Oklahoma State football: The best stats that showcase a dominant defense

3. Only four power conference schools have more team sacks than OSU.

OSU has racked up 33.0 total sacks this season, which is the fifth-best mark among all power conference schools so far in 2021. Only Ohio State, Syracuse, Ole Miss, and Pittsburgh have recorded more among these teams.

Six different Cowboys players recorded a sack in the 24-3 win against West Virginia last weekend.

Freshman defensive end Collin Oliver has led the OSU pass rushers after stepping up early in the season for an injury-affected defensive line. He has the second-most sacks out of all the nation’s freshmen.

2. Each of OSU’s last two opponents have scored only a field goal.

The past two weeks, including a 55-3 romp against Kansas on Homecoming and a 24-3 decisive win on the road against West Virginia, have marked a historic feat for OSU. It’s the first time since 1949 that the Cowboys have held consecutive conference opponents without a touchdown — and this was back when the team competed in the Missouri Valley Conference.

OSU has constantly relied on its defense to carry the team. Look no further than the team’s Week 3 win at Boise State, when the Cowboys held the Broncos scoreless in the second half to pull off the comeback 21-20 victory on the road.

1. OSU’s opponents only convert 25.6% of their third downs.

OSU’s defense is second in the nation with this opponent third-down conversion rate, behind only Wisconsin. In the Cowboys’ past two games, the Jayhawks and Mountaineers were a combined 2-for-27 on third downs.

Funny enough, OSU led the nation in 2020 in third-down conversions — allowing 26.5%, higher than the rate that they’re holding opponents now.

With rangy, strong linebackers like Malcolm Rodriguez and Devin Harper behind an exceptional defensive line, OSU has excelled at stopping opponents on third-and-short opportunities this season. Some of these stops have come at crucial points in a game.