Can OSU’s Record-Setting Triplets Set Some More against Virginia Tech?

We’re inching closer to Oklahoma State’s Camping World Bowl matchup with Virginia Tech. Somewhere on the other side of last-minute Christmas gifts and catching up for time missed at work, we’ll find ourselves next Thursday afternoon wondering, What was I supposed to be doing? Nothing like a 4 p.m. bowl game to watch.

While its designation is a disappointment based on the summer Kool-Aid gorge we all took part in, the matchup is at least intriguing and the exhibition should be can’t-miss.

Will James Washington pass Rashaun on the all-time receiving yards list at OSU? He only needs 69 yards to do so. How far does Mason Rudolph push all 30-something of his school records? Which senior D-tackle will tote the rock in an obvious running situation?

So ahead of all the postseason fun, let’s take a look at some previous bowl records for each team, specifically some that might be in danger of being broken in Orlando on December 28.

Most Points Scored

Oklahoma State hung an historic 62 points on Wyoming in the 1988 Holiday bowl — 30 were scored by Barry Sanders alone, also an OSU bowl record. It was one of the most star-studded offenses Oklahoma State has ever fielded but this year’s group is statistically more potent.

Virginia Tech gave up 52 to Cal in the 2003 Insight Bowl which was a school worst. But this year’s Hokie team gave up just 31 to No. 1 Clemson and no one else has hit the 30 mark.

Prediction: OSU doesn’t break it.

Other side: Virginia Tech’s highest bowl point total was 49 in a losing effort in that same 2003 Insight Bowl. OSU gave up an all-time bowl worst 48 to a synthetically-fueled Ole Miss squad in the 2016 Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Most Passing Yards

Brandon Weeden will hold the edge over Rudolph for more prestigious postseason wins/appearances but the leader in pretty much everything else will top his predecessor if he can log his sixth 400-yard passing game of 2017, and 11th of his career. The current Cowboy bowl passing record is 399 yards from the 2012 Fiesta Bowl, Weeden’s own OSU curtain call.

On the other side of that equation is a stingy Virginia Tech secondary that is allowing only 187.2 yards per game and the lowest completion rate in the nation (46.9 percent).

The Hokies gave up a school bowl record 394 yards to Aaron Rodgers, again in the Insight Bowl in 2003. But this is a better Hokie defense and, let’s face it, Mason Rudolph isn’t Aaron Rodgers.

Prediction: Rudolph doesn’t break it.

Other side: Oklahoma State gave up 347 passing yards to Andrew Luck in that 2012 Fiesta Bowl. VT’s Bryan Randall holds the Hokie bowl record with 398 yards — again, against Cal in the 2003 Insight Bowl.

Most Receiving Yards

The current all-time leader in OSU receiving yards, Rashaun Woods, set an Oklahoma State bowl record in his final collegiate game. He grabbed 11 catches brought 223 yards and a score in a losing effort in the 2004 Cotton Bowl. Could James Washington be in for a similar outing in his amateur finale?

Virginia Tech gave up 195 yards to Florida State receiver Javon Walker in the 2002 Gator Bowl. But this year’s team has a vaunted secondary that doesn’t get burned often.

However, in the season opener West Virginia’s Greg Jennings racked 189 receiving yards and David Sills V had 94. So it is possible. A lot could depend on how competitive the game is late and if Gundy leaves his dynamic duo in the entire game.

Prediction: James Washington doesn’t break that record, but does hit the 69-yard mark needed to pass Woods as the all-time leader at OSU.

Most Rushing Yards

Over its 30 total bowl games, Virginia Tech has only allowed four 100-yard individual rushing games, the most recent being Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor’s, who ran for 114 yards in the 2011 Orange Bowl. The record of 121 yards against the Hokies was all the way back in 1968 by Steve Hindman of Mississippi in the Liberty Bowl.

Can No. 5 in orange be No. 5 on this list too? I think he’s got a good shot. Hill is averaging 112.3 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry this season, and we know OSU’s coaching staff likes to rely heavily on the sophomore All-American snub. OSU’s highest rushing output in a postseason game was Sanders’ 222 yards in San Diego in 1988.

Prediction: Justice breaks VT’s record (not OSU’s). Let’s say, 135 and two scores.

Other side: Kevin Jones rushed for 153 yards for VT in (you guessed it) the 2003 Insight Bowl. Darren Evans hit the same mark in Cincinnati 2009 Orange Bowl.