Tulsa spoils Morris debut

Saturday, September 5

Tulsa, OK

2:45 p.m. CT

Oklahoma State University

0-1 , 0-0

Tulsa

1-0 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Oklahoma St.	0	3	7	0	10
Tulsa	3	7	7	7	24

Oklahoma State wide receiver Wyatt Young eludes a tackler from Tulsa

Photo by: OSU Athletics

September 05, 2026 | Cowboy Football

Box Score

Postgame notes
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Updated season stats in PDF format
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TULSA – Four turnovers, three turnovers on downs and the inability to strike with big plays were significant factors in the Oklahoma State football team's 24-10 loss to Tulsa at H.A. Chapman Stadium Saturday.

Saturday's game marked the debut for Eric Morris as Oklahoma State head coach. The 25th head coach in program history, Morris succeeded Mike Gundy, who served in that role for more than 20 years.

The contest also marked the Oklahoma State debut for 91 new players – a total that is believed to be the most on one team in the history of major college football, breaking the mark of 87 set by Colorado in 2023. The group was ranked as the No. 7 transfer portal class in the nation by The Athletic and by 247Sports.

Included on the list of new Cowboys was the standout quarterback-running back-receiver trio of Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins and Wyatt Young. While each of the three were productive, their output was hampered by the fact that starting left tackle Jacob Sexton had to be carted off with a leg injury just five offensive snaps into the game. Without Sexton, OSU struggled on important short yardage plays and Mestemaker was under consistent pressure from the Tulsa defense.

With the run game slowed and Mestemaker often under duress, the Cowboys were minus-three in turnover margin.

Both teams were subjected to brutal weather conditions. At kickoff, the Cowboy Radio Network reported that the temperature on the field was 167 degrees.

With new teammates all over the field, communication was an issue at times for OSU, but it was a one-score game at halftime, with Tulsa leading, 10-3. The Golden Hurricane (1-0 overall) opened its advantage to 17-3 with a touchdown late in the third quarter, but Mestemaker found Justin Bowick for a touchdown on the ensuing drive to bring the score to 17-10 and breathe life into the Cowboy hopes.

LaDainian Fields intercepted a Baylor Haynes pass on the next drive to provide another shot of momentum, but the Cowboys' next four drives resulted in two punts and two interceptions to seal their fate.

Of OSU's 22 offensive and defensive starters in the game, only two played for the Cowboys last season - defensive end Jaleel Johnson and cornerback LaDainian Fields. Eight of OSU's starters in Saturday's game played for Morris at North Texas – five on offense and three on defense.

The Cowboys (0-1 overall) return to action when they host No. 2 Oregon in Boone Pickens Stadium next Saturday.

For more on Oklahoma State football, follow @CowboyFB on X and visit okstate.com. For tickets, visit okstate.com/tickets or call 877-ALL-4-OSU.