Series History: Pokes Narrowly Lead WVU All Time After Three Straight

Oklahoma State squares off with its third top 10 opponent in the last four weeks on Saturday in Stillwater. No. 9 West Virginia will be in Boone’s house at 2:30, and maybe that’s the salve a team that has lost four of its last five needs.

Or maybe not.

Here’s a look at the short series history between Oklahoma State and West Virginia.

• Overall series: OSU leads 5-4
• Under Gundy: OSU leads 4-2
• Longest streak: 3 — OSU (2015-current)
• Biggest rout (WVU 32-6 in 1928)

I’m just over here with my mind spinning at how you get to 32 points. There have been just four NFL games ever with this score and none since 1986. That’s two field goals for the loser and, what, five touchdowns and three missed extra points for the winner? Or would you prefer three touchdowns, three field goals and a safety? Four touchdowns and two safeties? I have a lot of questions.

For only having played nine games against each other ever, OSU and WVU have played some memorable ones. The Gilbert kick return in a rout in 2012 is the most knee-weakening for me, but I think maybe one of the best overall wins of the Gundy era in terms of dominance and thoroughness came in 2016 on Homecoming when the Pokes beat No. 10 WVU 37-20.

Vincent Taylor had 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, and Ramon and Kevin Henry both had interceptions of Skyler Howard. Rudolph had three passing TDs, and two of them were to Chris Lacy.

Great crowd, great threads, great performance. Gundy’s 100th win, too.

So can OSU keep that three-game streak (its second-longest currently against Big 12 teams — Texas has incurred the longest a four games) alive?

“I’m pretty familiar with West Virginia and their approach,” said Mike Gundy earlier this week. “A lot of similarities to the game we just played. They’re very explosive offensively, terrific quarterback play, running the football and they’re good up front on offense. (Gary Jennings Jr.), (David Sills V) and (Marcus Simms) make a lot of plays for them.

“Defensively, they’re a good team. A few schools have scored some points on them, some teams, but it’s been from big plays. It hasn’t been from consistent drives so we’ll certainly have our hands full with these guys.”

Defensively, they are a good team — No. 34 in the country in PPD allowed on defense (OSU is No. 101) — and Gundy is right, OSU will have its hands full trying to figure out how to get bowl eligible on its third try in three weeks.

Gundy Against the Big 12 (updated after OU)

• Kansas: 10-1
• Texas Tech: 11-3
• Iowa State: 8-3
• TCU: 4-2
• West Virginia: 4-2
• Baylor: 8-6
• Kansas State: 6-5
• Texas: 7-7
• Oklahoma: 2-12