The buzz around Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker is only getting louder as college football season draws near, and there’s a reason for that.
Earlier this week, The Athletic staff did a mock Heisman draft and Mestemaker went in the second round. By the end of the season, it wouldn’t be shocking if he had worked his way into first-round territory.
That kind of optimism makes sense for a fan base hungry for something to believe in. Oklahoma State has been short on strong quarterback play for a couple of years, and in major college football, that’s the kind of problem that usually shows up everywhere else.
Still, there’s a fair amount of caution baked into any discussion about Mestemaker. What he did at North Texas was one thing.
Doing it in the power conference is another. Even with the same coaches and some of the same teammates around him, the leap is always the part you have to respect.
But as the Cowboys move into the second full week of camp, there are real reasons to lean into the hype.
Start with the tape. Mestemaker’s throwing motion is quick, repeatable and clean.
There isn’t much wasted movement. He gets the ball out with ease, and he makes decisions fast without looking like he’s simply locked into one answer before the snap.
On film, he works through progressions quickly enough that it can look automatic.
He also throws a strong football and doesn’t get fooled easily. Those are the kinds of traits that matter when defenses have had time to study every detail and build a plan around you.
Then there’s the offense itself. The Air Raid is about as quarterback-friendly as it gets in college football, but it still needs a capable trigger man to hum.
When it’s rolling, it’s difficult to slow down. Mestemaker ran it at a dizzying pace at North Texas last year, and the talent that came with him and Morris to Oklahoma State should make the adjustment even smoother.
That system helps Mestemaker, but it also gives a boost to the non-North Texas transfers, including wide receivers Chris Barnes and Justin Bowick. They’ll be part of what makes Mestemaker look good.
Add in a strong running game with Caleb Hawkins - and based on last this this is one of the best run games I’ve seen in an Air Raid offense - and the Cowboys have an attack built around what Mestemaker does best.
Maybe the biggest part of the case is this: he doesn’t need a monster statistical season to matter. He doesn’t have to lead the FBS in passing yards again, and he probably won’t reach 4,000 this year. The defenses will be better, especially at cornerback, and there’s now a full year of tape for opponents to study.
But he doesn’t have to replicate every number from last season to help Oklahoma State win. Even if he throws for only 75% of the 4,379 yards he posted in 2025, that would still represent the best quarterback play the Cowboys have had in three seasons and could put them in position for a winning season.
That’s the heart of the optimism here. Mestemaker doesn’t need to be spectacular every week.
He just needs to be himself in an offense designed for his strengths. The production should follow, and Oklahoma State should benefit from it.
That’s a rare setup for a college quarterback, and Mestemaker looks built for it.
In Other News...
Caleb Hawkins Is Giving Oklahoma State Fans A Reason To Dream Big
Caleb Hawkins is already drawing national attention before his first season at Oklahoma State has even really gotten rolling. The running back, who transferred in from North Texas after the 2025 season, has been named to the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year watch list, adding another line to a preseason rsum that also includes a spot on the Maxwell Award watch list and the Walter Camp Preseason All-America team.
For Oklahoma State, it is the sort of recognition that feeds bigger expectations around a player who is supposed to be central to the offense. The Walter Camp award will narrow to semifinalists and finalists later in the year, with the winner set to be announced in December, but Hawkins has already put himself in a conversation that suggests the Cowboys may have more than just a solid transfer on their hands. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State's 2026 Schedule Puts Eric Morris Under An Early Spotlight
The AP preseason Top 25 put Oklahoma State just outside the rankings, but the Cowboys still drew eight votes, a small signal that there is some respect around the program as it heads into a new era under Eric Morris. The schedule, though, is where the real test begins to take shape, with a slate that includes games against Oregon, Texas Tech and Houston and plenty of chances to show whether the Cowboys can climb back into the conversation.
Morris does not get much of a runway before the spotlight turns on him, and these matchups will help define how quickly Oklahoma State can settle in under its new coach. Oregon looms as the most obvious measuring stick, while the Big 12 stretches against Texas Tech and Houston add their own pressure, giving the Cowboys a series of early reveals about where the program stands and how much progress is still needed. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Has An Early Big 12 Debate Fans Will Love
Oklahoma State enters the season with a little extra validation in hand after landing at No. 34 in the AP preseason poll, three spots higher than where the coaches placed the Cowboys. For a program trying to stack momentum before Big 12 play starts, even a small difference like that can matter, especially when it feeds the kind of early debate fans are eager to have about where the Cowboys fit in the league picture.
The bigger picture is even more interesting when you look at the schedule. The AP rankings of Big 12 teams and Oklahoma State opponents suggest the Cowboys are set up with a relatively manageable conference slate, since they are ranked behind only three teams on the schedule. That does not make the road easy, but it does leave room for Oklahoma State to make an argument if it handles business against the opponents it is expected to outrank. [Read more 🡒]