The Oklahoma State Cowboys entered the 2026 campaign without a single ranking in any major preseason poll, a stark reminder of the program’s recent downturn. A 11‑11 finish the previous year and a cumulative 4‑20 record over the last two seasons left the team adrift, highlighted by an 18‑game winless streak in Big 12 play.
Their only recent high point came in the 2023 Big 12 Championship game, where they fell to Texas, underscoring the gap between potential and performance. Most analysts projected an eighth‑place finish and a modest 7‑5 record, with a modest bowl invitation as the best‑case scenario.
A New Direction
Head coach Eric Morris, who took over the program just weeks ago, is betting that a wave of transfers will reverse the tide. He has assembled a roster of nearly 90 newcomers, among them Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins and Wyatt Young, hoping their experience will translate into immediate impact.
Morris also imported much of his coaching staff from a unit that once posted a 12‑2 record, aiming to instill a winning culture from the first day of practice. The move signals a deliberate attempt to fast‑track development and restore credibility among fans and media.
While the road ahead remains steep, the combination of a lone vote of confidence, a revamped roster and a determined coaching staff has sparked cautious optimism. Whether that translates into on‑field success will be measured over the coming weeks, but the narrative surrounding the Cowboys has already begun to shift.