Oklahoma State’s 59-0 dismantling of Murray State gave the Cowboys another jolt of momentum in the polls, but it still wasn’t enough to push them into the Top 25.
After opening the year with a 39-31 win over Oregon, Oklahoma State had picked up 52 total votes across the USA Today coaches poll and the AP Top 25. That was enough to show the Cowboys were on the radar, even if they were still outside the rankings. Saturday’s shutout, though far more lopsided, came against a Murray State team that has won three games in the last two plus seasons, so voters clearly weighed the opponent as they sorted through results from across the country.
In this week’s coaches poll, Oklahoma State earned 36 votes, placing the Cowboys sixth among teams outside the rankings. That marked a rise from last week, when OSU got 16 votes and stood 11th among vote-getters. Florida led the list of teams outside the poll then with 183 votes.
The AP Top 25 for Sept. 20 is scheduled for release at 1 p.m. central, and the picture there is still pending. Last week, the Cowboys collected 36 AP votes and ranked fourth among teams receiving votes, with Washington leading that group at 172.
What likely stood out most to coaches was the way Oklahoma State handled Murray State on defense. The Cowboys limited the Racers to 160 total yards and recorded their first home shutout since beating Savannah State in 2012.
Miami transfer Markeith Williams led the team with five tackles as OSU emptied the bench in the second half. Defensive end Malik Charles added an interception, and defensive tackle Luke Webb blocked a field goal on special teams.
The offense was just as forceful. Oklahoma State rolled up 662 total yards, making it the second straight week the Cowboys topped 500 yards of offense.
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker threw for 324 yards and five touchdowns before leaving partway through the third quarter. Justin Bowick turned in a career night with nine catches for 178 yards and two scores, while Caleb Hawkins ran for 73 yards on 11 carries before his night ended early.
The Big 12 now moves fully into league play next weekend, and Oklahoma State turns its attention to West Virginia. The bigger question now is not just whether the Cowboys can climb into the rankings, but how close they can get if they handle the Mountaineers.
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Oklahoma State's Rout Came With One Encouraging Sign Fans Needed
A lopsided afternoon at Boone Pickens Stadium still gave Oklahoma State something it had been missing for a while, even beyond the throwback uniforms and drone show that helped set the tone for the tribute to the 1976 Tangerine Bowl team. The Cowboys rolled past Murray State 59-0, and the defense spent most of the day dictating everything while the offense mixed in enough explosive play to keep the margin growing.
Mo Horn was active from the start, getting into the backfield early and helping the Cowboys establish control on that side of the ball, while Ayo Adeyi gave the run game a lift as a backup with 67 rushing yards. Miles Coleman also added 168 all-purpose yards, giving Oklahoma State a few useful signs to go with a result that, for one Saturday at least, looked a lot more like the kind of complete performance the program has been searching for. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces An Early Road Test That Will Say A Lot
The 59-0 win over Murray State gave Oklahoma State a clean start to the week, but the focus has already shifted to a much less forgiving setting. Eric Morris is lining up for his first Big 12 game as the Cowboys head coach, and the trip to West Virginia offers an early chance to see how this team carries itself once the competition jumps a level and the setting gets louder.
Morris pointed to a penalty from the opener as the kind of mistake that has to be cleaned up before conference play, which is the sort of detail coaches notice quickly even after a lopsided win. The matchup in Morgantown has its own built-in edge, with both sides offering enough scouting intrigue to make it a useful measuring stick, and Oklahoma State will find out plenty about where it stands without needing the full picture quite yet. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Finally Has Momentum But Morgantown Changes Everything
Oklahoma State has finally found a little traction, and the mood around the program reflects it. After a win that gave the Cowboys their first winning streak since the start of the 2024 season, players gathered to sing the alma mater together, a small but meaningful sign of a team that is starting to feel better about itself. Mike Gundy has been leaning into that progress, with the focus now on handling success the right way while the offense and defense continue to show signs of improvement.
West Virginia, though, is the kind of trip that can test whether that progress actually sticks. Big 12 play has a way of exposing teams that are still trying to turn a good stretch into something more durable, and Oklahoma State knows the challenge is no longer just about playing better but about doing it week after week. The Cowboys have momentum now, but Morgantown will tell them quickly whether it is real. [Read more 🡒]