Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia: How to Watch, Odds and What to Know

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Oklahoma State's reset under Eric Morris reaches another milestone Saturday night. Big 12 football.

The Cowboys travel to Morgantown to face undefeated West Virginia in the conference opener for both teams, with OSU looking to build on consecutive wins over No. 6 Oregon and Murray State.

West Virginia has momentum of its own after improving to 3-0 with a 38-27 win over then-No. 25 Virginia.

Here's everything to know before kickoff.

Game Information

Matchup: Oklahoma State (2-1) at West Virginia (3-0)

Date: Saturday, Sept. 26Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT / 7 p.m. ET

Location: Milan Puskar Stadium — Morgantown, West Virginia

TV: FS1

Broadcast: Eric Collins (play-by-play), Spencer Tillman (analyst)

Radio: Cowboy Radio Network — Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb and Deion Imade

Streaming radio: The Varsity Network

West Virginia has designated the matchup as its annual Gold Rush game, with fans encouraged to wear gold.

Betting Line

As of Thursday, FanDuel lists West Virginia as a 1.5-point favorite, with Oklahoma State +1.5.

The total sits at 59.5 points, while the Mountaineers are -125 on the moneyline and Oklahoma State is +104. Lines can continue moving before kickoff.

It's a fittingly tight line for two teams that have changed their outlook dramatically during the opening month.

Series History

Oklahoma State leads the all-time series 10-6 and has enjoyed considerable success in Morgantown.

The Cowboys are 5-2 on the road against West Virginia and have won their past five trips to Morgantown. OSU has also won eight of the past 10 meetings overall dating to 2015.

The most recent trip produced one of the defining performances of Ollie Gordon II's 2023 Doak Walker Award season. Gordon rushed for 282 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries as OSU won 48-34.

West Virginia got revenge the following season, beating the Cowboys 38-14 in Stillwater in the most recent meeting.

Strength vs. Strength on the Ground

If there is one matchup that could define Saturday, it's West Virginia's rushing attack against Oklahoma State's run defense.

WVU enters averaging 281.3 rushing yards per game, sixth nationally. OSU is allowing only 100 rushing yards per game, ranking 35th.

Michael Hawkins Jr. has rushed for 322 yards and six touchdowns, while Cam Cook has 317 yards.

Hawkins' presence makes the equation particularly difficult because Oklahoma State has to account for the quarterback as an additional runner on virtually every snap.

Moses Phillips III emphasized this week that the Cowboys must get multiple defenders to the football against Cook, while Morris warned that committing safeties to the run can expose seams downfield.

Can West Virginia Slow Down Drew Mestemaker?

The other defining matchup comes when Oklahoma State has the football. OSU averages 528 total yards per game, sixth in the FBS, while its 306.3 passing yards per game ranks 18th.

West Virginia, meanwhile, ranks 94th in total defense and 114th against the pass, allowing 246.7 passing yards per game. That creates an opportunity for Mestemaker and a deep receiver room featuring Justin Bowick, Wyatt Young and Miles Coleman, with Chris Barnes expected to return.

Mestemaker is coming off a nearly flawless performance against Murray State, completing 20-of-22 passes for 324 yards and five touchdowns.

His ability to process pressure will be important against a West Virginia defense Morris says can bring pressure “from everywhere.”

Turnovers Remain the Red Flag

For all of Oklahoma State's impressive offensive numbers, one statistic remains concerning. The Cowboys have lost seven turnovers, ranking 124th nationally. West Virginia has lost only two.

OSU survived two Mestemaker interceptions and another turnover against Oregon and lost four turnovers in its season-opening defeat at Tulsa.

In what oddsmakers view as essentially a toss-up on the road, giving West Virginia extra possessions could erase many of OSU's statistical advantages.

Something Has to Give

Saturday also offers Oklahoma State an opportunity to officially close another chapter from the previous two seasons.

The Cowboys enter on an 18-game Big 12 losing streak. Their last conference victory came Nov. 25, 2023. A win would give OSU its first Big 12 victory under Morris and its sixth consecutive win in Morgantown.

West Virginia has something significant at stake, too. The Mountaineers are 3-0 for the first time since 2018 and are receiving votes just outside the AP Top 25. Oklahoma State received 50 votes in this week's poll as well.

One team will leave Saturday night 1-0 in the Big 12 with three consecutive victories and even more momentum.

For Oklahoma State, it's also the next chance to prove what happened against Oregon wasn't a one-night surprise. Morris called this week everything a college football team dreams about.

Football weather. Under the lights. An undefeated opponent. A hostile environment.

Now the Cowboys get to find out how their rebuilt roster handles its first taste of Big 12 football.

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