The Oklahoma State football team (0-0 overall; 0-0 Big 12) opens its 124th season when it hosts Central Arkansas (0-0 overall; 0-0 United Athletic Conference) at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 2, at Boone Pickens Stadium.

On the Air
The game will be streamed live on Big 12 on ESPN+ with Matt Schumacker and Brad Hopkins on the call. It will also be carried live on the Cowboy Radio Network, with Dave Hunziker handling play-by-play, John Holcomb providing analysis and Robert Allen reporting from the sideline. Fans outside of the Cowboy Radio Network can listen to the OSU broadcast for free through The Varsity Network app.

All About Openers
Saturday's game marks the seventh time in the past eight years that Oklahoma State has opened the season in Stillwater. It also marks the 65th time OSU has opened its season at home. OSU's overall record in season openers is 77-40-6, while its overall record in home openers is 88-29-5 and its overall record in season openers at home is 54-5-5. Oklahoma State has won 27 consecutive home openers for the longest such streak in school history, and the Cowboys have won 47 of their past 53 home openers. When it comes to season openers overall, OSU has won each of its past eight and 17 of its past 19. The 2023 season also marks the 13th time during Mike Gundy's tenure that the Cowboys have opened with a home game, and the Cowboys are undefeated in the previous 12. OSU has outscored opponents, 861-287, in home openers during the Gundy era by an average score of 48-16. Gundy is 16-2 overall in season openers, with his only setbacks at No. 13 Georgia in 2007 and versus No. 1 Florida State in 2014.

School-Record Streaks
Oklahoma State has won eight consecutive season-openers, matching the longest streaks in school history. A win Saturday would set a new school record. The Cowboys are also on an active streak of 27 straight wins in home openers, which is the longest in program history on the second-longest active streak in college football. Here's a look at the how streaks stack up:

In the Rankings
The Oklahoma State football team is not ranked in either major poll but did receive votes in the preseason USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll for a school-record 17th consecutive season. Through the 2022 season, Oklahoma State has been ranked in the top 15 of the Associated Press poll in 13 of the past 15 seasons and has reached the top 10 in 11 of those 15 years. Although the first College Football Playoff rankings won't be released until November 1, it's worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in seven of the past eight seasons entering 2023. Central Arkansas is receiving votes in both the STATS and AFCA preseason FCS polls.

The Series
Saturday's game marks the second meeting between Oklahoma State and Central Arkansas, with OSU winning the first matchup in Stillwater, 32-8 in 2015. Coach Mike Gundy's record against Central Arkansas is 1-0 and he is 14-0 against FCS teams. UCA coach Nathan Brown has never faced OSU.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
The Oklahoma State football program is in the midst of the longest sustained stretch of success in its history, as well as in college football today. Although the Cowboys closed 2022 on a downward stretch after 17 different Cowboy starters missed time to injury, OSU still finished the year by extending its school record streaks of winning seasons and bowl appearances to 17 straight years – an active run that only one other school can claim. Over the past three seasons, OSU has the most wins and best winning percentage of any of Big 12 team who competed in the conference during that timeframe. It is also the only one of those 10 teams to post a winning record in each of those three years. The Cowboys have reached the top 10 of the AP poll in 11 of the past 15 seasons and have seen a top 15 ranking in the AP poll in 13 of those 15 seasons. On top of that, OSU ranks among the top 10 FBS teams in total wins over the past 10 seasons. It's safe to say that Oklahoma State is home to a top-10 football program in the country today.

An Oklahoma State Win Would ...
• Give it 28 consecutive wins in home openers, increasing the longest streak in school history. Only Florida (33) has a longer active streak among all FBS teams.
• Set a school record with nine consecutive wins in season openers. In addition to the active streak, there were also eight straight wins in season openers from 1981-88 and from 1928-35.
• Improve its non-conference home winning streak to 13 games, improving the third-longest streak in school history and the longest since the 15-game streak from Sept. 19, 2009 - Sept. 3, 2016.
• Give it wins in nine straight, 15 of its past 16, 18 of its past 20 and 35 of its past 43 season openers.
• Give it 11 straight wins in September games, dating to 2019.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in September games to 55-12.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record against non-Power Five teams to 43-4.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in season openers to 17-2 and his record in home openers to 19-0.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in non-conference games to 62-14.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record against FCS teams to 15-0.
• Improve its all-time record against Central Arkansas to 2-0.
• Improve its record in season openers to 78-40-6 and its record in home season openers to 55-5-5.
• Make it 89-29-5 in home openers.
• Give it wins in 48 of its past 54 home openers.
• Make it 23-3 in its past 26 non-conference games and 45-9 in its past 53 non-conference games.
• Give it wins in nine of its past 12 and in 22 of its past 28 games following a loss.
• Make it 22-8 in its past 30 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
• Make it 87-21 in its past 108 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU has won eight consecutive season openers and 27 consecutive home openers, both OSU records.
• OSU has held 30 of its past 33 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average entering the game.
• OSU has won 81 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003  – the longest active stretch of time in the FBS and longest since at least 1980.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 30 of its past 44 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 37 of its past 38 games.
• OSU is 34-15 in its past 49 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 44-8 in its past 52 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 45-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 74-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its past five overtime games.
• Over the past 38 games, OSU has held opponents to 158-for-573 (27.6%) on third down.