No. 12 Texas Tech travels to No. 25 Oklahoma State on Saturday, Nov. 14, for a Big 12 matchup that pairs one of the league’s stingiest defenses against its most prolific offense. The Red Raiders (8-1) put their one-loss record on the line against a Cowboys team (6-3) that has scored at least 28 points in every game this season. Kickoff from Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Texas Tech arrives off a 53-48 shootout win over West Virginia, a game that tested a defense built around 29 team sacks this season. Oklahoma State enters on the heels of a 66-28 rout of Kansas State, part of a stretch in which the Cowboys have alternated blowout wins with high-scoring losses. The Texas Tech vs Oklahoma State Nov. 14 showdown carries weight for both teams’ positioning in the Big 12 race down the stretch.
Texas Tech Vs Oklahoma State Nov. 14 Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Oklahoma
- TV: ESPN
- Weather: 51 degrees Fahrenheit, 23% chance of precipitation
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Oklahoma State 43.9, Texas Tech 37.6
- Total yards per game: Oklahoma State 533.6, Texas Tech 449.3
- Passing yards per game: Oklahoma State 339.1, Texas Tech 234.7
- Rushing yards per game: Texas Tech 214.7, Oklahoma State 194.4
- Third-down conversion rate: Oklahoma State 40.20%, Texas Tech 39.83%
- Sacks recorded (defense): Texas Tech 29, Oklahoma State 17
- Turnover differential: Texas Tech minus-2, Oklahoma State minus-4
- Total giveaways: Oklahoma State 15, Texas Tech 13
Texas Tech Outlook
Texas Tech carries an 8-1 record into Stillwater, with its lone loss a 37-24 setback at Cincinnati on Oct. 24. The Red Raiders bounced back with wins over Arizona and West Virginia, the latter a 53-48 track meet detailed in Total Apex Sports’ recap of the win.
Quarterback Will Hammond has completed 139 of 205 passes for 1,561 yards with six touchdowns against six interceptions. Running back J’Koby Williams has been the engine of the offense, rushing 119 times for 954 yards and seven touchdowns, a workload that helps explain Texas Tech’s 214.7 rushing yards per game average. Wide receiver Kenny Johnson leads the receiving corps with 40 catches for 632 yards and four scores.
The Red Raiders’ calling card remains their defense, which has produced 29 sacks and 46 tackles for loss through nine games, both well above Oklahoma State’s defensive totals of 17 sacks and 38 tackles for loss. Hammond is expected to start under center, with Williams projected as the lead back against an Oklahoma State defense that has allowed opponents to average 1.2 takeaways per game.
Oklahoma State Outlook
Oklahoma State sits at 6-3 and has lived on offense, averaging 43.9 points and 533.6 total yards per game, both figures that lead this matchup by wide margins. The Cowboys have won three of their last five, including blowouts of Colorado (57-24) and Kansas State (66-28), but lost shootouts to Houston (35-32) and Iowa State (51-49) in that same stretch.
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has thrown for 2,962 yards on 206-of-309 passing with 29 touchdowns against eight interceptions, numbers that make him one of the Big 12’s most productive passers. Running back Caleb Hawkins has carried 187 times for 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns, while receiver Justin Bowick has hauled in 44 catches for 790 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns. Mestemaker is projected to start, with Hawkins and Bowick expected to anchor the ground and passing attacks respectively.
Oklahoma State’s defense has been generous at times, surrendering enough points to be on the wrong end of two of its three losses this season. The Cowboys also carry a minus-4 turnover differential, the worse mark of the two teams in this game.
Key Matchup
The deciding factor could be Texas Tech’s pass rush against an Oklahoma State offensive line that has allowed Mestemaker to be sacked only eight times across nine games, a sack rate of roughly 2.5%. Texas Tech’s defense has racked up 29 sacks this season, nearly double Oklahoma State’s giveaway total allowed through the air. If the Red Raiders can disrupt Mestemaker’s rhythm, it directly threatens an offense that has topped 40 points in six of nine games.
On the other side, Oklahoma State’s defense will have to contain Williams and Texas Tech’s rushing attack, which averages 214.7 yards per game. The Cowboys’ run defense allowed Kansas State’s rushing attack to factor into a 66-28 margin that still saw plenty of offense cross midfield. How Oklahoma State’s front seven handles Williams could determine whether Texas Tech can control tempo and limit possessions for Mestemaker and Bowick.
Players To Watch
Will Hammond, Texas Tech Quarterback
Hammond has thrown for 1,561 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions this season. His turnover rate will matter against an Oklahoma State defense looking to create the short fields it has not always found this year.
Drew Mestemaker, Oklahoma State Quarterback
Mestemaker’s 29 touchdown passes and 175.4 QB rating lead this matchup statistically. His performance against Texas Tech’s 29-sack defense will shape how much the Cowboys’ offense can operate at its season-long pace.
J’Koby Williams, Texas Tech Running Back
Williams has rushed for 954 yards and seven touchdowns on 119 carries. His workload is central to Texas Tech’s plan to control the clock against an Oklahoma State defense that has struggled at times this season.
What To Watch
Both teams carry national rankings into Saturday, with Texas Tech at No. 12 and Oklahoma State at No. 25, giving this matchup direct relevance to the Big 12 standings and Texas Tech’s position among the league’s multi-bid playoff contenders, a topic covered in Total Apex Sports’ Big 12 playoff resume rankings. A Texas Tech win would keep its one-loss record intact, while Oklahoma State is looking to build on a three-win stretch that has been defined by its offense carrying a defense still finding its footing. Texas Tech’s recent form, including its wins over Arizona State and West Virginia, is detailed further in Total Apex Sports’ coverage of the Arizona State rout.
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