Every summer, college quarterbacks have a shot at something truly special: an invite to the Manning Passing Academy. Nestled in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on the Nicholls State campus, this annual event is a quarterback's dream, hosted by the legendary Manning family-Archie, Peyton, and Eli. This year, the camp had a unique twist with the presence of Arch Manning, Cooper Manning's son and Texas' starting quarterback.
Getting invited to the Manning Passing Academy is like striking gold. It’s a chance to rub shoulders with top college quarterbacks and glean wisdom from Peyton Manning, a Hall of Famer, and Eli Manning, who might soon join his brother in the Hall.
Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker knew better than to pass up this golden opportunity. That's why he found himself in Thibodaux over the weekend, soaking in the experience and showcasing his skills.
In a clip shared by The Verdin Verdict, Mestemaker was seen launching some impressive long sideline passes. He wasn't alone; the clip also featured Oklahoma's John Mateer, Texas A&M's Marcel Reed, Georgia's Gunner Stockton, Georgia Tech's Alberto Mendoza, and Ohio State's Julian Sayin.
This lineup is a who's who of potential Heisman contenders for the coming seasons. Notably, Mendoza is the younger sibling of current winner Fernando Mendoza.
Many of these quarterbacks came into college with a lot of buzz from their high school days. Mestemaker, however, took a different path. Coming out of Vandergrift High School in Austin, Texas, he started as a walk-on at North Texas, redshirting under head coach Eric Morris-who now coaches him at Oklahoma State.
In 2025, Mestemaker led the Mean Green to a stellar 12-2 record and a spot in the American Conference championship game, though they fell to Tulane. His stats were nothing short of spectacular: he topped the NCAA FBS charts with 4,379 passing yards, averaged 312.8 passing yards per game, amassed 4,468 total offensive yards, and boasted 9.46 yards per pass attempt. He also threw 32 touchdowns, ranking him second in the nation.
Mestemaker's rapid ascent is a testament to his hard work and the support from Morris and his coaching staff. With him at the helm, Oklahoma State is looking to rebound from last season's tough 1-11 finish.
For the fans in Stillwater, Mestemaker represents hope and potential. His invitation to the Manning Passing Academy is just another sign that he's moving in the right direction, ready to make his mark in college football.
In Other News...
Eric Morris Sent A Clear Message With Oklahoma States Media Days Group
The Big 12s annual media days are set for July 7 and 8 at The Star in Frisco, and Oklahoma States delegation says plenty about how Eric Morris wants to introduce this new era. The Cowboys will send Morris along with quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins, defensive end Jaleel Johnson and linebacker Ethan Wesloski, giving the program a small but pointed group to put in front of cameras as the conference stage shifts into view.
The makeup of that quartet is the part worth watching, because three of those four players followed Morris from North Texas and already know his system. Mestemaker arrives with the kind of profile that can shape the conversation around the offense, while Johnson is the lone representative who was already in Stillwater, a subtle reminder that Morris is blending familiarity with a fresh start. With the event airing live on ESPNU and ESPN2, Oklahoma State will have a chance to make its first public statement of the summer before a national audience. [Read more 🡒]
Every 2026 Opponent Is A Reminder Of Oklahoma State's Reset
Every opponent on Oklahoma States 2026 schedule comes with a fresh reminder of how much the program has to rebuild under Eric Morris. After Mike Gundys exit and a 1-11 season, Morris inherited a roster and a recent two-year stretch that has gone 4-20, and the early shape of the schedule only underscores the size of the reset. He has already started stockpiling familiar faces from North Texas, but the challenge now is turning that connection into something more than a short-term reshuffle.
The return dates offer a blunt snapshot of where things stand. The Cowboys will have to answer for recent losses to West Virginia, UCF, Colorado and Iowa State, along with a trip to Oregon that quickly got away from them, and there is even a first-ever meeting with Murray State on the calendar. For a program trying to leave the recent past behind, the 2026 slate does not allow much room to do it quietly. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Just Rubbed More Salt In Oklahomas Bedlam Wounds
The Bedlam scorecard is lopsided again, and this one stings a little more for Oklahoma. Oklahoma State wrapped up the 2025-26 all-sports series with an 18-5-1 edge, the most one-sided finish since the competition started in 1999-2000 and the biggest margin either school has ever posted. It also gives the Cowboys a third straight Bedlam title, a familiar place to be even as the rivalry itself keeps changing around them.
What makes the result feel even heavier is how early OSU had control of it, with the lead already built by the end of September. The Cowboys and Cowgirls got signature help from a wrestling shutout and a softball win over the No. 1 Sooners, while the football rivalry remained on hold again because Oklahoma is now in the SEC. For now, the next scheduled chance for the two schools to meet comes in soccer next August. [Read more 🡒]