Three words stand out on LaDainian Fields’ eyeblack strip, and they fit the Oklahoma State secondary’s mood heading into Saturday’s trip to Iowa State: “FROM THE BOTTOM.”
Fields, the sophomore cornerback, said the message across his face is a reminder to keep going when things have gone sideways.
“From the bottom,” Fields explained. “You just got to stay with yourself and believe in yourself.”
That mindset has been tested. Oklahoma State’s pass defense appeared to bottom out in a 35-32 loss to Houston, when the Cowboys allowed quarterback Conner Weigman to pile up a career-high 342 passing yards and five touchdowns. Then came last week’s win over Colorado, when OSU gave up 222 passing yards and 24 points to Isaac Wilson in the first half, only to flip the game after halftime.
The Cowboys’ defense shut Colorado out after the break and forced Wilson into three turnovers. Fields picked off two passes and earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.
The turnaround was built on the kind of response his eyeblack message hints at.
“I think we trusted our corners a little bit more and we played a little bit tighter coverage,” coach Eric Morris said about the change.
Morris said the earlier struggles did not shake his belief in the cornerbacks. That confidence is baked into what he wants the defense to do.
The more aggressive approach gave Fields room to play faster and freer, which was exactly what defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity wanted to see.
"You know, it's one-on-one, you're on that island, so I mean, you could say it's a little bit more pressure, but at the end of the day, it's just football," Fields said.
Fields said the secondary met its standard against Colorado and didn’t let the noise from the Houston game carry over.
The second-half shutout was the payoff.
“It meant a lot,” Fields said. “Coming from last week, everybody was talking about our secondary and our defense. We really just wanted to show everybody what we could really do as we play as one.”
Now OSU gets a chance to build on it against an Iowa State passing attack that sits last in the Big 12 at 176.9 yards per game. The Cyclones were held to four catches for 58 yards by their receivers in a 39-3 loss to Arizona last week.
The matchup also comes with some injury uncertainty for Oklahoma State in the back end, with safety Mose Phillips III out for the season and Quinton Hammonds questionable.
Even with that, Fields is still carrying the same edge.
"I feel like I haven’t proved anything,” Fields said. “I feel like I still have a lot to go.
Still have a lot to prove on. Got next week.
Iowa State, it's time to go out there and just go play ball.”
In Other News...
Oklahoma State's Recruiting Surge Just Picked Up Another Intriguing Sign
Stillwater linebacker Bryson Brown added another local name to Oklahoma States growing recruiting momentum, giving the Cowboys a defender with a hometown connection and a bit of late-cycle intrigue. Browns commitment also fits the broader pattern of Oklahoma State building early buzz on the defensive side, as the program continues to stack pieces for its next class.
Browns decision is notable because it comes after a recruiting path that had already taken him elsewhere, and because the timing lines up with a shifting landscape for both programs. Baylors coaching change opened the door for movement, while Oklahoma States strong start under Eric Morris has helped make Stillwater look like an increasingly appealing destination for defensive prospects. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Telling Test Iowa State Could Expose
Oklahoma State heads to Jack Trice Stadium on Oct. 31 with a ranking next to its name and plenty of numbers that make the matchup with Iowa State look intriguing on paper. The Cowboys offense has been one of the nations most productive, and the comparison with the Cyclones is the kind of deep dive that can tell you more about a team than the record ever will, especially when the conversation turns to yards per game, turnovers and special teams.
Iowa State also brings enough balance to make this more than just a test of firepower, because its defensive profile and overall efficiency can stress a ranked opponent in ways that box scores do not always show. For Oklahoma State, the real question is whether its offensive edge travels well enough to hold up in a road game where every hidden yard, every possession and every special teams snap could swing the night. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Still Has A Real Big 12 Path If One Thing Breaks Right
The Big 12 race still has a few twists left, and Oklahoma State is hanging around long enough to keep the conversation going. With Utah, Arizona, BYU, the Cowboys and Texas Tech all jockeying for Arlington, the remaining schedules matter almost as much as the standings themselves, and Oklahoma States position is more encouraging than it might have looked a few weeks ago. The title picture is crowded, but there is still a believable route for the Cowboys if the right results fall their way.
What makes it interesting for Oklahoma State is how much of the leagues math is tied to a handful of games that could reshape the bracket in a hurry. The Cowboys need help elsewhere, of course, but they also have a chance to control their own part of the equation in the coming stretch, with one matchup looming larger than the rest as a potential separator in the chase for the conference championship game. If that one breaks in OSUs favor, the rest of the path starts to look a lot clearer. [Read more 🡒]