Live Game Thread & Updates for Oklahoma State Football vs Tulsa
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The Oklahoma State Cowboys hope to start the 2026 campaign on the right foot as they face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Saturday.
For the Cowboys, it’s a fresh start. New head coach Eric Morris has turned over the roster and they have 91 new players after a 1-11 season that cost head coach Mike Gundy his job. OSU is 4-20 in the last two seasons and hasn’t won a Big 12 game since 2023.
Those are things the Cowboys will have to rectify later. For now, there’s the matter of winning the opener and getting revenge for the few remaining Cowboys from last season, who were part of the first team to lose to the Golden Hurricane in Stillwater in decades.
You can keep with the game here on our live thread, from pre-game to final whistle, as OSU starts the 2026 season and a new era. Live updates will be at the top of the thread.
Fourth Quarter
Tulsa Interception Stops Potential Touchdown
Zach Williams picked off OSU QB Drew Mestemaker in the end zone with 4:13 remaining in the game in the back of the end zone as the Cowboys QB was under duress due to a pass rush. The interception preserved a two-touchdown lead for Tulsa.
On the previous two plays pass interference on Tulsa was called. The first was negated when Mestemaker's pass was tipped. The second, on fourth down, led to a first down, which preceded the interception.
Tulsa Takes Two-Touchdown Lead
Damari Alson scored on a 29-yard touchdown run with 7:52 left to give the Golden Hurricanes a 24-10 lead with 7:52 left in the game. The Cowboys had just failed to convert on third-and-2 and fourth-and-one deep in their own territory, giving Tulsa a chance to add points to a one-score lead.
Alston made it look easy, breaking one tackle on his way to the end zone. Alston had just 50 yards on the day, but two of those 11 carries led to touchdowns.
Third Quarter
Cowboys Finally Score a Touchdown
On fourth down from the Tulsa 15, OSU quarterback Drew Mestemaker threw an out to Justin Bowick at the goal line for a touchdown for the first touchdown of the game for the Cowboys with 1:52 left in the third quarter. It cut the lead to 17-10.
The play came on a fourth down, the fifth fourth down the Cowboys went for it on during the game. it was only their second conversion. It was the first touchdown of the Eric Morris era, Mestemaker's first as OSU quarterback and Bowick's first as an OSU wide receiver.
Tulsa Takes Two-Score Lead
With the Oklahoma State offense sputtering, the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes took a two-touchdown lead wiht 7:00 left in the third quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Baylor Hayes to Oran Singleton, capping off a six-play, 59-yard drive to push Tulsa ahead, 17-3. At that point Tulsa had outgained Oklahoma State 265-186.
Tulsa Misses Second Field Goal
After the OSU turnover, the Golden Hurricane was unable to get a touchdown out of great field position. But Tulsa was set up for a field goal to make it a 13-3 game. But, Marlon Houck missed a 40-yard field goal, his second miss of the game, to keep the game at 10-3. It was a huge break for the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State Turns Ball Over On Opening Possession
On the opening drive of the third quarter, the Oklahoma State Cowboys committed their second turnover of the game as quarterback Drew Mestemaker fumbled as he was preparing to pass. He was sacked by Tulsa's Thomas Davis and the Golden Hurricane recovered the ball at the Cowboys 23-yard-line. After a long review, the call was upheld and the ball went to Tulsa on the third play of the second half.
Second Quarter
Tulsa Takes Lead Right Before Halftime
Tulsa had a touchdown with more than a minute remaining, a 1-yard touchdown run by Damari Alston. But it was nullified by a holding penally. The Cowboys defense nearly forced the Golden Hurricane into another field goal but Cowboys end Jaleel Johnson was called for roughing the passer on a failed third down pass, which gave Tulsa a fresh set of downs with less than a minute.
Alston scored on a direct snap with 21 seconds left to give the Golden Hurricane a 10-3 lead after the extra point.
Cowboys Tie Game
The first points of the Eric Morris era at Oklahoma State were a field goal. Sam Keltner, the SMU transfer, kicked a 35-yard field goal with 2;04 left in the secon quarter to tie the game at 3-3. It wasn't the start the Cowboys wanted, but it appears heading into halftime there was a good chance OSU and Tulsa would be tied.
