Asti: WVU vs. Oklahoma State Will Come Down to Ollie Gordon Again

Even though it’s tough to say any matchup will come down to just one aspect of the game, but it’s very possible that’s the case when WVU meets Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Saturday. If West Virginia can claim the upset and win on the road, will come down to if they can stop OSU running back Ollie Gordon.

Saying Gordon ran all over the Mountaineers last season in the Cowboys’ 48-34 win would be an understatement. He rushed for 282 yards, with 141 coming in the fourth quarter alone, and scored four touchdowns in one of his best performances of his entire career. The win rebooted a struggling Oklahoma State team and sent them on a path that would reach the Big 12 Championship Game. Overall in 2023, Gordon totaled 1,732 yards with an average of 6.1 yards per carry and scored 21 touchdowns.

But despite Gordon’s monster 2023, he’s only registered 334 yards while averaging an average 3.8 yards per run so far in 2024. Similar to what happened last year, Gordon’s slow start has been partly caused by Oklahoma State’s issues as a team. Early-game deficits make it so the Cowboys can’t hand the ball off to their elite back. Gordon had only 15 carries against Kansas State and only 11 the week earlier in a loss to Utah.

However, no matter what Oklahoma State as a team or Gordon individual has endured, WVU head coach Neal Brown knows his team can’t underestimate anyone. Brown made that very clear while previewing West Virginia’s matchup with Oklahoma State on Monday.

The Cowboys might be coming off back-to-back losses, but Brown knows Oklahoma State has tons of talent and Stillwater is always a tough place to play.

“They’ve dealt with adversity before. They’ve come back. We fully expect to get their best,” said Brown, who also admitted he’d probably rather OSU be riding high than in desperation mode with an 0-2 conference record.

Brown pointed to Oklahoma State’s schedule being a factor in their rough start to conference play. The Cowboys’ losses have been to preseason favorite Utah and perennial contender Kansas State, making it possible they will still beat weaker competition and dig themselves out similar to what happened last season.

What Does Neal Brown Expect From Oklahoma State?

Brown even called Gordon a “special” player and said he fully expects him to be at his best despite failing to reach 100 yards in a game yet this season.

“He’s going to have breakout games. I just hope it’s not against us.”

West Virginia is also better equipped to contain Gordon this season. WVU has more talent and depth at linebacker and T.J. Jackson’s emergence has helped the defensive line generate a pass rush.

So even though Gordon is due for a big game, this matchup could be decided in the first quarter. If the Mountaineers can get up early, OSU will once again be forced to lean on the pass and away from their best player. But if the Cowboys can build an advantage, they will then turn to Gordon to pound the rock and churn the clock.

Oddsmakers still believe in OSU enough to favor them at home against West Virginia.

When major sportsbooks opened their initial lines on Sunday, FanDuel and DraftKings both had the Cowboys as a slight favorite. DraftKings opened with the line at -5 in favor of OSU while FanDuel placed it a bit closer at -3.5.

West Virginia and Oklahoma State will kickoff at 4 pm ET and 3 pm local time in Stillwater. The game will air nationally on ESPN2.

For a related story, find out where WVU ranks statistically in the Big 12 in several important categories.