OSU’s Defense Has Been Stellar So Far, but Texas Can Score in Bunches

Oklahoma State’s defense has been better than advertised in the early goings of 2020, but it will face its toughest challenge on Saturday.

The Cowboys sit atop the Big 12 in a number of defensive categories, namely scoring defense, red zone defense and third-down conversion percentage allowed.

But there is another, very important statistic in which the Cowboys are on pace for an historic year. (Again, it’s still early.)

Oklahoma State is currently ranked No. 8 in points per drive allowed (DPPD) according to BCF Toys. This stat nerd’s playground compiles raw points per possession data and filters out garbage time possessions.

So far through four games, OSU is allowing just 0.84 points per drive, which is on pace for a similar finish to that super stingy 2013 Cowboys defense.

To help compare like-kind fruit, here’s how the 2020 Cowboys currently stack up against other defenses in the league.

OSU is also ranked 15th in BCF’s defensive FEI ranking which rates a unit’s scoring advantage when on the field and 7th in defensive drive yards per play.

These are all impressive that paint the picture of how OSU’s defense has been able to take pressure of the other side of the ball. It’s a big reason OSU is undefeated despite injuries at QB and across its O-line, something that normally would result in a 2-2 or 1-3 start.

But before we start crowning this OSU squad as the 1985 Chicago Bears, repeat after me.

It’s early. It’s early. It’s early. 

There a few pretty dynamic offenses still on the Cowboys’ schedule. So for clarity, here’s a look at OSU’s opponents so far based on each team’s current offensive PPD ranking.

Tulsa — 26th
West Virginia — 75th
Kansas — 96th
Texas — 18th

Meaning that number will go up (it always does as the year goes on anyway), and it might spike after this weekend. Texas is the best offense the Cowboys have faced so far and quite possibly the best it will face all year based on what we’ve seen in the early part of the season.

The Longhorns are leading the league at 3.06 points per drive and they’re averaging 45 points per game which is T-6th nationally. Baylor held Texas to season-low 27 points last weekend. If OSU’s defense can match that effort, send Jim Knowles a whole box of cigars.

The Cowboys will need to bring their A-game on D to limit the Longhorns’ attack. Otherwise they’ll have to do something they’ve been able to avoid thus far, lean heavily on their offense to outscore people.