Oklahoma State’s defense had a communication breakdown in Ames, and the people wearing the helmets and making the calls said as much afterward.
Linebacker Ethan Wesloski, who wears the helmet that receives radio communication from the sideline, said the problems were everywhere. The timing was off, the adjustments weren’t happening fast enough, and the defense never got synced up.
“The communication wasn’t good across the board,” Wesloski said. “We weren’t re-talking after shifts and motions.
We couldn’t get calls from sideline to sideline. There’s a green dot on the back of my head, it’s my job to get everyone on the same page and I failed to do that tonight.”
Defensive lineman James Williams pointed to the delay in getting play calls in, including on the snap that turned into a 53-yard catch for Iowa State receiver Jamal Polite Jr., who got behind corner Mo Horn.
Those issues land on defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity, even though he entered the season as one of the bright spots for this team. Cassity’s unit was the reason OSU was even in the opener against Tulsa, then followed that by holding Oregon to 281 yards and shutting out Murray State.
After the loss to Iowa State, head coach Eric Morris said the biggest difference from the early part of the season was the inability to get off the field on third down.
“Yeah, we got to get them off the field,” Morris said. “I’ll have to go back and watch (the film) but we didn’t successfully get them off the field and they controlled the ball and took a lot of time off and they executed.”
The Cowboys’ stock report after the loss in Ames starts with the good news on offense. Caleb Hawkins’ draft trajectory keeps climbing, even if he still has a long wait before he’s eligible.
Last season, he set the college football freshman touchdown record with 29 scores. This year, he ranks No. 3 in the country with 157.3 all-purpose yards per game.
As a second-year player, Hawkins isn’t eligible for the 2027 NFL Draft, which means his 2028 NFL Draft stock is the one moving up - along with the amount of money he’ll earn in 2027.
OSU’s offensive line also held up well. Drew Mestemaker wasn’t sacked and was hurried only five times on 42 pass attempts, and the Cowboys averaged 6.6 yards per rush. Pro Football Focus had right tackle Joseph Hanson third among OSU offensive players against Iowa State, with center Tyler Mercer fourth.
The other side of the ledger is much uglier. OSU’s Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff hopes were all but wiped out in Ames. Kalshi gives the Cowboys a 3% chance to win the Big 12 Championship, and they sit in a four-way tie for fourth in the conference standings.
Wyatt Young’s trash talking also hurt the defense, costing OSU 15 yards on the Cyclones’ game-winning drive. It was the first time Young had ever been penalized for crossing the line with his jawing.
The road record is another problem. The Cowboys are now 1-3 away from Boone Pickens Stadium and 4-0 at home.
Bobby Deal Jr.’s punt return work also took a hit after a mental mistake, as the junior dove to field a short punt. Still, Morris backed him afterward.
“ He’s had great hands throughout this entire time,” Morris said. “He gives us the best opportunity. We’ve got no issues with him back there.”
There was also a quick check-in on former Cowboys in the transfer portal. Baylor’s Gavin Freeman was Baylor’s top receiver in a blowout win over UCF, catching five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, with a long of 77 yards.
Rodney Fields Jr. led Kansas State with 65 rushing yards in an overtime loss to Colorado. And at Colorado State, Hauss Hejny threw for 186 yards and a touchdown in a 31-14 loss at Utah State while also taking two sacks.
OSU turns the page to Kansas State.
In Other News...
Wyatt Young Now Faces One Oklahoma State Question After Painful Loss
Wyatt Youngs night against Iowa State was a mixed one in every sense, because the Oklahoma State wide receiver did plenty to keep his team in the game before one late mistake changed the tenor of the finish. Young turned in a strong performance with seven catches, 74 yards and two touchdowns, showing again why he has become such an important part of the offense.
The issue now is how the Cowboys handle the aftermath of a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty late in the game, one that left Young apologizing publicly after the loss. Head coach Eric Morris has already made clear there will be some form of punishment, and the situation has turned a painful defeat into a reminder that Oklahoma State still has to clean up the details if it wants its best players on the field and its composure intact when the game is on the line. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma States New Rotation Already Created One Big Question
Oklahoma State opened the 2026-27 basketball season with a comfortable 91-60 win over Incarnate Word, and Steve Lutz used the night to spread the minutes around and get a first look at how his new group might fit together. The Cowboys got notable early production from transfers Jacob Walker and Kashie Natt, while most of the roster saw meaningful run in a game that looked more like an evaluation than a finished product.
Kanye Clary was with the team but did not take the floor because of a groin issue, leaving one of the bigger lineup questions hanging over the opener. With Walker and Natt both making strong debuts, Oklahoma State already has a sense of which newcomers can help right away, but the real answer to how the rotation settles in may have to wait until everyone is healthy. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Just Showed A Promising Answer At Point Guard
Oklahoma States season opener offered a little bit of everything in a 91-60 win over Incarnate Word, including a glimpse of how the Cowboys might function if their backcourt has to adjust early. Four players finished in double figures, and the defense looked sharper in the first half before the game loosened up some after intermission, but the bigger takeaway for the staff was how smoothly the offense kept moving without its expected lead guard.
With senior Kanye Clary sidelined, sophomore Jacob Walker stepped into the point guard role and gave the Cowboys a steadier hand than they might have expected in a debut. The performance did not settle the long-term picture at the position, but it gave Oklahoma State a workable answer in the moment and a reason to feel better about the depth behind a spot that can shape everything else the team wants to do. [Read more 🡒]