A week after an ugly loss, Oklahoma State turned Boone Pickens Stadium into the stage for a shocker.
The Cowboys knocked off No. 6 Oregon, 39-31, and did it after a 90-minute weather delay that only seemed to sharpen the edge of the night. In a game that had plenty of buzz around the quarterback matchup, it was Drew Mestemaker who played like the more polished pro.
Mestemaker finished 26-for-43 for 317 yards, two passing touchdowns and two interceptions, but the real damage came with his legs. He added 109 rushing yards and the game-winning touchdown. On the other side, Heisman hopeful and projected No. 1 overall pick Dante Moore went 14-for-29 for 191 yards and two scores.
Oklahoma State set the tone early and never let Oregon settle in. Mestemaker ripped off a 75-yard run on the Cowboys’ first offensive snap, stepping out at the 3-yard line. The drive ended with only a field goal, but the message was already clear: this wasn’t going to look like the rout Oregon delivered in last year’s trip to Stillwater.
The Cowboys put up three first-half touchdowns, and the defense was every bit as important as the offense. OSU held Oregon to 101 yards and five first downs in the opening half. The Ducks’ first two touchdowns came in unusual fashion - a pick-six and a 1-yard score, both off batted Mestemaker passes that were intercepted.
Even with those mistakes, Oklahoma State controlled the first 30 minutes. If not for the two batted-ball interceptions, the halftime picture could have looked a lot like Oregon’s 41-3 cushion from last year’s meeting.
The second half opened with a surge from the Ducks. Oklahoma State moved the ball on its first drive after the break but again settled for three, and Oregon finally found some rhythm. After Moore had gone 5-for-15 for 56 yards in the first half, he completed all five of his throws on the opening scoring drive of the third quarter, finishing it with a 36-yard touchdown to Dakorien Moore that cut the lead to 27-24 just three minutes into the period.
Oregon’s defense also showed up right away, forcing Oklahoma State’s first three-and-out of the game on the next possession.
But when Oregon seemed ready to flip the game, Oklahoma State’s defense answered. After a false start slowed the Ducks, Dan Lanning decided to go for it on fourth-and-7 at the OSU 38.
Jaleel Johnson blew up the play with a sack, and the Cowboys took over at midfield. Oklahoma State finished with four sacks on Moore.
The Ducks still had a path back, especially after a missed facemask on Devon Jackson wiped out a Cowboys drive. Eric Morris picked up a penalty while arguing the missed call, and Oregon wound up with the ball at the 50 after a kick out of bounds. A few plays later, Moore hit Evan Stewart for a 38-yard touchdown, and Oregon moved back ahead 31-30 just nine seconds into the fourth quarter.
That lead didn’t last long. Mestemaker, who had been praised by Morris for his confidence, delivered the kind of response that changes a game. After calling his performance in the Tulsa loss “embarrassing,” he took control and carried Oklahoma State to a historic win.
His biggest play was also the one that put the Cowboys in front for good, and he had to put his body on the line to finish it.
DREW MESTEMAKER GOES AIRBORNE FOR THE TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/IQwxd1KrFB
- College Football Report (@CFBReport) September 12, 2026
The defense kept making Oregon work for everything. Oklahoma State out-gained the Ducks 554-281 and held them to 4.8 yards per play.
Then came another costly fourth-down gamble from Lanning. Down five with less than seven minutes left, Oregon went for it on fourth-and-8 at its own 33. Moore’s pass fell incomplete, and the Cowboys used the short field to add a field goal and stretch the lead to 39-31 with 3:11 remaining.
The game began with a Mestemaker burst and ended the same way. After Oregon running back Dierre Hill Jr. fumbled a pitch with 1:55 left, Oklahoma State recovered, and Mestemaker closed it out with a 7-yard run for the first down.
The win gave Oklahoma State a place in the record book, becoming the only team in college football history to break a 10-plus losing streak to FBS teams with a win over a top-10 opponent. Oregon entered the game 35-0 against unranked teams.
Next up for the Cowboys is Murray State at 6 p.m. next Saturday in Stillwater.
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Boise States Lone 2028 QB Commit Just Raised A New Concern
Zeke Thomas has already become one of the more intriguing two-sport names in Oregon recruiting. The Willamette High School standout is rated as one of the states top quarterback and baseball prospects, and his offer sheet reflects that range, with Boise State, Idaho, Oregon State and Sacramento State all in the mix. For Beavers fans, his recent profile is worth watching because Oregon State is already working to build out its baseball side while staying competitive for in-state talent that can impact more than one program.
Thomas recruitment carries extra intrigue because Boise State has made him its lone class of 2028 commitment so far, which means every new stop and every new impression matters. His official baseball visit to Oregon State this weekend adds another layer to an already unusual pursuit, especially with Boise State also having other quarterback commitments and returning players lined up for the upcoming season. Where Thomas ultimately fits best is still an open question, and Oregon State is firmly part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]