Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris had plenty to say about Colorado on Tuesday, and his view of the Buffaloes was clear: the record doesn’t tell the whole story.
"The crazy thing about this team and watching this team, Colorado, right now is they might be the best two-win team in the nation,” Morris said.
The Buffaloes are 2-4, but Morris pointed to the quality of the teams that have beaten them. Northwestern, Baylor and Texas Tech are a combined 15-3.
Colorado has also stayed in games throughout its Big 12 schedule. The Buffs were tied in the fourth quarter against Baylor, trailed Texas Tech 7-3 at halftime and held a third-quarter lead against Utah.
“They're a play away from making it happen and the one thing that strikes me is this team's really old right now, Colorado,” Morris said. “Their roster is old.
They got a lot of veteran players. Now, they've come from different places, but similar to us, they've played a lot of football, and I think that shows up.”
Morris also addressed a key injury for Oklahoma State. Senior safety Mose Phillips III will miss the Colorado game because of a shoulder injury, marking his second straight absence.
That’s a real hit for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State is 4-0 when Phillips starts and 0-2 when he does not.
After the opener against Tulsa, Phillips moved into Evan Jackson’s starting role at safety. He has 23 tackles and an interception this season, while Jackson has 12 tackles.
Morris was asked about the College Football Playoff too, after ESPN reported a “handshake agreement” with the CFP to expand from 12 teams to 24 starting in 2027. He said he’ll spend more time weighing the pros and cons later, but for now his focus is on his own team’s issues.
Still, one part of the idea jumped out to him immediately.
“I do think at some point having on campus playoff-type atmosphere, I can just imagine Stillwater, playing at home and the energy around this place in a playoff game,” Morris said. “That fires me up without thinking too deep into it right there.
But what happens to bowls, what happens to (group-of-seven conference teams)? I mean, there's just so many things that I'd have to really process before I gave you a true definitive answer.”
One of the more practical changes for Oklahoma State came on special teams. Braylin Presley made his debut as a kick returner after Miles Coleman was “a little nicked up” Saturday.
Morris said Presley had been in the mix because of what the staff had already seen on film. His rule for returners is simple: if the kick stays in the air for less than four seconds, bring it out; if it’s longer than that, signal for a fair catch.
Presley handled two kickoff returns in the third quarter. The first went for 8 yards, though a holding penalty pushed the Cowboys back to their own 10-yard line. On his second return, he fielded the kick at the 5 and brought it out to the 26.
Listed as a receiver, Presley has also played running back and receiver in college at Oklahoma State and Tulsa. He has returned 12 kicks over the past four seasons and averaged 28.3 yards per return.
“That’s something that we’ve watched on film Presley do and has had some success doing it,” Morris said. “So, it’s a good spot for us to utilize him back there.”
In Other News...
Colorado Is Still Turning Road Games Into Must-See Events
Colorados visit to Stillwater is still carrying the kind of buzz that tends to follow Deion Sanders team, even in a stretch where the results have gone against the Buffaloes. Oklahoma State is set for its 105th homecoming game, and the matchup has already been announced as a sellout, giving the weekend the feel of a bigger occasion than a typical late-season stop on the schedule.
The demand has shown up in the resale market, where this game is drawing the highest prices of Oklahoma States remaining home dates. Even with Colorados losing streak in the background, the Buffaloes continue to bring a national profile that makes road games feel like events, and this one has landed in that category before anyone has taken a snap. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Just Got Hope In A Frontcourt Battle That Isn't Over
Parsa Fallahs path back to the floor has gotten a little clearer, even if it is far from settled. The Oklahoma State big man has been back around the program since August as he works his way back from a torn ACL, and a new injunction in the Glancey vs. NCAA case gives him another reason to keep pushing while he rehabs and waits on medical clearance.
The legal fight is still going, with the NCAA planning to appeal, so nothing about Fallahs status is fully locked in yet. For now, though, Steve Lutz is treating Fallah and another player on temporary injunctions like full members of the roster, which gives the Cowboys a bit of hope in the frontcourt while they wait to see whether the eligibility picture changes again. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Big Test After Last Weeks Troubling Questions
After a frustrating loss to Houston, Oklahoma State heads into another Big 12 test against Colorado with a few more questions hanging over the roster. Coach Eric Morris has already addressed concerns about the defensive line and the play of quarterback Drew Mestemaker, and the Cowboys now have to sort through those issues while trying to steady themselves in conference play.
The matchup also comes with some uncertainty on the other sideline, where Deion Sanders has continued to back quarterback Isaac Wilson even as Colorado deals with its own injury concerns. For Oklahoma State, the bigger immediate problem is on defense, where the secondary will have to adjust again with safety Mose Phillips III out, adding another layer of difficulty to a game the Cowboys can ill afford to let slip away. [Read more 🡒]