Postgame notes vs. Murray State

Murray State at Oklahoma State
September 19, 2026 | Boone Pickens Stadium | Stillwater, Oklahoma
Final Score: Oklahoma State 59, Murray State, 0
Attendance: 51,828

Oklahoma State Postgame Notes

Game Flow

The game was never in doubt, with Oklahoma State holding a 14-0 lead after the first quarter and a 31-0 advantage at halftime. Murray State's seven first-half possessions resulted in six punts and a blocked field goal attempt.
- From the final possession of the first quarter through late in the third quarter, OSU's defense produced three-and-outs on seven consecutive Murray State drives.
Oklahoma State scored touchdowns on each of its first three possessions of the game for the first time since doing so against Kansas State on September 25, 2021.
- The Cowboys scored on their first five possessions of the game (four touchdowns and a field goal) for the first time since scoring on their first seven possessions in the 2019 season opener against Oregon State.

School Record Watch

Drew Mestemaker completed 20-of-22 passes for 324 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.
- Mestemaker's performance resulted in single-game school records for completion percentage (.909) and pass efficiency (289.6). Both of those records are for games in which an OSU player had a minimum of 20 pass attempts.
  - Mestemaker broke the completion percentage record of .889 set by J.W. Walsh against UTSA in 2013, when Walsh was 24-for-27.
  - Mestemaker broke the pass efficiency record of 262.0 set by Taylor Cornelius against Kansas in 2018.
  - Mestemaker completed each of his final 16 pass attempts.
- His 324 passing yards extended his FBS-best streak of consecutive 200-yard passing games to 18 games.
  - It was the eighth 300-yard passing game of his career and his second in three games at Oklahoma State.
- At halftime, Mestemaker was 17-for-19 for 266 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. The last time an OSU quarterback passed for four touchdowns in a half was Alan Bowman against Tulsa in 2024.
As a team, Oklahoma State completed 26-of-28 passes (.929 pct.) to set a new school record for completion percentage (min. 20 attempts).
- The previous record was 19-for-22 (.864 pct.) vs. Fresno State in 1997.
Oklahoma State averaged 9.1 yards per offensive snap, a mark that was just outside the top 10 for a single game in school history.
The Cowboy offense produced 33 first downs, a mark that ties for 12th in school history.

Game Notes

Oklahoma State posted its first shutout since a 23-0 win over Texas Tech in Lubbock in 2021.
Saturday marked OSU's first home shutout since an 84-0 win over Savannah State in 2012.
Oklahoma State eclipsed 50 points in a game for the first time since a 63-7 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2022.
Luke Webb's blocked field goal marked the Cowboys' first since Korie Black did so against Central Arkansas in 2023.
Justin Bowick eclipsed 100 yards receiving with more than 13 minutes remaining in the second quarter. He finished with career highs in both catches (nine) and receiving yards (178) and matched a career high with two touchdown receptions.
- Saturday's performance marked the fourth 100-yard game of his career.
Special teams was a factor. Oklahoma State's Luke Webb blocked a field goal attempt in the first quarter, Miles Coleman had a 55-yard punt return, and it wasn't until late in the fourth quarter that Murray State had more total offense yards than OSU had punt return yards.
- Murray State finished with 160 total offense yards to OSU's 135 punt return yards.
Saturday's game marked the first meeting between Murray State and Oklahoma State.
Oklahoma State hosted its annual football reunion this weekend, with the 1976 Tangerine Bowl team honored as the team of distinction. This season marks the 50-year anniversary for a 1976 squad that began the year unranked before a historic 31-24 Bedlam win in Norman over undefeated and fifth-ranked Oklahoma catapulted them into the national picture and paved the way for a share of the Big Eight Conference championship and OSU's first nine-win season in 31 years.

Key Stats

Oklahoma State had 11 offensive plays of 20 or more yards (four rushes and seven passes). Murray State had two (one rush and one pass).
Oklahoma State held a 662-160 advantage in total offense yards.
The Cowboys held a 301-76 advantage in rushing yards.
- It was OSU's first 300-yard rushing game since a 315-yard performance against Cincinnati in 2023.
- Connecting Saturday's performance with its 237 rushing yards against Oregon last week, it marked the first time since 2023 that OSU eclipsed 200 rushing yards in consecutive games. In 2023, the Cowboys had 281 rushing yards against West Virginia and 315 rushing yards against Cincinnati in back-to-back contests.
Oklahoma State held a 361-84 advantage in passing yards.
- It marked the first time the Cowboys have held an opponent under 100 passing yards since limiting West Virginia to 77 on November 26, 2022.
Oklahoma State limited Murray State to 0-for-12 on third down.
- It was the first time the Cowboys held an opponent to zero third down conversions since limiting Kansas to 0-for-13 on October 30, 2021.

The Oklahoma State win ...

Improved it to 33-0 against FCS/I-AA opponents since Division I split in 1978.
Improved Eric Morris to 2-1 as Oklahoma State's head coach.
Improved Eric Morris to 2-0 at Boone Pickens Stadium as OSU's head coach.
Improved Eric Morris to 48-35 in his head coaching career.
Improved Eric Morris to 15-13 in nonconference games.
Improved Eric Morris to 1-0 against Murray State.
Improved its all-time record against Murray State to 1-0.
Marked its 136th win since the beginning of the 2010 season, ranking among the top 15 in the FBS.
Made it 31-8 in its past 39 nonconference games and 53-14 in its past 67 nonconference games.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Justin Bowick

Miles Coleman

Drew Mestemaker

Luke Webb

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