Oklahoma State is going back to Zane Flores at quarterback this weekend as the Cowboys travel to take on Kansas. The freshman is set to start after missing the last three games with a shoulder injury he suffered back on October 4. With Flores out, the Cowboys turned to Sam Jackson, but the offense never really found a rhythm during that stretch.
Flores opened the year as the guy, and while he had his share of struggles early, he showed more upside than anyone else in that room. The staff clearly still sees something in him, and getting him back under center now could help stabilize things as Oklahoma State hits the final stretch of the season.
This has been one of the more unsettled quarterback rooms in the Big 12 this year. Injuries, inconsistency, and a few bad breaks have kept the Cowboys from gaining any kind of momentum offensively. Flores getting back in the lineup doesn’t fix everything, but it gives them a better shot at moving the ball than what we’ve seen the past few weeks.
There’s no quarterback controversy here. Jackson filled in, did what he could, but the job was always Flores’ if he was healthy enough to go. The staff has made that clear. With the season slipping and the offense sputtering, putting the freshman back in charge makes sense. At this point, they’ve got to figure out what they have in him moving forward.
Kansas won’t be an easy place to re-enter the fold. That defense has been physical, and they’ve been solid at home all year. But if Flores is going to take that next step as a long-term answer for Oklahoma State, this is where it starts. There’s not a lot of margin left, and every snap matters now, not just for wins, but for 2026 and beyond.
Oklahoma State is 1-7 and sitting at the bottom of the Big 12 standings. Flores’ return doesn’t change the record, but it does give them a better chance to get back on track. The leash won’t be long, but the opportunity is there. Now it’s up to him to take it.
