Explosive second-half not enough as Cowboy Football falls at No. 20 Houston, 35-32

Saturday, October 17

Houston, TX

6:30 p.m. CT

Oklahoma State University

4-2 , 2-1

Houston

6-1 , 3-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Oklahoma St.	3	0	14	15	32
Houston	7	7	14	7	35

Oklahoma State defensive lineman Braylon Rigsby makes a tackle at the line of scrimmage during the Cowboys' game against Houston on October 17, 2026 at TDECU Field.

Photo by: OSU Athletics

Explosive second-half not enough as Cowboy Football falls at No. 20 Houston, 35-32

October 17, 2026 | Cowboy Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes Updated Season Stats

HOUSTON – A slow start doomed the No. 18/20 Oklahoma State football team in its 35-32 loss to No. 20/18 Houston at TDECU Stadium Saturday.

Houston (6-1 overall; 3-1 Big 12) held a 14-3 lead at half, which enabled the Cougars to stave off the Cowboys when the OSU offense came to life with 29 points in the second half.

The first two offensive possessions of the game for Oklahoma State got the Cowboys down to the Houston 5-yard line, where OSU had to settle for a field goal and then to the Houston 2-yard line, where the Cowboys turned the ball over on downs. Those red zone shortcomings were a critical factor in the loss.

Oklahoma State scored touchdowns on four of its five second-half possessions, but Houston countered with three touchdowns of its own after intermission to ward off the Cowboy charge.

Houston won the turnover battle, 2-1 and OSU was plagued by a season-high nine penalties. The Cougars were successful on 7-of-13 third down attempts. Of Houston's five touchdowns in the game, three came on third-down plays and a fourth came on a fourth-down play.

The loss dropped OSU's record to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play.

Drew Mestemaker completed 22-of-34 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Including Saturday's performance, he has thrown for at least 300 yards in five straight games, the second-longest active streak in the FBS (Braden Atkinson from Oregon State has eclipsed 300 yards in his last six).

Mestemaker erupted in the second half, completing 16-of-19 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns after intermission.

Houston entered the game ranked fourth nationally in rush defense. The Cougars limited Caleb Hawkins to 68 yards rushing, but Hawkins still made his mark on the game by setting a career high with 125 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.

Hawkins' 125 receiving yards were just two yards shy of the OSU running back record of 127, set in 1968 by Terry Brown against Kansas. It was only the eighth 100-yard receiving game for an Oklahoma State running back since 1945 and Hawkins' 125 receiving yards marked the first 100-yard receiving game for an OSU running back since Ollie Gordon II had 116 against Kansas in 2024.

Ethan Wesloski had a team high nine tackles and LaDainian Fields recorded his second interception of the season.

Oklahoma State welcomes Colorado to Boone Pickens Stadium for America's Greatest Homecoming next week. Kickoff time has yet to be announced.

For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State Football, visit okstate.com and follow @CowboyFB on X and @cowboy_fb on Instagram. For tickets, visit okstate.com/tickets or call 877-ALL-4-OSU.