Oklahoma State’s first Big 12 test of the Eric Morris era comes with a little bit of everything: a road trip, a ranked opponent’s recent scalp, and a matchup that could turn into a shootout if the Cowboys let it.
Morris is still working through all the firsts that come with taking over a program loaded with turnover. Oklahoma State has 91 newcomers on the roster, and Saturday’s trip to Morgantown will be his first Big 12 game as the Cowboys’ head coach. After OSU rolled past Murray State 59-0, Morris was quick to flag a penalty from that win as the kind of detail that has to disappear once conference play starts.
In his postgame press conference, he called the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on a celebration a “sloppy” mistake that needs to be cleaned up for league play. He also noted the travel element of this week’s challenge: “It’s the first time we get on a plane and have to fly up across the country,” Morris said. “We got to put this one behind us and be able to correct some of the things.”
The Cowboys have had success in this series before. Oklahoma State is 10-6 all-time against West Virginia and has gone 5-2 in games in Morgantown.
This year’s meeting kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Milan Puscar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.
FS1 will carry the game, with KXXY-FM 96.1 on the radio. West Virginia enters as a 2-point favorite, and the over/under is 60.5.
West Virginia is 3-0 and 0-0 in Big 12 play, and the Mountaineers are being powered by former OU quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. He has passed for 477 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions, while also leading the team on the ground with 322 rushing yards at 7.3 yards per carry and six more scores.
That ground game is the clearest path for West Virginia. The Mountaineers just knocked off No. 25 Virginia 38-27 by rushing for 247 yards at 4.8 yards per carry, and if they can lean on that attack again, they can shorten the game and cut down on Oklahoma State possessions.
OSU, though, has its own edge if the offensive line keeps doing what it has done lately. The Cowboys have given quarterback Drew Mestemaker real time to work, with only one sack allowed over the past two weeks.
That protection has opened up the full offense, and West Virginia’s pass defense has been vulnerable, giving up 246.7 passing yards per game, which ranks No. 14 of 16 teams in the Big 12. Mestemaker could have plenty of room to operate if that trend continues.
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Oklahoma State's Rout Came With One Encouraging Sign Fans Needed
A lopsided afternoon at Boone Pickens Stadium still gave Oklahoma State something it had been missing for a while, even beyond the throwback uniforms and drone show that helped set the tone for the tribute to the 1976 Tangerine Bowl team. The Cowboys rolled past Murray State 59-0, and the defense spent most of the day dictating everything while the offense mixed in enough explosive play to keep the margin growing.
Mo Horn was active from the start, getting into the backfield early and helping the Cowboys establish control on that side of the ball, while Ayo Adeyi gave the run game a lift as a backup with 67 rushing yards. Miles Coleman also added 168 all-purpose yards, giving Oklahoma State a few useful signs to go with a result that, for one Saturday at least, looked a lot more like the kind of complete performance the program has been searching for. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Finally Has Momentum But Morgantown Changes Everything
Oklahoma State has finally found a little traction, and the mood around the program reflects it. After a win that gave the Cowboys their first winning streak since the start of the 2024 season, players gathered to sing the alma mater together, a small but meaningful sign of a team that is starting to feel better about itself. Mike Gundy has been leaning into that progress, with the focus now on handling success the right way while the offense and defense continue to show signs of improvement.
West Virginia, though, is the kind of trip that can test whether that progress actually sticks. Big 12 play has a way of exposing teams that are still trying to turn a good stretch into something more durable, and Oklahoma State knows the challenge is no longer just about playing better but about doing it week after week. The Cowboys have momentum now, but Morgantown will tell them quickly whether it is real. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma States Poll Push Suddenly Feels A Lot More Real
After the 59-0 rout of Murray State, Oklahoma States upward drift in the national polls got a little harder to ignore. The Cowboys picked up 36 votes in the USA Today coaches poll, a clear jump from the week before, and they had already been sitting at 36 votes in the AP poll last week, which put them fourth among the teams receiving votes.
It is still early, but the shape of the resume is getting easier to explain. Oklahoma State backed up its 39-31 win over Oregon with a dominant all-around showing against Murray State, giving the program something it has not always had in recent seasons: a stretch of convincing results that poll voters can point to without much debate. [Read more 🡒]