Oklahoma State’s 27-7 win over UT Martin on Thursday night won’t go down as a classic in Boone Pickens Stadium history, but it might just mark the start of something new for Mike Gundy’s Cowboys. For the first time in years, the story of an OSU win wasn’t about high-powered offense or quarterback play. It was about defense — a swaggering, speedy, and relentless unit under new coordinator Todd Grantham that set the tone for a 1-0 start.
Yes, the Cowboys extended their home-opener streak to 30 straight wins, the longest active streak in the FBS. And yes, they avoided what would have been a disastrous upset to an FCS opponent. But the larger takeaway from Thursday night is twofold: this defense could be the real deal, and Oklahoma State has some work to do on the offensive side, especially with uncertainty surrounding quarterback Hauss Hejny.
The Defensive Identity Returns
Let’s start with the good. OSU gave up just 225 total yards to the Skyhawks, their stingiest effort since holding Texas Tech to 108 yards back in 2021. After allowing seven points on a trick-play double pass in the first quarter, the Cowboys completely slammed the door, pitching a shutout for the final three quarters. That’s not just a statistical win — that’s a culture win.
Grantham, who brings years of NFL and SEC experience, clearly made an immediate impact. His unit was aggressive, disciplined, and opportunistic. The Cowboys racked up nine tackles for loss and three sacks from freshman linebacker Wendell Gregory, who looked like a budding star in orange and black. Gregory tied a freshman Big 12 record with his three sacks and became the first Cowboy since Jordan Brailford in 2018 to reach that mark in a single game.
Gregory, though, wasn’t taking the bait when asked about his performance. “I want to improve every day,” he said. “If that’s pass rushing, getting stronger, blocking a team’s run, getting in gaps. I like to perfect my craft, so each and every day, I just want to get better at some little thing.”
That’s exactly the kind of mentality OSU fans want to hear. If Gregory is this good in his first career game, the ceiling is sky-high.
The Cowboys also got a monster performance from linebacker Bryan McCoy, who led all tacklers with 14 stops. Fellow linebacker Brandon Rawls added 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, while defensive end Jaleel Johnson lived in the backfield with 2.5 tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. The secondary even joined the party, as Kale Smith came up with a momentum-shifting interception in the fourth quarter.
This was the kind of defensive performance that can build confidence, not just for the unit but for the program as a whole. After being one of the worst defenses in college football in 2024, the Cowboys desperately needed a reset. On Thursday, they got it.
Hejny’s Injury Changes the Offense
But as impressive as the defense was, the offense provided just as many questions. Freshman quarterback Hauss Hejny gave Cowboy fans a glimpse of why he won the job out of fall camp. In just one quarter of play, he threw for 96 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground. He looked poised, creative, and dynamic — the kind of quarterback who can elevate a Mike Gundy offense.
Then, in a moment that silenced Boone Pickens Stadium, Hejny went down with a lower-body injury late in the first quarter. He never returned.
Gundy had no update after the game. “I don’t know,” he said. “I never will know on those until the next day anyway.”
If Hejny is sidelined for any length of time, OSU’s offense could be in trouble. Backup Zane Flores, who replaced him, finished with 136 yards passing but failed to generate much rhythm in the second and third quarters. The Cowboys managed just 127 rushing yards on 42 attempts, an anemic 3.0 yards per carry. That’s not going to cut it as the season moves forward, especially with a trip to Oregon looming next week.
Even Gundy admitted the ground game wasn’t good enough. “I thought [Kalib Hicks] ran hard,” Gundy said of the transfer running back, who had 21 carries for 56 yards. “I didn’t think we paved the way for him very well.”
The passing game had bright spots — Gavin Freeman hauled in a career-high five catches, including a 10-yard touchdown, and Division II transfer Terrill Davis flashed with two receptions for 75 yards — but the inconsistency without Hejny was glaring.
UT Martin Proved Stubborn
Credit also goes to UT Martin, a program that has been to the FCS playoffs two of the past three seasons. The Skyhawks weren’t intimidated by the stage or the 44,000-plus fans in Stillwater. Their defense tallied nine tackles for loss and forced the Cowboys into five punts. Offensively, running back John Gentry was electric with 96 all-purpose yards and a highlight-reel one-handed touchdown grab on the double-pass trick play.
Head coach Jason Simpson wasn’t pleased with the loss but found positives. “I thought there were spots where we really played hard,” he said. “I thought there were bright spots on defense that really excite me for the rest of the season. We have a lot of things to improve on, but our mentality was right all night.”
What It Means
So, what’s the takeaway from a 27-7 win over an FCS opponent? For Oklahoma State, it’s a mixture of excitement and anxiety. The excitement comes from a defense that looks ready to carry games, the likes of which Cowboy fans haven’t seen since Jim Knowles left for Ohio State. The anxiety stems from the offense, which looked promising under Hejny but stalled without him.
If Hejny’s injury is short-term, OSU fans can breathe a little easier. If not, Zane Flores will need to grow up fast — and the run game will need to be much more effective. Either way, OSU’s margin for error is slim heading into Eugene next week against No. 7 Oregon.
Still, for one night, the Cowboys showed toughness, growth, and defensive swagger. And after a disappointing 2024, that’s progress worth celebrating.
Matt Hofeld is a college football analyst and contributor covering the Big 12. Follow him for more Oklahoma State and conference-wide analysis throughout the 2025 season.
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