Damn't! I want my Oklahoma State home-and-home Halloween special...it's a ratings bonanza waiting to happen!
Just played Oklahoma State in 2019. The game in Stillwater was scrubbed as a result of COVID-19.
Oregon State has not played Kansas State since 1979, a 22-16 loss in Manhattan.
Oregon State has not played Houston since 1970.
Oregon State played Houston in Portland in 1960, a 29-20 win. Oregon State lost the return trip 23-12 at Rice Stadium in 1961. Interestingly enough, these are the first two years that Houston was an Independent. The Cougars would remain an independent for 16 seasons before joining the Southwest Conference.
Oregon State's final game against #19 Houston was in 1970 in the Astrodome. The Cougars moved into the Astrodome in 1965 and stayed there until 1997. The Cougars were 18-point favorites. Oregon State led 7-0 with less under 20 seconds left in the first half. After calling a timeout and failing to convert a 3rd & 12, Oregon State's punt was blocked and returned 52 yards for a touchdown to narrow the lead to 7-6.
Houston scored three plays into the second half to go up 12-7. Oregon State kicked three second half field goals. The first pulled it to within 12-10. Oregon State recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter. The Beavers' Mark Dipple and the Cougars' Moon Mullins were both kicked out of the game for trading punches. What is noteworthy is that Mullins was Houston's starting quarterback. Terry Peel replaced Mullins. Oregon State drove down and kicked a field goal to go up 13-12 and then kicked another two drives later to go up 16-12. On the ensuing drive, Peel hit Elmo Wright (famous--or infamous--for popularizing end zone celebrations) for 17. Four plays later, Peel converted a fourth-and-one. Later in the drive, the Beavs were called for a 25+ yard pass interference down to the Oregon State 21 with less than two minutes left. The Beavs pushed the Cougars back to the 22, but Peel hit Elmo Wright for a 22-yard game-winning touchdown. Up until the final drive, Houston was 1/16 for 20 yards with an interception throwing the ball.
Oregon State outrushed and out-passed Houston and had one fewer turnover, although the blocked punt was not a turnover. The Beavs, though were penalized for more than four times as many yards as the Cougars.
It is great to resurrect two series from the 1970s.
