Drew Mestemaker Takes Accountability for Oklahoma State's Loss to Houston, Refuses to Blame Defense

HOUSTON, Texas — Drew Mestemaker could only watch as Oklahoma State's comeback attempt slipped away in the final minutes against Houston.

After leading the Cowboys to 29 second-half points and pulling within three late in the fourth quarter, Mestemaker hoped the offense would get one more opportunity to complete the comeback.

That opportunity never came. Houston converted a critical third down on its final possession, allowing the Cougars to run out the clock and secure a 35-32 victory over No. 18 Oklahoma State. But rather than placing blame on the Cowboys' defense for failing to get the ball back, Mestemaker pointed to his own unit's inability to execute earlier in the game.

"We just have to execute at the end of the day," Mestemaker said.

Oklahoma State's quarterback admitted it was difficult watching Houston drain the remaining time from the clock while the Cowboys' offense stood on the sideline.

Mestemaker had just helped lead a late touchdown drive, connecting with Justin Bowick for an 8-yard score before finding him again for the two-point conversion. The sequence cut Houston's advantage to 35-32, giving Oklahoma State hope of completing a comeback after trailing by 11 points late in the fourth quarter. However, Houston's offense never surrendered possession.

Mestemaker acknowledged wanting another chance to change the outcome but emphasized that the loss couldn't be placed solely on the defense. Instead, he reflected on Oklahoma State's inability to capitalize on opportunities during the opening half.

The Cowboys managed just three points before halftime, putting themselves in a difficult position against a Houston team that entered the matchup ranked No. 20 nationally. For Mestemaker, the offensive struggles were just as important to the final result as Houston's ability to close out the game.

Oklahoma State's offense had opportunities to build an early lead but repeatedly came away without the points it needed.

On the Cowboys' opening possession, they moved deep into Houston territory before settling for a 23-yard field goal from Sam Keltner. Their next trip inside the Houston 5-yard line ended without points after Mestemaker's fourth-down pass intended for Wyatt Young was broken up in the end zone.

Despite reaching the red zone on their first two possessions, Oklahoma State managed only three points. The Cowboys eventually entered halftime trailing 14-3.

Mestemaker pointed to execution as the primary reason for those missed opportunities, explaining that the offense didn't consistently finish the plays it needed to make. Rather than suggesting Houston had found some unexpected defensive solution, the quarterback believed Oklahoma State had failed to execute its own assignments. Those early mistakes became especially costly in a game ultimately decided by three points.

Despite the slow start, Mestemaker responded with a productive second half. The quarterback finished 22-of-34 passing for 365 yards and three touchdowns, extending his streak of 300-yard passing performances to five consecutive games. Oklahoma State's offense came alive after halftime, scoring 29 points and repeatedly putting pressure on Houston's defense.

One of the biggest plays came when Mestemaker connected with Caleb Hawkins on a 66-yard touchdown reception, with the running back doing much of the damage after the catch. The Cowboys also received a touchdown reception from Wyatt Young and a late scoring connection between Mestemaker and Bowick.

But the comeback wasn't enough to overcome Houston quarterback Conner Weigman's five-touchdown performance and Oklahoma State's earlier mistakes. The Cowboys finished with 499 yards of total offense, demonstrating their ability to move the football despite their inconsistent start. For Mestemaker, those numbers provided little consolation after a loss that could have played out differently with better execution.

Oklahoma State fell to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play, suffering its first conference defeat and snapping a four-game winning streak.

The loss also reinforced a concern head coach Eric Morris expressed afterward about the Cowboys' inability to consistently start games with the same efficiency they have shown in the second half.

Mestemaker's comments reflected a similar message. The quarterback understands that Oklahoma State cannot rely on late rallies every week, particularly against quality Big 12 opponents. While he wanted one final opportunity to complete the comeback against Houston, Mestemaker recognized that the Cowboys had already let several chances slip away.

His focus moving forward is ensuring Oklahoma State takes advantage of those opportunities earlier rather than needing another dramatic fourth-quarter comeback.

For Mestemaker, the message following the loss was simple. "We just have to execute at the end of the day."