Kickoff: 2:45 PM CT
Location: H.A. Chapman Stadium (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Television: ESPNU
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
The dawn of a new era in Stillwater is finally here. This day has been a long time coming for Oklahoma State football fans after back-to-back losing seasons, including just a single win last year. The Cowboys kick off the 2026 season by hosting in-state rival the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the Turnpike Classic. Last season, the Golden Hurricane defeated the Cowboys 19-12 in Stillwater, something that hadn’t been done since 1951. Now, Oklahoma State has a chance to right the ship.
Eric Morris is the new head coach, and he comes in with high expectations after leading North Texas University to a 12-2 record, the best in school history. A handful of talent came along with him from North Texas as well. Quarterback Drew Mestemake had incredible success as a redshirt freshman last season at North Texas, where he racked up 4,379 yards and 34 touchdowns through the air with just 9 interceptions. Running back Caleb Hawkins finished 2025 with 1,434 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, and he was just a freshman.
While the Cowboy offense is brand new, featuring 11 new starters, the defense is revamped as well, with just 3 returning starters from last season. Oklahoma State had arguably the worst defense in the entire Big 12 last season, but they hope to turn over a new leaf in 2026.
Oklahoma State is a two-touchdown favorite over the Golden Hurricane, and after the Cowboys struggled to put ANY points on the scoreboard last year, Oklahoma State fans could not be more excited to get this season underway.
How the Cowboys Win
On paper, Oklahoma State has the better team, and it’s not particularly close. Still, all of these transfers are being judged on previous performances at other schools. Right now, it’s all potential. The Cowboys have to get started on the right foot, and that begins with Drew Mestemaker. Though just a sophomore, he has to show he’s ready to lead this team by playing a clean, efficient game. That should be enough to not only get the win but also gain the favor of Cowboy fans everywhere.
How the Golden Hurricane Win
Tulsa’s best bet to win this game is to turn it into a clock-grinding affair on the ground. The Golden Hurricane struggled to score last season, and there’s not a lot of expectation that they’ll all of a sudden be able to do so now, but if they can get some traction by running the ball and thus running the clock, maybe they can junk the game up enough to pull off another upset.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Staff | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Caleb | Oklahoma State 27 – Tulsa 20 |
| Craig | Tulsa 27 – Oklahoma State 24 |
| Matt | Oklahoma State 38 – Tulsa 23 |
| Zack | Oklahoma State 34 – Tulsa 17 |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Increase a school record to 12 consecutive wins in season openers, the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS.
- Improve OSU’s all-time record against Tulsa to 46-28-5 and its record at Tulsa to 18-21-2.
- Improve OSU’s record in season openers to 81-40-6.
- Mark OSU’s 135th win since the beginning of the 2010 season, ranking among the top 15 in the FBS.
- Make the Cowboys 30-7 in their past 37 non-conference games and 52-13 in its past 65 non-conference games.
- Make the Cowboys 99-37 in their past 136 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
- End the longest losing streak in program history at 11 games.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- OSU has won a program-record 11 consecutive season openers, which is also the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 83-14 when winning the turnover battle.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 50-7 when not committing a turnover.
- OSU has won 87 of its past 90 games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, OSU has won 95 of its past 99.
- OSU is 40-23 in its past 63 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 52-10 in its past 62 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- OSU has won five of its past seven overtime games.
- Drew Mestemaker has passed for at least 200 yards in 15-straight games – the longest active streak in the FBS. He’s passed for at least 250 yards in five straight games.
- Mestemaker has thrown multiple TDs in five straight games and at least one in 14 of his past 15 games.
- Caleb Hawkins has scored multiple touchdowns in six of his past seven games. He’s scored at least three touchdowns in five of his past six.
- Hawkins has rushed for at least 100 yards in four of his past six games.
- Wyatt Young has had more than 100 receiving yards in five of his past eight games.
- Israel Polk has at least one catch in each of his past 24 games played.
- Miles Coleman has at least one catch in each of his past 19 games played.
- Wyatt Young has at least one catch in each of his past 15 games played.
- Caleb Hawkins has at least one catch in each of his past 13 games played.
- Chris Barnes has at least one catch in each of his past 12 games played.
- Ethan Wesloski has made at least one tackle in 39 consecutive games, including every game he’s played since the beginning of the 2023 season. He’s had at least four tackles in 11 straight games.
- Jack Puckett has made at least one tackle in all 34 games of his career and at least three tackles in each of his past 30 games. He played at the Div. II level until 2026.
- Isaiah Chisom has made at least two tackles in 26 straight games.
- Quinton Hammonds has made at least two tackles in 11 straight games.
- Jaleel Johnson has made at least three tackles in eight straight games
- Christian Bodnar has made at least three tackles in six straight games.
- LaDainian Fields and Jakobe Sanders have each started six straight games for OSU, the longest streaks of any player on the roster.