The Oklahoma State Cowboys began the 2026 season with a shocking defeat at the hands of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, losing the game 24-10, despite being a 13.5-point favorite entering the contest. It was the Cowboys coaching debut of Eric Morris, who replaced Mike Gundy, who was fired during the 2025 season. And the start could not have gone worse for Morris & Co., as the Cowboys lost to Tulsa for a second-straight season.
The Pokes were pushed around much of the afternoon by Tulsa, and never led the game, where the field temperature top 150 degrees. Oklahoma State’s new star quarterback Drew Mestemaker was pedestrian in his Cowboys debut, finished 29/49 for 241 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. As for the other highly-touted incoming transfers, running back Caleb Hawkins finished with 18 carries for 79 yards, while wide receiver Wyatt Young had eight catches for 84 yards.
Defensively, the Cowboys didn’t get much push up front, finishing with 0 sacks and just four tackles for loss against Tulsa, who had touchdown drives of 75 yards in the second quarter and then 59 yards in the third quarter, before the final nail in the coffin came from running back Damari Alston who ran it in from 29 yards out with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter to put the Golden Hurricane up two touchdowns.
The Cowboys entered the season as a dark horse for many in the Big 12 in 2026, and while league play has not begun yet, there’s no doubt that many are going to be selling the Pokes after this season opener. However, it doesn’t get easier from here, as the Cowboys will host No. 2 Oregon next Saturday in Stillwater for their home opener.
