Oklahoma State’s season finale against Kansas on Nov. 28 at Boone Pickens Stadium could end up hanging on two key battles that sit right at the heart of the game.
For the Cowboys, the stakes figure to depend on how the 2026 season plays out. Anything would be an upgrade from the 1-11 finish in 2025 or the 3-9 mark in 2024, seasons that helped lead to the firing of head coach Mike Gundy and the hiring of Eric Morris.
Kansas enters with its own questions after consecutive 5-7 seasons under Lance Leipold. The Jayhawks are also sorting through a quarterback competition that could shape the year - and perhaps Leipold’s future.
One of the biggest issues on the field will be whether Oklahoma State quarterback Mestemaker can work through what looks like the strongest part of Kansas’ defense. Mestemaker is viewed going into the season as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks after his 2025 year at North Texas, when he led the country in passing yards and ranked in the Top 10 nationally in several other categories. He’ll have plenty around him, especially at the skill positions, but Kansas has experienced defensive backs who should make him earn everything.
The Jayhawks bring back three starters in the secondary: cornerbacks Austin Alexander and Jalen Todd, along with safety Taylor Davis. Between them, they logged more than 100 tackles last season, giving Kansas a group with real seasoning.
The one blemish is the takeaway production - the trio combined for just one interception. That creates a classic strength-on-strength feel: Kansas has the experience to make things difficult, while Mestemaker has the talent to break it open.
Whichever side gets the upper hand may decide the game.
The other matchup to watch is on the edge, where Oklahoma State’s offensive line will be tasked with protecting Mestemaker’s blind side. The Cowboys’ starting edge presence is still unsettled heading into fall workouts, but one piece is already in place.
Left tackle Calvin Clements is back after starting all 12 games last season, and he was one of the better offensive linemen in the Big 12. Now a junior, he has a shot to become an All-Big 12 player this year.
That means the edge defenders on Kansas’ side will have their hands full. The most likely candidates to start there are Jaleel Johnson or James Williams, with Johnson a fifth-year Cowboy and Williams a transfer from Florida State.
Whoever gets that assignment will need to hold up. If not, Oklahoma State’s offense could have a hard time generating pressure on whichever quarterback wins the job for Kansas.
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Oklahoma State Still Has One Gap To Close Before Kansas
Oklahoma State is still deep in a rebuilding phase under new head coach Eric Morris after a rough recent stretch and the firing of Mike Gundy, and the timing leaves little room to ease into things. The Cowboys are trying to stabilize enough to finish the regular season on a stronger note, but Kansas arrives with its own set of advantages, especially on a defense that brings back more proven pieces in the secondary.
Lance Leipolds group also has a clear goal of forcing more turnovers this season, which adds another layer to a matchup already shaped by offensive continuity questions on both sides. For Oklahoma State, the issue is not just getting ready for Kansas, but closing one more gap before the finale so the rebuild does not feel quite so unfinished when the two teams meet. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Opens Camp With Urgent Questions Around Mestemaker
Oklahoma State opened preseason camp with Eric Morris first practice featuring a roster that looks far different from the one that finished last season. The Cowboys are still sorting through a team built mostly of newcomers, and even the familiar faces are adjusting to new roles as camp gets underway. On the defensive line, Iman Oates has returned after a temporary restraining order was granted in his eligibility case, adding another experienced body to a group trying to settle in quickly.
Much of the early attention, though, is centered on Drew Mestemaker as he settles into the quarterbacks leadership role. Around him, the staff is still working through competitions at linebacker, cornerback and along the offensive line, the kind of camp battles that can shape how steady a rebuilt team looks by September. For Oklahoma State, the urgency is obvious: the sooner the key spots come into focus, the faster Morris can start turning a patchwork roster into something recognizable. [Read more 🡒]