Eric Morris was stunned to learn Oklahoma State had gone 1,036 days without a Big 12 win. After ending the drought at West Virginia, Morris reflected on Cowboy Nation, a message from Brandon Weeden and the spark behind OSU’s rapid turnaround during his first season.
Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris didn't immediately know how long it had been.
When informed after Saturday night's 41-24 win at West Virginia that Oklahoma State had gone 1,036 days without a Big 12 victory, Morris had to process the number.
“1,036 days? When was the last one?” Morris said.
Then came the significance of what his team had just accomplished.
“I'm just extremely happy,” Morris said. “This is what I do for a living. I'm in the trenches with these guys. It's been so cool to watch our fans and watch them celebrate. Cowboy Nation, you know. To see that and the people that care about this program and this university so much, it's rewarding to see that smile on their face.”
For Morris, Saturday wasn't simply another step in his first season at Oklahoma State. It was another sign of a program beginning to come back to life.
Former OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden apparently warned Morris what could happen if he managed to get things moving in Stillwater.
“Brandon Weeden told me, ‘Hey coach, if you get this thing going, you'll be surprised,’” Morris said. “‘Light a match underneath this thing and it'll be incredible, like you've never seen.’”
Four games into Morris' tenure, the match might already be lit. Oklahoma State is 3-1 after winning three consecutive games. The Cowboys upset then-No. 6 Oregon, shut out Murray State 59-0 and went on the road Saturday to hand previously unbeaten West Virginia its first loss.
That latest performance officially ended an 18-game Big 12 losing streak dating to Oklahoma State's win over BYU in the 2023 regular-season finale. It also helped propel the Cowboys to No. 19 in Sunday's AP Top 25, their first ranking since September 2024.
Hawkins Finds His Place in a Passing Offense
Perhaps nothing better represents Morris' early offensive success than what Oklahoma State has gotten from Caleb Hawkins. Morris arrived with a reputation for his passing attack, and Drew Mestemaker threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns Saturday.
Yet Hawkins was just as important. The running back carried 31 times for a career-high 180 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown that gave Oklahoma State its first lead of the night.
Hawkins believes the attention generated by OSU's passing game has actually made life easier for him.
“People say running backs don't want to play in a passing offense, but I think it opens up seams, as y'all saw today,” Hawkins said.
They certainly opened in Morgantown. While Mestemaker attacked West Virginia vertically, Hawkins helped OSU finish with 220 rushing yards. Wyatt Young's 192 receiving yards further stretched the Mountaineers' defense and demonstrated the dilemma Morris' offense can create.
Defend the pass, and Hawkins can find space. Commit additional defenders to the box, and Mestemaker has shown an ability to attack vertically.
The result Saturday was 609 total yards and 41 points.
A Bye Comes at an Interesting Time
Now Oklahoma State has to wait before trying to continue its run. The Cowboys enter their bye week riding their first three-game winning streak since 2023 and with more momentum than they've had in years.
Morris acknowledged afterward that the timing should benefit a roster that can use the opportunity to get healthier.
There's also another side to it. He can't wait to get his team back inside Boone Pickens Stadium.
That's understandable considering how quickly the atmosphere around the program has changed.
Four games ago, Oklahoma State was beginning a new era after a 1-11 season.
Now the Cowboys are 3-1, nationally ranked and have finally erased one of the most glaring reminders of the previous two seasons.
Morris was told before taking the job what Oklahoma State could become again if someone could provide the spark. So far, the Cowboys are beginning to find out.
