TCU-Oklahoma State preview: Key matchups, stats, trends

Key matchups

TCU defense vs. Oklahoma State quarterback duo: The Horned Frogs have played better defensively in the past couple of games but will face their stiffest test against the high-powered Cowboys. To beat OSU the Frogs will have to contend with two quarterbacks in sophomore Mason Rudolph and senior J.W. Walsh. Rudolph has been the primary passer, ranking 12th nationally with more than 310 passing yards a game. Walsh has been more than a change of place, though. He has been responsible for 96 points in his 58 plays on offense.

TCU offensive line vs. Oklahoma State pass rush: The good news for the Frogs is that Trevone Boykin can negate a pass rush because he’s such a good running threat. But TCU’s veteran line will have its work cut out against an Oklahoma State defense that has 29 sacks, good for second in the Big 12. It starts with junior defense end Emmanuel Ogbah, who leads the Big 12 with nine sacks. He has plenty of company in getting to the QB. Senior defensive end Jimmy Bean has 5  1/2 sacks and tackle Vincent Taylor has four. The Frogs have allowed just six sacks, tied for the fewest in the Big 12.

TCU vs. The Big Game: The Frogs haven’t had it easy on their road to 8-0, but they have had it easy as far as the schedule goes. Saturday’s game is their first against a Top 25 team. Oklahoma State has won three of the last four meetings against the Frogs. The last time TCU won in Stillwater was in 1991.

Did you know?

▪ This will be the third time TCU has traveled to Stillwater in its four Big 12 seasons. The Horned Frogs took over Texas A&M’s Big 12 schedule and the Aggies owed Oklahoma State an extra home game.

▪ Oklahoma State is looking for just its third 9-0 start in school history. The other two times the Cowboys opened a season 9-0 came in 1945 and then in 2011. The 1945 teams finished the season 9-0 and the 2011 team was 11-1 and narrowly missed out on a spot in the BCS championship game.

Streaks

▪ TCU has won its last four games against nationally ranked opponents. The winning streak started with last year’s 42-9 win over then No. 15-ranked Oklahoma State.

▪ Oklahoma State has won 23 consecutive games in which it hasn’t committed a turnover.

▪ TCU wide receiver Josh Doctson has six consecutive games with at least 100 yards receiving and multiple touchdown catches. He’s just the second player in the last 20 years (Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech) to accomplish that feat.

Tarrant ties

Oklahoma State boasts 11 players who played their high school football in Tarrant County. Several of them have made big impacts, including kicker Ben Grogan (Arlington Martin), linebacker Chad Whitener (Mansfield) and cornerback Ashton Lampkin (Fort Worth Dunbar). Grogan, a junior, has handled the kicking duties all three years. Whitener is one of the team’s top tackers and also has two sacks while Lampkin is a starting cornerback.

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 4:45 PM with the headline "TCU-Oklahoma State preview: Key matchups, stats, trends."