Oklahoma State has found one defensive area where it’s not just holding its own - it’s leading the country.
That sounds almost impossible if you remember what the Cowboys were a year ago. Last season’s 1-11 team was a mess in every phase, with no unit escaping the fallout. This year is different, and through three games, Eric Morris has seen enough progress on defense to know the rebuild is taking shape.
The most surprising evidence shows up on third down.
Oklahoma State leads the nation in third-down conversion percentage defense, a staggering turnaround from its No. 115 finish in the category last season. Tulsa, Oregon and Murray State combined to convert third downs just 16.2% of the time against the Cowboys, and Murray State didn’t convert a single third down last week. The Racers went 0-for-12.
Morris pointed to that after the Murray State game, but he made clear that the story wasn’t only what happened on third down. Oklahoma State’s work on first and second down helped create the long-yardage situations that made life miserable for opponents.
“I thought our guys did a good job on third down, but our efficiency on first and second down set up some of those third-and-mediums, third-and-longs and gave us a chance to pressure the quarterback,” Morris said. “So, the efficiency on those first two downs is what helped us so much on third down.”
The Cowboys’ third-down numbers against Oregon and Tulsa backed that up. Oregon managed just 5-for-14 on third down in Week 2, while Tulsa went only 1-for-11 in Week 1, even though the Golden Hurricane beat Oklahoma State.
Now comes a matchup that could swing the game.
West Virginia arrives ranked No. 15 nationally in third-down offense, converting 53.3% of its attempts. Morris and defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity are zeroed in on quarterback Michael Hawkins and running back Cam Cook, who have helped second-year head coach Rich Rodriguez push the Mountaineers to a 3-0 start.
That third-down battle may end up deciding everything on Saturday.
“We’ve got to get them [Hawkins and Cook] on the ground and tackle them,” Morris said. “Easier said than done.
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For the Cowboys, the concern is not just a quarterback who can extend plays, but an offense built to lean into that versatility and keep a defense guessing snap after snap. Morris and his staff are facing the sort of early conference problem that can force a team to rethink how it fits against the run and how much help it needs up front. Against West Virginia, Oklahoma State will find out quickly whether its front can survive the stress Hawkins puts on it. [Read more 🡒]