Eric Morris Keeping Oklahoma State Grounded Amid Growing Preseason Hype

Excitement surrounding Oklahoma State football has continued to build throughout the offseason, but head coach Eric Morris wants his team to remember it hasn't accomplished anything yet.

Morris addressed the growing expectations surrounding the Cowboys during a recent team meeting as Oklahoma State prepares to open its first season under its new head coach.

“Everything’s been so peachy and positive, and so many good responses, and everybody’s, like, kumbaya right now about what’s going on at Oklahoma State,” Morris said. “And football’s such a physical game, and it all changes when somebody hits you in the mouth.”

It's been an offseason filled with reasons for optimism in Stillwater. Morris arrived after leading North Texas to a 12-win season and immediately went to work rebuilding an Oklahoma State roster that finished just 1-11 last season.

The Cowboys added 91 newcomers, including 68 transfers, with several of Morris' top players at North Texas following him to Stillwater. That group includes quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who led the nation with 4,379 passing yards last season, and running back Caleb Hawkins, who rushed for 1,434 yards and scored a nation-leading 29 total touchdowns.

The additions have helped quickly change the expectations surrounding a program that hasn't won a Big 12 game since 2023. But Morris knows none of Oklahoma State's offseason accomplishments will matter once the Cowboys finally take the field. 

“We talked a little bit about how to respond to adversity and making sure that we continue to play together,” Morris said.

The Cowboys won't have to wait long to find out how they respond when things don't go according to plan. Oklahoma State opens the season Sept. 5 on the road against Tulsa before returning to Stillwater for a massive early-season test against No. 2 Oregon on Sept. 12. That matchup will provide an immediate measuring stick for Morris' rebuilt program.

Oregon beat Oklahoma State 69-3 last season in Eugene during one of the lowest points of the Cowboys' 1-11 campaign. This time, the Ducks will travel to Boone Pickens Stadium to face an almost completely different Oklahoma State team.

There's plenty of excitement surrounding what Morris has built in just one offseason. Now he wants his players prepared for what happens when the positivity disappears and adversity arrives.

For a team featuring dozens of players who have never played a game together at Oklahoma State, Morris' message is simple: the offseason hype is over. It's almost time to prove it.