Oklahoma State Earns Four Big 12 Weekly Honors as Breakout Performances Become Trends

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

STILLWATER — What looked like a collection of breakout performances against Oregon is beginning to look a lot more sustainable for Oklahoma State.

Following the Cowboys' 41-24 win at West Virginia, quarterback Drew Mestemaker, linebacker Ethan Wesloski and kicker Sam Keltner were honored by the Big 12 on Monday, while Oklahoma State's offensive line also earned the conference's weekly award.

Mestemaker was named Co-Offensive Player of the Week, Wesloski Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Keltner Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. The Cowboys' offensive line was named Offensive Line of the Week.

There's something familiar about that list. All four earned the same honors following Oklahoma State's 39-31 upset of then-No. 6 Oregon two weeks earlier. For a team with 91 newcomers still establishing its identity under first-year coach Eric Morris, several of its early standouts are quickly becoming consistent difference-makers.

Drew Mestemaker Keeps Producing Explosive Plays

Mestemaker's latest performance might have been his most impressive through four games.

Making his Big 12 debut on the road, Mestemaker completed 20-of-27 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns. His 389 passing yards are the most by a Big 12 quarterback against an FBS opponent this season.

It was also his third consecutive 300-yard passing game and extended his FBS-leading streak of games with at least 200 passing yards to 19.

The most encouraging part might have been how Mestemaker responded to adversity. He threw an interception on Oklahoma State's opening possession of the second half, and West Virginia immediately responded with a touchdown to take a 21-13 lead. Instead of unraveling, Mestemaker helped OSU score 28 of the game's final 31 points.

His ability to consistently push the ball downfield has become one of the defining characteristics of Morris' offense. Oklahoma State has already recorded 24 completions of at least 20 yards, the third-most in the FBS.

Four games into the Morris era, Mestemaker isn't merely showing flashes of what the offense could eventually become. He's already producing at a nationally significant level.

Ethan Wesloski Is Becoming the Centerpiece of the Defense

Wesloski's performance might have been even more impressive statistically.

The linebacker finished with a season-high 17 tackles and half a sack. His 17 tackles are the most by a Big 12 player in a game this season and fourth-most by any FBS player.

He had already recorded 11 tackles by halftime. Wesloski now leads the Big 12 with nine tackles per game.

That production comes two weeks after he led OSU with nine tackles and half a sack against Oregon. It's becoming increasingly difficult to view either performance as an outlier.

Skyler Cassity's defense still has areas to improve — particularly after West Virginia found success running the football Saturday — but Wesloski has emerged as a stabilizing presence in the middle of it.

If that production continues into the heart of conference play, Wesloski could continue building a legitimate case for postseason All-Big 12 recognition.

Sam Keltner Has Become Automatic

While Oklahoma State's offense eventually exploded in Morgantown, it needed Keltner early. OSU's first two scoring drives stalled in the red zone, and Keltner converted from 30 and 19 yards to keep the Cowboys within striking distance. He later connected from 29 and 47 yards, finishing 4-for-4 on field goals and accounting for 15 points.

Keltner is now a perfect 10-for-10 on field goals this season and leads the FBS in field goals made. He also ranks among the nation's top 10 in scoring.

Just like Mestemaker and Wesloski, this wasn't his first four-field-goal performance in a major victory. Keltner also went 4-for-4 against Oregon.

For an Oklahoma State team that has already played two games decided deep into the second half, having a kicker who has yet to miss could become increasingly valuable as the Big 12 schedule progresses.

Offensive Line Helps Unlock Everything

The fourth award might best explain why Oklahoma State's offense has taken off. OSU's offensive line didn't allow a sack against West Virginia while the Cowboys accumulated 609 total yards.

Mestemaker threw for 389. Caleb Hawkins rushed for 180. Wyatt Young caught eight passes for 192.

According to the Big 12, Oklahoma State became the first Power Four team in 30 years to produce both a 175-yard rusher and 175-yard receiver in a conference opener. It was only the second time in the past 15 years any FBS team accomplished the feat in its first conference game.

The Cowboys have now surpassed 500 total yards in three consecutive games for the first time since 2019. Their 609 yards Saturday were their most against a Big 12 opponent since recording 682 against TCU in 2021. And the offensive line has now been honored by the conference twice in three weeks.

That's what makes Monday's awards more significant than simply another collection of weekly accolades.

Mestemaker, Wesloski, Keltner and the offensive line were recognized after Oregon. Two weeks later, they did it again.

Oklahoma State is still only four games into a massive rebuild, and plenty will be tested once the Cowboys return from their bye week.

But some of the performances that initially looked like breakout moments are beginning to become expectations.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos