Oklahoma State has already put itself in a better spot than it was a few weeks ago. The Cowboys are 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play, riding a three-game winning streak after finally snapping that 18-game conference skid.
That matters on its own. It matters even more because, in a Big 12 that still has a crowded race, every result around them can nudge the standings one way or another.
That’s why Week 6 is packed with scoreboard-watching for the Cowboys. While Oklahoma State hosts UCF in Stillwater for the first time, five other Big 12 games could shape the road ahead - especially for a team trying to keep its footing among the league’s unbeaten groups.
One of the biggest games for Oklahoma State is Iowa State against BYU. The Cowboys and Cougars are both unbeaten in league play, but they don’t meet this season.
Oklahoma State hosts BYU next year, so this one is strictly about help in the standings. Iowa State just put up 45 points on West Virginia, with Aiden Flora scoring five touchdowns, and the Cyclones could give the Cowboys a boost if they can knock off BYU.
The Cougars will be without running back LJ Martin because of injury, which makes this late-night matchup even more worth tracking before Oklahoma State kicks off at 11 a.m.
The Arizona-West Virginia game also carries obvious weight. If Arizona wins, West Virginia would be pushed to three losses, and that would all but end the Mountaineers’ shot at Arlington.
If West Virginia wins, the pressure flips to Arizona, which already has a league loss after falling to BYU in the Big 12 opener. The Wildcats are coming off a win over Cincinnati after limiting the Bearcats’ run game, and that same issue looms here against West Virginia’s ground attack.
From Oklahoma State’s perspective, a West Virginia win would be useful because it would hand Arizona a second loss, and the Cowboys hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Mountaineers.
Houston-Kansas State is another one worth watching for two different reasons. Houston is Oklahoma State’s next opponent, so the Cowboys will have one eye on that matchup after they finish with UCF.
They also still have to go to Manhattan later in the season. Both teams already have a Big 12 loss, and Houston is ranked No.
- Kansas State had trouble containing Cincinnati’s running game two weeks ago and is coming off a bye week, while Houston used a key interception to turn a sloppy first half against UCF into a better second half.
For Oklahoma State, the main point is simple: the loser drops to two league losses and moves closer to being out of the championship conversation.
Kansas-Utah is the kind of game Oklahoma State would love to see turn upside down, even if it’s hard to imagine. The Cowboys don’t play Utah this year, and the Utes are still unbeaten.
Kansas also hasn’t beaten a power conference team in its two tries this season, with losses to Missouri and Arizona State. Still, if the Jayhawks somehow pull it off, that would be a huge assist for Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys won’t face Kansas until the end of the season, but for Saturday, the only thing that matters is whether Kansas can find a way to beat Utah.
Then there’s Arizona State against Hawai’i, the one Big 12 game on the slate that really doesn’t move the needle for Oklahoma State at all. It’s a non-conference game, so it won’t affect the league standings.
The Cowboys will see Arizona State later in the season, and by then they should have a better read on where they stand in the race. Arizona State already has one conference loss and remains part of the large group still alive for the Big 12 title game, but the result against Hawai’i won’t help or hurt Oklahoma State one bit.
In Other News...
UCF Heads Into A Trickier Oklahoma State Test Than Fans Realize
Oklahoma States quick rise under new coach Eric Morris has changed the feel around Stillwater in a hurry. After a 1-11 season a year ago, the Cowboys are 3-1 and ranked No. 18, with Morris putting his stamp on the program through an offense-first approach and a defense that has leaned on solid, fundamental tackling.
Even with the fast start, there are still some rough edges Morris has been trying to smooth out in practice. Turnovers and third-down production remain part of the conversation, which is why this team feels a little trickier than its record might suggest, especially for an opponent like UCF that is walking into a much more confident Oklahoma State than the one fans saw last fall. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces One Big Offensive Question Against UCF
Oklahoma State gets its first home Big 12 game of the season Saturday when UCF comes to Boone Pickens Stadium for an 11 a.m. kickoff, and the Cowboys are riding a three-game winning streak into a matchup that should tell plenty about where they stand early in league play. The 3-1 start has kept things steady in Stillwater, and with UCF making its first trip to town, the opening act on the home conference schedule comes with a little extra weight.
One of the bigger offensive questions centers on wide receiver Wyatt Young, who is listed as questionable but is expected by coach Eric Morris to be available. Young gave Oklahoma State a major lift against West Virginia, and his presence would matter for a passing game that could use as many reliable targets as it can get with both teams carrying multiple names on the injury report. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces One Big Offensive Concern Entering UCF
Oklahoma State heads into its meeting with UCF trying to keep a winning streak alive, and the Cowboys at least got one encouraging update on the offensive side this week. Head coach Eric Morris said wide receiver Wyatt Young is expected to play and be at full strength, a welcome sign for a unit that wants to keep building momentum as the Knights come to town.
The bigger question sits up front, where offensive lineman Johnny Dickson III is practicing but still not fully recovered. Oklahoma State does have options if he cannot go, with Desmond Magiya among the depth pieces available and Braydon Nelson also in the mix for a return, but the line remains the one area worth watching as the Cowboys try to protect the offense's rhythm. [Read more 🡒]