The new era of Oklahoma State football was supposed to be a turning point. After back-to-back losing seasons, including arguably the worst season in school history last year, the Cowboys were supposed to turn the corner and get back on the winning track behind new head coach Eric Morris and a load of talented transfers. Quite the opposite happened in the season opener for Oklahoma State as they dropped a 24-10 decision on the road against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
Despite being a two-touchdown favorite, surrounded by a ton of hype behind a new head coach and a load of potential star transfers, Oklahoma State displayed an embarrassing show of the game of football. The offense was supposed to be an instant hit behind quarterback Drew Mestemaker, but it sputtered early and often, and even when the defense made key stops, it wasn’t enough to keep Tulsa from scoring plenty.
While the Cowboys can surely surpass the single win from 2025, the turnaround in Stillwater appears to be a lot farther out than the Loyal and True had hoped. Chemistry matters, and with basically a brand-new team put together, it might be a while before this group can look as good as was expected this morning.
Stale Playcalling Reminiscent of Seasons Past
Even with a new coach and literally 11 new players starting on offense, the playcalling against Tulsa felt far too familiar. For several years, Cowboy fans have complained about the offense being far too conservative and lacking the imagination of the more successful seasons in recent history. One would think with a new slate—led by a group of coaches and a handful of key players with proven success—there would be improvement. That didn’t seem to be the case against the Golden Hurricane.
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker led the FBS in passing yards last season as a redshirt freshman, but he struggled in his debut with Oklahoma State. Completing just 29-of-49 passes (59.2%), he did manage 241 yards and a touchdown, but two interceptions—one at the end of the game—put a damper on the day.
Offensive Line Woes
While Mestemaker was off target on more than a handful of passes, part of the problem was the offensive line. Left Tackle Jacob Sexton suffered a serious injury on the first possession of the game, but that excuse only goes so far. With no time to settle into the pocket, Mestemaker was unable to get into a good rhythm. He was sacked just twice, but he was hurried 10 times and, as a result, he had a fumble to add to his turnover total.
The Cowboys weren’t able to do much on the ground, either, rushing for just 127 yards on 37 carries. Caleb Hawkins came to Oklahoma State after leading the country in rushing touchdowns last season, but he managed just 79 yards on 18 carries. Of particular concern was the inability to convert on short yardage on key downs. The Cowboys tried to convert 4th down on 6 different occasions, and managed to do so just twice.
Between the lack of protection up front and the often dull playmaking, the offense was unable to put points on the board, even when the ball was moving effectively. Surely that is something that can be shored up moving forward, but unfortunately the Cowboys don’t have a ton of time to figure it out with Oregon up next.
Looking Ahead
Last season, Oklahoma traveled to Eugene, Oregon, to take on the Ducks, and the result was a miserable 69-3 loss, the worst loss in Mike Gundy’s tenure in Stillwater. After escaping 34-27 against Boise State, no. 2 Oregon will come to town next Saturday as a heavy favorite. Fans should have literally zero expectation of winning the game, but maybe—just maybe—the Cowboys can put together a few possessions that resemble quality football.
Kickoff for the Oregon game in Stillwater next Saturday is scheduled for 11 AM. The game will be televised on ESPN.