Oklahoma State’s summer reset has created something fans haven’t had in a while: actual uncertainty.
That’s part of the appeal right now, but it’s also where the trouble starts. With Eric Morris now steering a roster that looks nothing like the one Mike Gundy left behind, the Cowboys are still in the middle of figuring out who fits where - and that means the temptation to read too much into early camp reps is real.
Morris has rebuilt the program at full speed. He took over in December after the school fired Gundy in September, then turned over the roster almost completely.
Nearly 90 transfers arrived, close to 20 of them from his previous stop at North Texas. Only 13 letterwinners are back from last season, and the freshman class is loaded with three-star players who have ability but need time to develop.
That kind of overhaul was always going to come with growing pains. Oklahoma State went 1-11 last year, was 4-20 over the last two seasons and hasn’t won a Big 12 game since late November of 2023. Morris has packed a lot into eight months, and now the Cowboys are trying to sort out the results in real time.
This week includes five workouts and the team’s first scrimmage, and the first few practices along with media day have already brought upbeat reports. But the biggest mistake for fans right now is treating those early glimpses like answers.
The most dangerous thing to overreact to is who is running with the “first-team” and who is stuck with the “second-team.” At this stage, that can send expectations soaring before the staff has even had enough time to settle the roster.
The offensive line is a perfect example. Morris has already addressed that group twice, and he still hasn’t named a starter anywhere up front.
He’s said he wants to identify his top eight linemen after Saturday’s scrimmage, then use the rest of practice to build continuity. Even after that, the picture could keep changing, especially with several linemen able to move around and play multiple spots.
Braydon Nelson, the left tackle transfer from North Texas, looks like a strong bet to start somewhere on the line. Left tackle is the most obvious spot, but left guard or even right tackle are also in play. Before any of that becomes official, though, he has to get healthy.
The same caution applies on defense. LaDainian Fields is getting attention as a starting cornerback, and there’s a reason for that.
Still, Morris said Saturday that the job is not his yet. He wants Fields to show he can “make more plays.”
Morris also pointed to four or five other players who are competing for the same spot.
And then there’s quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who is already drawing interest for the passes he’s throwing to a true freshman. That’s fine - but it’s also part of the evaluation process. Right now, Mestemaker is throwing to everybody as Morris and his staff try to determine who can help support him and who can’t.
That’s the reality of this team. It’s more talented than a year ago, but it’s also crowded with unresolved battles all over the roster. That uncertainty is a big reason for the buzz around the program, but it can also lead to inflated expectations before the season even starts.
So for now, the advice is simple: don’t lock onto early depth-chart whispers, don’t crown the true freshman because he got a few first-team reps, and don’t panic if a veteran isn’t running with the starters yet.
The Cowboys are sorting through a lot. They need the time to do it. Save the overreaction for the regular season.
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The broader message, though, was about where OSU wants to measure itself, and Taylor made clear he is ready for Penn State whenever the Nittany Lions decide to step in. He also noted that Landon Robideau and Dreshaun Ross have qualified for the U20 World Championships in Slovakia, another reminder that the Cowboys are trying to build momentum on every front while one of college wrestlings most intriguing potential showdowns remains on the table. [Read more 🡒]
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That makes the upcoming Big 12 slate especially revealing, because the Cowboys will be judged not just on wins and losses but on how fast they can turn the roster churn into something coherent. There is real curiosity around whether Oklahoma State can hang around the upper half of the league long enough to matter in November, and the schedule is going to answer that in a hurry. The test is not simply whether the Cowboys can compete, but whether this new era can survive the kind of conference stretch that exposes every weakness. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Fans Finally Get An Early Steve Lutz Checkpoint
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Tulsa will provide a familiar in-state measuring stick, but the bigger point is the timing. An October exhibition does not count in the standings, yet it can tell a lot about rotations, chemistry and how quickly a new-look roster is coming together, which is exactly why this kind of checkpoint matters to Oklahoma State in late October. [Read more 🡒]