Oklahoma State

The Eric Morris era begins with a clear mandate: fix everything, but start with injecting life into an offense that desperately needs it. Morris brought his North Texas core with him to Stillwater, headlined by quarterback Drew Mestemaker (161.7 PPA), running back Caleb Hawkins (71.4 PPA), and receiver Wyatt Young (62.8 PPA) — a trio that should immediately upgrade a unit that contributed to last season's 1-11 disaster. The Cowboys rank 26th nationally on offense in JP+ projections (+4.2 points), a significant improvement driven largely by this portal infusion, though the defense remains a major concern at 79th nationally (-1.3 points) after losing key coverage players.

JP+ projects 6.4 wins for Oklahoma State, a dramatic improvement from their lone victory in 2025, with the offensive rating providing optimism despite defensive question marks. The quarterback competition remains unsettled after Zane Flores departed, creating uncertainty at the most crucial position even with Mestemaker's arrival adding depth and experience to the room. Morris faces the challenge of replacing departed skill players like receivers Shamar Rigby and Gavin Freeman while integrating his North Texas transfers into Big 12 play. If the new signal-caller emerges quickly and the defense shows marginal improvement, this could be a bowl-eligible team riding offensive momentum. If the quarterback situation lingers or the defensive struggles persist, another long season awaits in Stillwater.