Oklahoma State’s season opener in Tulsa delivered a rough start on the scoreboard and a long list of things to clean up, as the Cowboys fell 24-10 while committing five turnovers and leaving points on the field.
The biggest early blow may have come before the game even settled in. Starting left tackle Jacob Sexton went down with a leg injury on OSU’s fifth offensive play, was carted off, and did not return.
From there, the Cowboys never found much rhythm. They lost two fumbles, threw two interceptions and turned it over on downs three times, finishing minus-three in turnovers. Four drives reached Tulsa territory without producing points.
Big plays were scarce for Oklahoma State, which had just one offensive snap longer than 20 yards - a 27-yard completion from Drew Mestemaker to Wyatt Young. Tulsa, by comparison, had six offensive plays of more than 20 yards.
Even so, the OSU defense gave the Cowboys a chance by clamping down on third down. Tulsa finished 1-for-11 in the game.
Mestemaker was one of the few bright spots for Oklahoma State. He found Justin Bowick for a touchdown in the third quarter, giving the Cowboys their first touchdown of the season. It was the 16th touchdown of Bowick’s career and the 37th touchdown pass of Mestemaker’s career.
Mestemaker finished with 241 passing yards, and with that outing he extended his streak of at least 200 passing yards to 16 straight games, the longest active streak in the FBS.
The game also marked the start of a new era for Oklahoma State. Eric Morris made his debut as the program’s 25th head coach, taking over for Mike Gundy after more than 20 years in that job.
It was also the first OSU game for 91 new players, a group believed to be the most on one team in the history of major college football, topping Colorado’s 87 in 2023. That transfer class was ranked No. 7 nationally by The Athletic and 247Sports.
The lineup reflected just how much turnover Oklahoma State brought into the opener. Of the 22 offensive and defensive starters against Tulsa, only two played for the Cowboys last season: defensive end Jaleel Johnson and cornerback LaDainian Fields. Eight of those starters had previously played for Morris at North Texas, including five on offense and three on defense.
The setting was as punishing as the result. According to media reports, the field temperature at kickoff reached 167 degrees, with the air at 99 and the feels-like reading at 109.
Oklahoma State also reached 27 first downs, its highest total since getting 32 against Texas Tech in 2024.
Saturday’s game was OSU’s first road opener since 2019 and its first season opener at Tulsa since 2000. It was the 11th time the Cowboys have opened against Tulsa and the fifth time they have done it in Tulsa, with previous road openers there in 1977, 1989, 1991 and 2000. The only opponent OSU has faced more often in season openers is Arkansas, which has come up 14 times.
The two schools are now playing under an eight-year scheduling agreement that started in 2024. Separated by just 72 miles, Oklahoma State and Tulsa will meet every year through 2031, with Tulsa hosting at H.A. Chapman Stadium in even-numbered years and OSU hosting in Boone Pickens Stadium in odd-numbered years.
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Oklahoma States Eric Morris Debut Raised Concerns Fans Cant Ignore
The early part of Eric Morris Oklahoma State debut quickly turned into a reminder that opener jitters can look a lot bigger when they pile up all at once. Tulsa walked away with a 24-10 win to snap the Cowboys 11-game streak in season openers, and Oklahoma State spent much of the afternoon chasing a game that kept slipping in the wrong direction as turnovers mounted and fourth-down chances went nowhere.
The concern went beyond the scoreboard, too. Left tackle Jacob Sexton was injured early and had to leave the field on a cart, leaving another ugly question hanging over a day the Cowboys needed to feel like a reset. Tulsa created the games most damaging explosive plays and used them to keep Oklahoma State under pressure, which made the loss feel less like one bad bounce and more like a warning about how much work still sits ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State's Week 1 Decisions Already Put Roster Spots Under Pressure
Oklahoma States first week of the season already came with roster pressure beyond the usual depth chart churn. Head coach Eric Morris said only 76 or 77 players would make the trip for the Tulsa game, a reminder that even before the schedule tightens, there are real decisions to be made about who is dressed and who is left behind. He framed it as part of the challenge of managing a roster on game day, especially with the staff still sorting out where the best fit lies for the opening stretch.
The bigger squeeze is still ahead, with deeper cuts expected once the Cowboys get to the Big 12 opener against West Virginia. For the players on the fringe, that means the margin for error is small and the path to traveling could come down to the unglamorous stuff, the kind of work that keeps special teams functional and gives a coaching staff confidence in the last few bus spots. The detailed list of who actually suited up for Tulsa gives a useful snapshot, but it also hints at how quickly those decisions can change once conference play begins. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Has A Tulsa Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Tulsas trip to Stillwater turned into more than just an in-state measuring stick game for Oklahoma State. The Golden Hurricane controlled the night with Baylor Hayes throwing for 227 yards and a touchdown, while Tulsas defense kept the Cowboys off balance, forced four turnovers and made life difficult on fourth down. For a program trying to establish some traction in the series, it was the kind of performance that carried real weight beyond one September result.
The bigger sting for OSU is what the loss means in the long view. Tulsa has now beaten the Cowboys in consecutive meetings for the first time since the early 1950s, a small but unavoidable reminder that this rivalry has tilted the wrong way for the moment. And after the game, Tre Lamb sounded plenty comfortable with where his team stood, leaving Oklahoma State with the added frustration of wondering just how much worse the final margin might have looked. [Read more 🡒]