Tulsa Misses Field Goal
Oklahoma State dodged a 6-0 deficit after it turned the ball over for the first time as Marlon Hauk's 31-yard field goal hit the right upright with 5:25 left in the game to keep the game at 3-0 Tulsa. The Cowboys defense held the Golden Hurricane from getting any points off OSU's first miscue of the season.
Cowboys Turn Ball Over
The Oklahoma State Cowboys turned the ball over for the first time this season when running back Tre Page II had the ball stripped from him as he was trying to convert a fourth down in Cowboys territory. Tulsa got the football at the OSU 33-yard line with 7:33 left in the second quarter and Tulsa already up 3-0.
First Quarter
Tulsa Scores First
Tulsa scored the first points of the game, a 40-yard field goal by Marlon Hauck, to give the Golden Hurricane a 3-0 lead with 2:18 left in the first quarter. It was Hauck's first collegiate FG attempt. This came after the Golden Hurricane stopped the Cowboys on a fourth-and-goal on their 2-yard line and drove the field.
Tulsa QB Baylor Hayes has 69 yards passing (3-for-3) and another 15 yards rushing on two drives.
Cowboys Come Up Without Score on First Drive
The Oklahoma State Cowboys failed to score on their first drive of the season, even though they got to the Tulsa 3-yard line. On fourth down running back Caleb Hawkins failed to get over the goal line, giving the Golden Hurricane the football there with 7:48 left in the first quarter.
OSU went 13 plays and 70 yards without a score.
Cowboys OL Hurt Early
Oklahoma State left tackle Jacob Sexton went to the ground with 11:43 left in the first quarter with what appeared to be an issue with his right lower leg. This was after a 12-yard gain by running back Caleb Hawkins. He was tended to by trainers and he was later carted off the field. A huge blow to the OSU offensive line early.
Pre-Game
Coin Toss
Oklahoma State won the toss and deferred. Tulsa will receive the football and the Cowboys will get the football to start the second half. The Cowboys defense will be the first unit to take the field.
Injuries
During the Cowboys pre-game radio show, the only injury mentioned was offensive tackle Braydon Nelson, who is still working through a knee injury that Morris said has slowed Nelson's ramp-up during fall camp. He is not on the two-deep. Morris said several times during camp that once Nelson is ready to play that he's not concerned about his fit or his ramp-up mentally due to his reps in the offense at North Texas.
Nelson was projected by many as the starter at left tackle this season. Jacob Sexton, the former Oklahoma tackle, will start there on Saturday.
Cowboys Arrive
Some photos of the Oklahoma State Cowboys arriving at Chapman Stadium in advance of Saturday's game with Tulsa.
Inside enemy lines pic.twitter.com/JNwCNv9Ocw
— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) September 5, 2026
Game-Time Temperature
Per Accuweather, the temperature in Tulsa is expected to be 101 degrees at 3 p.m., which will be shortly after kickoff. That comes with a real feel temperature of 109 degrees. Jeremie Poplin, who works as the sideline reporter for Tulsa football, checked the temperature of the turf two hours before kickoff. It was ... hot.
It’s only 153 on the turf before Noon. pic.twitter.com/RqJet4L4v4
— Jeremie Poplin (@jeremiepoplin) September 5, 2026
Oklahoma State at Tulsa
When: Saturday, Sept. 5
Game Time: 2:45 p.m. CDT
Where: Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium, Tulsa, Okla. (30,000)
Television
Watch: ESPNU (Mike Corey and Barrett Brooks)
Radio
Listen: Cowboy Radio Network (Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb and Deion Imade)
Internet/App Radio: The Varsity Network
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 271 and on the SiriusXM app
All-Time Series
Series History: OSU leads, 45-28-5
In Tulsa: Tulsa leads, 21-17-2
In Stillwater: OSU leads, 28-7-3
At Neutral: Never met
First Meeting: (1914) OSU 13, Tulsa 6
Last Meeting: (2025) Tulsa 19, OSU 12
Last OSU Win: (2024) OSU 45, Tulsa 10
Last Tulsa Win: (2025) Tulsa 19, OSU 12
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Matthew Postins is the publisher of Oklahoma State on SI. He is an award-winning sports journalist who was formerly the editor of the College Football America Yearbook and covers the Big 12 Conference for Heartland College Sports.
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