Oklahoma State walked into Saturday carrying the sting of last week’s embarrassment against Tulsa and walked out with one of the loudest wins in the sport so far this season. The Cowboys knocked off No. 6 Oregon, 39-31, in Stillwater, then watched the home crowd storm the field and rip down the goal posts on the north side.
It was Oklahoma State’s first win of the season, a 1-1 start, and its first victory over Oregon in three tries. The result also served as payback for last year’s 69-3 loss in Eugene.
The game didn’t even begin on time. Lightning in the Stillwater area forced a 90-minute delay, pushing kickoff to approximately 12:30 p.m. Still, once the ball was finally in play, Oklahoma State dictated the tempo far more than the Ducks did.
The Cowboys finished with a huge edge in total offense, 554-281, and held the ball for nearly 37 minutes, even though head coach Eric Morris wants his team to play fast. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was kept in check for most of the day. He finished with 191 passing yards and two touchdowns, but only flashed the kind of play that suggests a Heisman Trophy candidate on two drives.
Drew Mestemaker was the engine for Oklahoma State. He opened the game with a 75-yard keeper and ended it with 109 rushing yards, while also throwing for 317 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Both picks came on tipped balls at the line of scrimmage by the Oregon defensive line.
Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins each scored on the ground, with Hawkins adding 110 rushing yards. Mestemaker’s 10-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the go-ahead score, a wild finish that fit the way the Cowboys kept forcing Oregon to chase them all afternoon.
The game was clinched after the two-minute timeout when Oregon fumbled and Oklahoma State’s defense recovered. Three plays later, Mestemaker kept the chains moving on a keeper, and the Cowboys were able to run out the clock.
For Oklahoma State, it was a statement win in the home opener and the continuation of a remarkable run in Stillwater. The victory extended the Cowboys’ national-best 31-season streak of home-opening wins, and it came in their first home game against a Big Ten opponent.
In Other News...
Oklahoma States Oregon Win Changed One Big Thing For This Offense
Oklahoma States win over Oregon carried more than just the usual marquee-game boost. In the aftermath, the Cowboys head coach pointed to the way his players responded after their previous performance and said the victory mattered because it showed the offense could reset, play with confidence and put together a plan that traveled well against a high-profile opponent. He also made a point of praising quarterback Drew Mestemaker, while noting how the defense held up and how the staff approached the challenge of facing Oregon.
On the other side, Oregon coach Dan Lanning spent the postgame sorting through a game that never felt clean for his team, from defensive issues to execution problems to the difficulty of playing in that environment. From Oklahoma States perspective, the broader takeaway is even more interesting than the final result: the Cowboys did not just beat a ranked opponent, they appeared to discover something about what this offense can be when the pieces are in the right place. The next question is whether that newly sharpened identity shows up again when the schedule demands it. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Lanning Gave Oregon Fans A Feel Good Moment They Needed
Before Oregon kicked off against Oklahoma State, Dan Lanning used a spot on ESPNs College GameDay to give Ducks fans something a little bigger than the usual pregame hype. His appearance ended with a crossbar challenge that carried real significance, sending a $500,000 donation to the Sam Day Foundation, a childhood cancer research group, and giving the morning a feel-good jolt before the game itself.
Lanning also had football on the mind, even with the charity moment grabbing the spotlight. He pointed to the need for Oregon to be sharper in the details and cut down on penalties as the Ducks prepared for their matchup, where they entered as heavy favorites over the Cowboys. For Oklahoma State, it was another reminder that the national attention around this game was being driven by Oregons side of the story before the opening kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Just Got A New Oregon Concern To Watch
Oklahoma States win over Oregon came with one notable asterisk for the Ducks, who were already forced to adjust their offense without starting tight end Jamari Johnson. Oregons attack never really found a rhythm in the loss, and the combination of modest yardage and too many penalties made the setback look more familiar than anyone in Eugene would have liked.
Now there is at least some uncertainty attached to Johnson moving forward, with Dan Lanning saying the tight end was banged up in the previous game and will be monitored in practice this week. Oregon had to turn to Andrew Olesh in Johnsons place, and for the Cowboys that is the part worth watching next, because the Ducks offense looked compromised enough already without needing another week of questions at a key spot. [Read more 🡒]