Pittsburgh @ Oklahoma State preview

After one of the most bizarre finishes in college football history, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy had a hard time sleeping. If his Cowboys can't return their focus to the football field this week, his previously 17th-ranked squad could be staring at another long night when a solid Pittsburgh team visits Saturday.

"I felt like I would be able to go to bed, but I couldn't," Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy told reporters after Saturday's 30-27 loss to Central Michigan when a misinterpreted rule extended the game one untimed down and allowed the Chippewas to score the winning touchdown on a Hail Mary and lateral. “When I'm involved in a game like that, it will come across my mind 500 times if I live long enough, whether I'm driving, sitting in the shower, sleeping, forever." The Cowboys tried to kill the final four seconds of the game by throwing the ball away on fourth down with time expired, but they were incorrectly penalized for intentional grounding, setting up the 51-yard play. Pittsburgh, entering off a stirring 42-39 victory over in-state rival Penn State in the Keystone Classic, is seeking to boost its top-25 credentials by starting 3-0 for just the fourth time since 2000.

TV: 3:30 pm ET, ESPN. LINE: Oklahoma State -6.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (2-0): The Panthers raced to a 28-7 first-half lead against the Nittany Lions but needed a late fourth-quarter, end-zone interception by Ryan Lewis to hold off a second-half charge. In his second game back after overcoming knee surgery and Hodgkin lymphoma, James Conner rushed for 117 yards and scored two TDs to join Tony Dorsett as the only players in school history with 40 touchdowns. The defense has been opportunistic, tying for the FBS lead in sacks (five per game) while also ranking sixth by forcing three turnovers per game.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (1-1): Justice Hill (12 carries for 61 yards) and Chris Carson (12 for 45) are emerging as the lead backs, but the Cowboys average just three yards per rush and 97 yards per game while Pittsburgh is holding opponents to 63.5 yards per contest - 11th in FBS. Quarterback Mason Rudolph averaged 14.3 yards per completion last season - tops among all returning FBS starters - but hasn't been getting the ball downfield effectively thus far, completing a combined 45 passes for just 477 yards in the loss and 61-7 win over Southeastern Louisiana. The Cowboys defense, spearheaded by tackle Vincent Taylor and safety Jordan Sterns, who entered the season fifth among all Power-5 defensive backs in tackles (234), leads FBS with five fumbles recovered, ranks second with two defensive touchdowns and 10th with a plus-two turnover margin.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Pitt RB Quadree Henderson is averaging 53.5 yards per kickoff return and 14.5 yards per punt return. He returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown against Villanova and added a crucial 84-yard return against Penn State last week.

2. Oklahoma State is 25-2 in non-conference home games under Gundy, who took over the Cowboys in 2005.

3. The teams, meeting for the first time, are set to play again next season at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 28, Oklahoma State 24