eight games. The Cowboys limited Baylor to 99 yards in the first, Tulsa to 89 yards in the first, Boise State to 64 yards in the second, K- State to 84 yards in the second, Texas to 92 yards in the second, Kansas to 49 yards in the first and 94 yards in the second and West Virginia to 61 in the first and 72 in the second.

10. West Virginia through three quarters of play was held to just one yard (!!!!!) rushing. It finished the game with 33 rushing attempts for 17 yards rushing.