After 21 seasons at Stillwater, Mike Gundy’s time had finally run out, and thus, a new era has begun with former North Texas Coach Eric Morris as the head man in charge. He comes over after a successful 3-stint, during which North Texas last season finished with a 12-2 record and an appearance in the conference title game. Morris is known for his strong background in offense and quarterback development. Today, we take a look at the newly rebuilt Oklahoma State Cowboys in our preview series.
As it has been said, Morris comes to Stillwater after doing a great job at North Texas, where he created one of the most exciting offenses in the country and became known for helping quarterbacks improve.
Now, he’s got a big task ahead of him at Oklahoma State, but he didn’t waste any time making changes to the team.
The Cowboys added over 80 new players, including 62 from the transfer portal, which is one of the biggest roster makeovers in the nation.
This shows that Morris is serious about turning things around quickly. He’s bringing in a lot of new talent to help the team succeed, and it’ll be interesting to see how everything comes together. With so many new faces, the team’s dynamics are likely to change, and Morris will have to work hard to get everyone on the same page.
The first question will be how fast he can get this team acclimated to a winning brand of football and return to the top of a competitive Big 12 conference.
Oklahoma State Cowboys Recap of 2025
The 2025 season was one that Cowboy fans would probably want to erase from their memory. Oklahoma State was absolutely unwatchable, finishing 1-11 overall and not winning a single Big 12 game, making it one of the worst seasons the program has ever seen.
All these struggles ultimately led to Mike Gundy being let go, and that was the end of an era that included a Big 12 championship, several appearances in the New Year’s Six, and almost twenty years of consistent success. Surprisingly, it ended like that, considering how well the team had been doing for so long.
Offense: Familiar Faces with Morris
If the Oklahoma State Cowboys is going to exceed expectations in 2026, the offense will likely be the reason.
Last season, the Cowboys averaged 14 points per game and had only 18 touchdowns.
When Morris came to Stillwater, he brought some of his best players from North Texas. This helped his team get used to his system right away. The player who is expected to lead the team is quarterback Drew Mestemaker. He did a great job playing for Morris at North Texas, and now he’s supposed to be in charge of the offense at Oklahoma State. Since Mestemaker already knows Morris’s system, the team might not have as many problems as they usually do when a new coach comes in.
Caleb Hawkins is going to be a key player in the backfield, and he’s coming from North Texas. He was one of the best running backs in the Group of Five, and he’s got some great qualities that will help the offense. Hawkins is explosive and can do a lot of different things, which is perfect for an offense that wants to move quickly and put pressure on the defense from all angles.
Wyatt Young is likely to be the main player at wide receiver. He has already shown he can make big plays and has a good connection with the quarterback, which gives the Cowboys a strong option on the outside.
The main concern is the offensive line. Oklahoma State has rebuilt the entire line of scrimmage, with the starting five all being transfers, with notable names like Johnny Dickson III and Tyler Mercer.
Offensive Player to Watch
QB Drew Mestemaker
Every rebuild needs a catalyst, and Mestemaker has a chance to become exactly that. His familiarity with Morris’ system makes him one of the most important players in the conference and boosts his resume to Heisman-candidate status and potential NFL Draft Pick Status. If he can efficiently distribute the football and limit mistakes, Oklahoma State’s offense could surprise many people in 2026.
Defense: Talent acquired, but the question remains.
The defensive side of the ball remains the biggest mystery for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The side of the ball will be led by Defensive Coordinator Skyler Cassidy, who has ties to Oklahoma State.
Last year, North Texas’ defense ranked in the top half of the FBS in turnovers allowed and 10th in pass defense.
The Cowboys have made some big changes to their team, bringing in many new players and becoming much faster and more athletic.
But when you’re replacing almost your whole roster, that can be tough. One area that’s looking good, though, is the front seven – that’s the defensive line and linebackers. They’ve got some experienced new guys coming in who should make a big impact right away, and that could turn into a real strength for the team.
The secondary is heading into the season with a lot of question marks. Some of the key players are moving up from lower levels or smaller conferences, so they’ll have to adjust to facing tougher Big 12 offenses.
There’s no doubt they have the talent, but it’ll come down to how consistently they can perform. If they can put it all together, this unit could be a real strength, but if they struggle to find their footing, they could end up being a liability.
Making the defense better doesn’t mean they have to be the best. If the Oklahoma State Cowboys can just be decent and get the ball away from the other team more often, that’s a big improvement from last year.
Defensive Player to Watch
Cornerback LaDainian Fields
Fields is a key returning starter who has generated buzz since arriving in Stillwater and could emerge as one of the leaders of the defense. His ability to diagnose plays and make tackles in space will be critical in a conference loaded with dynamic offenses.
Biggest Concern
Roster Cohesion
Bringing in more than 80 newcomers creates excitement but also uncertainty. While we have seen some teams become successful, others don’t often hit the ground running. It will be very interesting to see how fast the new players catch on.
Season Outlook
Expectations in Stillwater should be measured but optimistic.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys are not expected to suddenly become a top team in the Big 12 after just one win, but being bowl-eligible is an achievable target. Some national experts are already talking about Oklahoma State as a team that could make a big turnaround, thanks to the new coach and the talented players they’ve added.
Things are looking up for the team, and a good season could make them one of the most fun teams to watch in the conference.
If they can win six or seven games, that would be a big deal and help bring back the excitement around the program.
The offense is already looking sharp, and if the defense can come together as the season goes on, they might surprise some people. A successful season would be a great way to get the team’s identity back on track and make them a force to be reckoned with again.
Record Prediction: 6-6 (4-5 Big 12)
A new chapter unfolds for Oklahoma State as the Eric Morris era kicks off, promising better days ahead. As the team returns to bowl eligibility, fans can look forward to seeing the building blocks of a successful program take shape under Morris’ leadership.
It’s really hard to figure out how Oklahoma State Cowboys will do, but they have a lot of potential to improve on last season.
If their new offense works out and the players they brought in from other teams can work together, they might surprise everyone in the Big 12 in 2026.
This team is a mystery, but they could be really good if everything falls into place. Oklahoma State has a high ceiling, meaning they could achieve great things, and that’s what makes them so interesting to watch. If Morris’ plan works, the Cowboys could be a team to watch out for in the future.
