Oklahoma State Ends 18-Game Big 12 Losing Streak at West Virginia

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The streak is finally over.

Oklahoma State erased an early double-digit deficit and exploded offensively in the second half to beat West Virginia 41-24 Saturday night, snapping an 18-game Big 12 losing streak and giving Eric Morris his first conference victory as the Cowboys' head coach.

OSU trailed 14-3 in the first half and 21-13 early in the third quarter before taking control. The Cowboys scored 28 of the game's final 31 points while piling up 609 total yards, including 389 through the air and 220 on the ground.

Drew Mestemaker finished 20-of-27 for 389 yards and three touchdowns. Caleb Hawkins carried a staggering 31 times for 180 yards and a touchdown, while Wyatt Young delivered the biggest receiving performance of his OSU career with eight catches for 192 yards and a score.

Oklahoma State's first conference victory since Nov. 25, 2023, didn't come easily. West Virginia established its rushing attack almost immediately. Cam Cook broke loose for a 75-yard run on the Mountaineers' second possession, setting up Michael Hawkins Jr.'s 5-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.

The Mountaineers continued leaning almost exclusively on the ground. Hawkins added another rushing touchdown in the second quarter to finish a methodical drive and extend WVU's advantage to 14-3.

OSU consistently moved the football but initially struggled to finish drives. Sam Keltner field goals of 30 and 19 yards accounted for the Cowboys' first six points.

Then the game began to turn. Mose Phillips III intercepted Hawkins Jr. late in the first half and returned it 30 yards to the OSU 45. Mestemaker capitalized, connecting with Young for 21 yards before finding Justin Bowick for a 21-yard touchdown.

OSU entered halftime down only 14-13 and received the second-half kickoff. The Cowboys immediately threatened to take the lead when Mestemaker hit Chris Barnes for 52 yards, but Kamari Wilson intercepted Mestemaker at the WVU 15. The Mountaineers capitalized, marching downfield behind Hawkins and Cook before Hawkins' third rushing touchdown made it 21-13.

From there, Oklahoma State took over. Mestemaker connected with Barnes for 27 yards and Young for 50 on consecutive big plays before finding Terrance Lewis for a 4-yard touchdown. After a WVU pass interference penalty on OSU's initial two-point attempt, Mestemaker went right back to Lewis to tie the game at 21.

West Virginia briefly regained the lead with a 27-yard field goal, but it lasted only 75 seconds.

Mestemaker fired a 48-yard strike to Young before Hawkins broke loose for a 22-yard touchdown run, giving OSU its first lead at 28-24.

The Cowboys never gave it back. OSU's defense stuffed West Virginia on fourth down during its next possession. Young then got loose for another 48-yard reception, helping set up Keltner's 29-yard field goal for a 31-24 advantage.

As West Virginia's run-heavy offense was forced into obvious passing situations, the Cowboys' defense began teeing off. Tate Romney and Jarry Lawson recorded sacks on the Mountaineers' next possession, forcing a punt and giving OSU's offense another opportunity to put the game away.

It did. The Cowboys methodically marched downfield before Mestemaker found Young over the top for a 6-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 38-24.

Young finished with 192 receiving yards, OSU's highest single-game total by a receiver since Dillon Stoner in 2021.

West Virginia's next possession ended when Vincent Holmes recorded a fourth-down sack. Keltner later drilled a 47-yard field goal, his fourth of the night, to finish the scoring at 41-24.

Oklahoma State scored on eight of its 11 possessions despite committing nine penalties for 89 yards and turning the ball over once.

West Virginia still finished with two 100-yard rushers. Cook carried 29 times for 193 yards, while Hawkins rushed for 102 yards and three touchdowns in addition to completing 10-of-22 passes for 132 yards.

But after allowing 21 points through West Virginia's first possession of the second half, OSU didn't surrender another touchdown.

LInebacker Ethan Wesloski finished with 16 tackles and half a sack. Romney added 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, while Quinton Hammonds recorded 12 tackles.

The Cowboys have now won three consecutive games after their season-opening loss at Tulsa, including wins over No. 6 Oregon and previously unbeaten West Virginia.

More importantly, they're finally back in the Big 12 win column.

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