There’s no sugarcoating it — this has been a brutal stretch for Oklahoma State football. The Cowboys, now 1–4 overall and winless in Big 12 play since 2023, are a team desperate for a breakthrough. Saturday’s home game against Houston isn’t just another chance to right the ship — it’s an opportunity to rediscover an identity that’s been lost somewhere along the way.
Boone Pickens Stadium will host its first OSU–Houston matchup in over 15 years, and while both programs have taken very different paths this season, this game may say a lot about the future direction of the Cowboys. Houston enters with a 4–1 record and the kind of momentum that Oklahoma State fans remember fondly from not too long ago. Meanwhile, the Pokes are staring down a four-game losing streak and fighting to avoid the kind of midseason slide that can derail a program for years.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Oklahoma State. The program has endured tough stretches before and found a way to bounce back — but doing so this weekend will take more than just hope. It will take leadership, execution, and perhaps a little luck.
For the second straight week, Oklahoma State’s quarterback situation remains murky. Zane Flores, who has seen the bulk of the reps since Hauss Hejny went down early in the season, is questionable after suffering an injury against Arizona. That leaves the Cowboys preparing for the possibility of starting either Sam Jackson V against the Cougars.
Jackson has been the definition of versatility this season. Originally used in wildcat formations and trick-play packages, he has since become a more conventional option under interim head coach Doug Meacham. If Flores can’t go, Jackson’s dual-threat ability might be OSU’s best hope to move the football.
The numbers tell the story of a struggling offense: just 315.8 total yards per game, ranking 119th nationally, and a passing attack that sits near the bottom of the FBS at 175.4 yards per contest. If the Cowboys are going to change that narrative, someone has to take control of the offense and inject life into a unit that’s lacked rhythm all season.
For all the uncertainty at quarterback, the Cowboys may find their best chance for success on the ground. Senior running back Trent Howland has shown flashes of what he can do, particularly against Baylor where he piled up 84 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He’ll need a similar — or better — performance on Saturday.
Houston’s defense has been inconsistent against the run, allowing 141.6 rushing yards per game (65th nationally) and giving up over 200 yards on the ground in last week’s loss to Texas Tech. That kind of vulnerability is exactly what OSU needs to exploit.
Howland’s challenge is to shake off a rough outing against Arizona, where broken trick plays and backfield pressure left him with negative rushing yards. If he can get back into rhythm early, the Cowboys could finally sustain drives and control the tempo — something that has been missing in nearly every game this season.
As Meacham said earlier this week, the Cowboys don’t have to reinvent the wheel — they just have to execute. “We’ve shown flashes of what this team can do,” Meacham noted. “But flashes don’t win games. Consistency does.”
When the Cowboys do take to the air, Gavin Freeman needs to be a focal point. Through five games, Freeman has caught 16 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown — respectable numbers considering the instability at quarterback — but Oklahoma State must get him more involved.
Freeman’s agility and route-running give him the ability to find space in opposing defenses, but too often, he’s simply been overlooked. Against a Houston secondary that just gave up 345 passing yards to Texas Tech, Freeman could be the difference-maker OSU’s been missing.
If the Cowboys can use short, high-percentage throws to get Freeman and the slot receivers involved early, it could open things up for the ground game and limit Houston’s ability to stack the box. Balance will be key if Oklahoma State hopes to find offensive traction.
Defensively, the numbers are rough — there’s no other way to put it. The Cowboys rank 129th in total defense, giving up an average of 474 yards per game, and have struggled equally against both the run and the pass.
Now, under interim defensive coordinator Clint Bowen, OSU is trying to rediscover its edge. The Cowboys are allowing nearly 300 passing yards per game (130th nationally) and have been gashed by mobile quarterbacks — a dangerous trend with Houston’s Conner Weigman coming to town.
Weigman has quietly been one of the Big 12’s most efficient dual-threat quarterbacks. With 910 passing yards, six touchdowns, and just two interceptions, plus another 148 yards and four scores on the ground, he’s capable of breaking games open both through the air and with his legs. Containing him will be priority No. 1 for Bowen’s defense.
Oklahoma State’s defense has managed six takeaways this season — not great, but not terrible — and will need a couple more to hang in this one. If the Cowboys can create short fields for the offense, it could be just enough to swing momentum.
Saturday’s matchup marks the 22nd meeting between Oklahoma State and Houston, with the series dead even at 10-10-1. The Cowboys won the last meeting — a 43–30 win in Houston in 2023 — behind big games from Alan Bowman, Ollie Gordon II, and Brennan Presley. But this isn’t the same Oklahoma State team that pulled off that win.
The Cowboys have struggled to replace the leadership and production from that 2023 squad, and with several key players transferring or injured, this season has been defined by growing pains. Yet even in a rebuilding year, beating Houston would mean something. It would snap a 13-game FBS losing streak, end a four-game skid, and give this program something positive to build on.
Boone Pickens Stadium has been quieter than usual in recent weeks — understandable given the team’s struggles. But for a program that prides itself on toughness and tradition, there’s still an opportunity to turn things around on home turf.
Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on TNT, and while early games often lack atmosphere, the Cowboys could use every bit of energy from the home crowd. If there’s any magic left in Stillwater, this weekend would be the time to find it.
Prediction: Cougars 31, Cowboys 17
Houston’s defense, currently ranked 28th in the nation in points allowed, and provides a reliable foundation, something Oklahoma State critically lacks with its defense ranking near the bottom at 125th. This wide talent gap, particularly in trench play and pass protection, will allow the Cougars to pull away late. I predict a 31-17 final score, as Houston will capitalize on the Cowboys’ porous defense and their offensive struggles—exacerbated by the likely absence of Zane Flores—to secure the win.