For Oklahoma State, beating Oregon did more than light up the scoreboard. It gave Eric Morris and his staff something they badly needed in the recruiting pitch: a live, undeniable snapshot of what Stillwater looks like when the Cowboys win a big one.
About 100 prospective Cowboys were in town for official visits last Saturday, and they got the full experience. They watched Oklahoma State upset the Ducks, then saw the field storming that followed.
A number of those recruits made their way onto the field, where they watched Morris address his team after the game. For a program that hadn’t been able to show that version of itself for a year, the timing couldn’t have been better.
“Winning’s the best recruiting tool of all - has been forever, will be forever,” Morris said on Tuesday.
That message seemed to carry immediately after the game. In the days that followed, players on campus for their visits were also talking publicly about offers from Oklahoma State.
One in particular stood out: Westside (Anderson, S.C.) defensive lineman Christian Webb-Scott announced on social media that he had an offer from the Cowboys. Webb-Scott is the No. 1 player in South Carolina in the Class of 2028, according to 247Sports.com.
Would that offer have come without the Oregon win? Morris left room for that possibility, but the bigger point was obvious. Oklahoma State is willing to take its shot on a player with major national attention, especially one who already appears to be on the radar of SEC programs.
That’s where the Cowboys are spending a lot of their energy right now: the next wave. Morris said the staff has to keep building with the Class of 2028 because the recruiting calendar has sped up so much.
“We’ve got to continue to work on that next class [2028] just because that's kind of how the cycle's gotten,” Morris said. “It's almost a year early just because kids are graduating early now and coming to school early, and so it's kind of a double whammy.”
He pointed to the true freshmen already on campus, several of whom enrolled in January to get settled into classes and the playbook. Morris expects a similar pattern from many of the Class of 2027 players who are already committed but still months away from being able to sign in December.
Still, the 2027 group is far from closed. Signing day is three months away, and even though most of the players Oklahoma State has offered are committed elsewhere, Morris said flips are still in play. The Cowboys already pulled off one in-state win last month when top offensive line recruit Odaefe Oruru of Jenks, Okla., switched from Arkansas to Oklahoma State.
Morris also said some of his best additions have come late, after senior film changed the evaluation.
“You know, we took three guys late in this class [2027], three of the best guys in this signing class that are here right now,” Morris said.
This time around, Morris has more breathing room than he did when he arrived. He took over just before North Texas played in the American Conference title game, then joined the program after the loss to Tulane.
There wasn’t much time to build a prep class then. Now he has a full cycle in front of him, and that matters.
So does the fact that he can finally point to a win over a Top 25 team. For recruits still weighing Oklahoma State, that kind of proof carries real weight.
“I think for us to try to get back in on some people in this ’27 class, once they see the product, actually see what we're doing, get them on the phone, get them to Stillwater, experience this game day atmosphere,” Morris said. “That'll be something.”
In Other News...
What Oregon's Early Problems Could Mean For Oklahoma State
Oregons early stumble has already changed the conversation around one of Oklahoma States most eye-catching wins. The Ducks, still ranked No. 21, are trying to settle things down before facing Portland State, and the aftermath of the loss has put a spotlight on issues that were supposed to be strength points by now. Coach Dan Lanning pointed to a lack of leadership after the game, a sign that the Ducks are already dealing with more than just one bad result.
For Oklahoma State, the bigger takeaway is what that win may say about the opponent the Cowboys beat. Oregon is also working through offensive line injuries, including the loss of Trent Ferguson for the season, while the defense has not yet matched preseason expectations, especially when it comes to getting pressure on quarterbacks. If the Ducks are still sorting out those problems this early, the Cowboys can view their victory as more than a one-off upset. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Real Letdown Test In These Key Spots
Oklahoma State comes out of its win over Oregon with a different kind of assignment this week, one that can be just as tricky as a marquee upset. The Cowboys return home to face Murray State, and while the Racers are chasing a rare victory over an FBS opponent, this also feels like a classic letdown spot for a team trying to keep its edge after a big emotional result. The focus turns quickly from celebration to details, especially in spots where Oklahoma State still has to prove it can stay clean and consistent.
The secondary remains one of the more important areas to watch, and the offensive line has its own uncertainty because of injury concerns that could force some shuffling up front. Beyond the bigger-picture test, the Cowboys will also be looking for impact plays from names like Wyatt Young and Caleb Hawkins, who could help steady things if the game gets awkward. For Oklahoma State, the challenge is not just winning, but showing the Oregon performance was a launch point rather than the peak. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State May Finally Get O-Line Stability At A Crucial Time
Oklahoma State could be inching toward some much-needed stability up front, with Braydon Nelson trending toward a return just as the schedule starts to sharpen. The Cowboys have had to shuffle options at left tackle in his absence, and the line has been working through the early stretch without one of the players they expected to help anchor the group.
Nelson has been sidelined since the offseason because of a knee injury, but there is growing optimism around his availability for the Oct. 10 game against UCF. Eric Morris indicated he could be fully ready by then, and Oklahoma State may also have some flexibility in how it uses him, including the possibility of deploying him as a swing tackle-guard. [Read more 🡒]