The Oklahoma State football team (2-0 overall; 0-0 Big 12) travels to Boise, Idaho, this week for its first road game of the 2021 season and the first game in the state of Idaho in program history. The Cowboys will face the Boise State Broncos (1-1 overall; 0-0 Mountain West) on Saturday, September 18, at Albertsons Stadium with kickoff set for 8:10 p.m. CT.

In the Rankings
Oklahoma State was voted No. 22 in the Week 3 edition of the 2021 USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. The Cowboys have been included in the coaches poll in each week of the 2021 season. OSU has also received votes in every week of the 2021 AP Top 25. OSU has reached the top 15 of the AP poll at some point in 11 of the past 13 seasons and has seen a top 10 ranking in the AP poll at some point in nine of those 13 years. Although the first 2021 College Football Playoff rankings won't be released until November 2, it's worth noting that OSU has been part of the CFP rankings in five of the past six seasons entering 2021. Boise State is receiving votes in this week's coaches poll.

The Series
Saturday's game will mark the second time Oklahoma State and Boise State have met on the football field, with the Cowboys winning the first matchup in Stillwater, 44-21, on September 15, 2018. OSU holds a 14-5-1 record against teams who are part of the current Mountain West conference, with the 2018 Boise State matchup marking the Cowboys' last meeting with the conference. Boise State holds a 4-4 record vs. members of the Big 12, with the 2018 game against OSU also marking its latest game against the conference. Mike Gundy is 1-0 in his career against Boise State to mark the only time he has faced a Mountain West team, while Boise State coach Andy Avalos is in his first season with the matchup marking his first game against an opponent in a Power Five conference.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State football has established itself as a top-tier program in the nation in recent history, becoming one of just 10 Power Five programs with more than 100 wins since 2010. The Cowboys have won 72% of their games (102-40) during that timeframe and have school-record streaks of 15 consecutive bowl bids and 15 consecutive winning seasons. In 2021, the Cowboys are 2-0 for a fifth consecutive season and for the 12th time in the Mike Gundy era. The wins have not come without adversity, as starting quarterback Spencer Sanders wasn't available in the season opening win over Missouri State and several other starters weren't available in last week's win over Tulsa, but OSU has done what it has needed to win and now heads to Boise State for its highest-profile matchup of the season thus far. As a team, the Cowboys have continued their multi-year trend on defense by excelling on third downs and putting pressure on the quarterback. OSU ranks No. 19 in the FBS with 3.5 sacks per game. It has also blocked a kick, recovered two fumbles and is on a streak holding its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 13 straight games. Individually, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez is making an early case for national awards and All-America honors, as he ranks No. 1 in the FBS in tackles per game at 14.0 and No. 1 in solo tackles at 8.5 per game. His forced fumble in the season opener also ranks him in the FBS top 19 in that category. On the offensive side, the Cowboys' best numbers have come in the passing game. OSU ranks third in the Big 12 through two games with an average of 244 passing yards. New faces at receiver have caught the bulk of those receiving yards, including true freshman Jaden Bray, who leads the team in receiving yards, and 2020 transfer Tay Martin, who recorded more than 100 yards and a touchdown in his first OSU start. OSU's special teams units have also contributed in big ways, none more so than LD Brown's 98-yard kickoff return touchdown against Tulsa last week. It was OSU's seventh-longest kickoff return in school history and the longest for the Cowboys since 2014.
         
An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Make the Cowboys 2-0 all-time vs. Boise State.
• Make it 1-0 all-time in games played in the state of Idaho.
• Make it 3-0 for the fifth straight season and for the 12th time in the Mike Gundy era.
• Improve Mike Gundy's career record vs. Mountain West teams to 2-0.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record vs. non-Power Five opponents to 39-4.
• Make it 18-1 in its past 19 non-conference games and 40-6 in its past 46 non-conference games.
• Improve Mike Gundy's record in non-conference games to 57-12.
• Improve it to 44-18 in its past 62 games and 58-24 in its past 82 games.
• Make it 77-16 in its past 93 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating back to 2010.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU has not allowed a point in the first quarter this season.
• OSU has not allowed its opponent to score on the opening drive of a half this season.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 17 of the past 19 games, including each of the past six games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 13 straight games.
• OSU has scored on defense in three of its past eight games.
• OSU has held 12 of its past 14 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• Malcolm Rodriguez has recorded at least eight tackles in seven straight games.
• Rodriguez has led OSU in tackles in every game this season.
• Jaylen Warren has scored a rushing touchdown in each of his past three games played.
• OSU has won 74 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 is 28-10 in its past 38 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 32-5 in its past 37 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 41-3 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 64-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its past four overtime games.
• OSU has forced a total of 12 turnovers in its past six games.
• OSU has had a 100-yard rusher in seven of its past 12 games.