The Oklahoma State football team (6-1 overall; 3-1 Big 12) returns to Stillwater this week to face Kansas (1-6 overall; 0-4 Big 12) in the 100th edition of "America's Greatest Homecoming," with kickoff set for 6 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 30, in Boone Pickens Stadium.

The game will be televised by FS1 with Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman 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.

Noting the Cowboys in Homecoming Games
Oklahoma State is 55-38-6 in Homecoming games. The Cowboys have won four of their past five and 10 of their past 13 on Homecoming.

In the Rankings
Oklahoma State was voted No. 15 in this week's edition of the AP Top 25, continuing a streak of 14 consecutive seasons in the poll. The streak, which began in 2008, is the 10th-longest active streak in the nation. Including this season, OSU has appeared in the top 15 of the AP poll in 12 of the past 14 seasons. It has also seen a top 10 ranking in the AP poll at some point in 10 of those 14 years. The Cowboys are also No. 15 in this week's USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. OSU has been included in the coaches poll in each week of the 2021 season. 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. Kansas is not ranked.

The Series
Saturday's game marks the 72nd meeting between Oklahoma State and Kansas in a series that dates to 1923. OSU owns a 40-29-2 all-time series advantage, including a 17-14-1 advantage in Stillwater. OSU has won 11 straight and 16 of the past 17. The Cowboys have won five straight games vs. the Jayhawks in Boone Pickens Stadium, as well as seven of the past eight in Stillwater. A win Saturday would extend the longest win streak for either team in the series. It would also give OSU 12 straight wins vs. Kansas to set a school record for its longest win streak against one opponent. OSU's initial record 11-game streak was set vs. Kansas State from 1947-62. Coach Mike Gundy is 12-1 in his career against Kansas, while KU coach Lance Leipold is facing the Cowboys for the first time.

Oklahoma State from a Distance
Oklahoma State has established itself as a top-tier program in the nation in recent history, ranking among the top 10 programs nationally in wins since 2010. The Cowboys have won 72.3% of their games (107-41) during that timeframe and have school-record streaks of 15 consecutive bowl bids and 15 consecutive winning seasons. In 2021, the Cowboys are 6-1 and coming off a loss at Iowa State last week. Every game this season has been decided in the fourth quarter, and last week was no different as the Cowboys were ruled just inches short of converting on a fourth-down play in the final minutes of a 24-21 loss. The Cowboys remain in control of their own destiny as far as the Big 12 title is concerned and have all their conference goals in front of them for the season. Several playmakers have emerged on the OSU offense, including running back Jaylen Warren who has averaged 147.0 rushing yards in his first five starts as a Cowboy and wide receivers Brennan Presley and Tay Martin, who both made highlight-reel touchdown grabs in Ames. Junior quarterback Spencer Sanders also played well at ISU, passing for 225 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers. He is a proven threat with both his arm and his legs, as he is one of just three quarterbacks in school history with more than 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his career. The defensive side of the ball has gotten the most attention nationally this year, though, as the Cowboys rank among the FBS top 20 in team tackles for loss (No. 9), defensive touchdowns (No. 9), rushing defense (No. 12), third down conversion percent defense (No. 12), team sacks (No. 16), first downs defense (No. 16), fourth down conversion percent defense (No. 18) and total defense (No. 19). Since Jim Knowles arrived as defensive coordinator in 2018, the Cowboy defense has gone from allowing 6.04 yards per play in 2018, to 5.79 in 2019, 5.32 in 2020 and now 4.85 so far in 2021. If the Cowboys hold that average this season, it will mark the best since the 2013 season when OSU allowed just 4.77 yards per play. One of the biggest reasons for the that success is that OSU has had at least nine senior starters on defense in each game this year, led by All-America candidate linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. Through seven games, Rodriguez ranks No. 6 in the FBS with 10.4 total tackles per game.

Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
• OSU's defense has allowed fewer than 100 yards of offense in a half in five of its past six games. The Cowboys limited Baylor to 99 yards in the first, Tulsa to 89 yards in the first, Boise State to 64 yards in the second, K- State to 84 yards in the second and Texas to 92 yards in the second.
• OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 19 of the past 24 games.
• OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50 percent third down conversion rate in 18 straight games.
• OSU has held its opponent to fewer than 20 first downs in six straight games.
• OSU has held 16 of its past 18 Big 12 opponents under their season scoring average.
• Malcolm Rodriguez has recorded at least six tackles in 12 straight games.
• Jaylen Warren has more than 100 yards rushing in four of his past five games.
• OSU has won 75 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 30-11 in its past 41 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
• OSU is 35-6 in its past 41 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
• Dating back to 2005, OSU is 41-4 when not committing a turnover.
• Dating back to 2008, OSU is 67-8 when winning the turnover battle.
• OSU has won three of its last four overtime games.
• OSU has forced 18 turnovers in its past 11 games.
• OSU has had a 100-yard rusher in 11 of its past 17 games.