Game Preview: Kick Time, TV Info as OSU Readies for Season-Opener vs. Central Michigan

After a 243 day break, Cowboy football is officially back.

Well, almost.

Oklahoma State hosts Central Michigan on Thursday night in a game where the Pokes will look to avenge their 2016 loss to the Chippewas after a controversial untimed down/Hail Mary. Here is everything you need to know to get ready for Thursday’s fun.

Viewing Info

Time: 6 p.m. Thursday
Location: Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma
Watch: FS1 (Jason Benetti and Brock Huard)

Team Stats

	Oklahoma State	Central Michigan
Record	12-2	9-4
Points Per Game	31.1	32.3
Points Allowed Per Game	18.1	25.8
Total Offense	417.4	443.4
Rushing Offense	185.5	178
Passing Offense	231.9	265.4
Total Defense	297.9	381.9
Rushing Defense	87.6	118.5
Passing Defense	210.2	263.3

Leading Returners

Passing:
OSU — Spencer Sanders — 243-for-392 (62%)/2,839 yards/20 touchdowns/12 interceptions
CMU — Daniel Richardson — 191-for-316 (60%)/2,633 yards/24 touchdowns/6 interceptions

Rushing:
OSU — Spencer Sanders — 146 carries/668 yards/6 touchdowns
CMU — Lew Nichols — 314 carries/1,848 yards/16 touchdowns

Receiving:
OSU — Brennan Presley — 50 catches/619 yards/5 touchdowns
CMU — Dallas Dixon — 45 catches/701 yards/8 touchdowns

Tackling:
OSU — Jason Taylor — 48 total tackles/37 solo tackles/6.5 tackles for loss
CMU — Donte Kent — 55 total tackles/45 solo tackles/0 tackles for loss

Sacks:
OSU — Collin Oliver — 11.5 sacks
CMU — John Wesley Whiteside — 6.5 sacks

Series History

Whether it should’ve been allowed or not (it shouldn’t have been), Central Michigan’s untimed down Hail Mary is what college football is all about.

The infamous untimed down Hail Mary of 2016 will be played at nauseum during the leadup to Thursday night’s contest. After a intentional grounding was called against Mason Rudolph as the clock expired, the officiating crew erroneously awarded CMU a free play with the clock on all zeros. Cooper Rush heaved a ball to the 10-yard line that was tossed back to Corey Willis who won a race to the pylon to give the Chippewas a 30-27 victory.

That game saw Cooper Rush, who spent the past four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, throw for 368 yards and four touchdowns. Two of those scores went to Tyler Conklin, now a tight end for the New York Jets.

That game marks the last time OSU has lost a preseason nonconference game.

The two teams also met the season prior on the Chippewas’ home turf. That game saw OSU win 24-13 in a Thursday night season opener. Rudolph threw for 266 yards and a touchdown that evening. He also had a 21-yard touchdown run.

Season	Winner	Score	Location
2016	Central Michigan	30-27	Stillwater
2015	Oklahoma State	24-13	Mount Pleasant