The first month of Oklahoma State's season will reveal whether Eric Morris' rebuild is ahead of schedule. From Drew Mestemaker and the North Texas transfers to the defense and Oregon matchup, here are my opinions on the five biggest questions facing the Cowboys entering 2026.
What's the biggest question Oklahoma State needs to answer in the first month?
There will not be many places for Oklahoma State to hide during the first month of the 2026 season.
The Cowboys open with four games that should reveal plenty about Eric Morris’ rebuild: a road trip to Tulsa, a marquee home matchup against Oregon, a visit from Murray State and the Big 12 opener at West Virginia. Sports Illustrated recently identified five questions that stretch will answer. Here is what I expect to learn from each one.
1. How competitive will Oklahoma State be against Oregon?
Oklahoma State does not have to beat Oregon to prove it is improving.
The Cowboys simply cannot look completely overwhelmed.
Last season’s 66-point loss made the gap between the two programs painfully clear. This year’s meeting provides Morris with an immediate measuring stick against a legitimate national championship contender.
My expectation is that Oklahoma State will make this a far more respectable game.
Oregon may still possess more talent across the roster, but the Cowboys should look organized, physical and capable of responding when adversity arrives. If Oklahoma State remains competitive into the second half, that alone would demonstrate meaningful progress.
The final score will matter, but the way the Cowboys handle the moment will tell us more.
2. Can the North Texas transfers succeed at the Power Four level?
This is the question I am least concerned about.
Nearly 20 North Texas players followed Morris to Stillwater, including Drew Mestemaker, Caleb Hawkins, Wyatt Young and Ethan Wesloski. Each produced at a high level before making the jump to the Big 12.
Naturally, the competition will become more difficult.
That does not mean their previous production should be dismissed.
These players already understand Morris’ expectations, terminology and system. While other transfers are still learning how everything fits together, the North Texas group can help establish the culture immediately.
Mestemaker will not lead the country in passing simply because he did it last season. Hawkins may not dominate every defense he faces. But I expect both to prove they belong at this level.
If Oklahoma State struggles early, I do not believe it will be because its most important North Texas transfers were incapable of making the jump.
3. Can Eric Morris handle the early pressure?
Morris has coached in important games before, but nothing will compare to the pressure awaiting him in Stillwater.
The Oregon matchup will place him on a national stage, while the West Virginia game will provide an opportunity to end Oklahoma State’s 18-game Big 12 losing streak.
I expect Morris to handle that pressure well because he appears to understand the scale of the rebuild.
He is not promising an immediate championship. He is trying to establish standards, confidence and an identity after one of the worst seasons in program history.
The biggest test will come after something goes wrong.
Can he keep the team composed after an early turnover? Can he make adjustments against Oregon? Can he prevent one difficult loss from carrying into the next week?
How Oklahoma State responds to adversity will tell us more about Morris than anything he says during the preseason.
4. Will Oklahoma State fans buy in?
The Oregon game should generate plenty of excitement.
The more revealing test will come one week later against Murray State. Sports Illustrated correctly noted that Oklahoma State’s leadership will be watching to see whether fans remain engaged after the emotional home opener.
My opinion is simple: fans will buy in when the team gives them a reason.
Cowboy fans do not expect perfection after a 1-11 season, but they do expect energy, competitiveness and visible progress. They want to see a team that looks prepared and believes it can win.
The support will be there initially.
Maintaining it will depend on the product Morris puts on the field.
5. Can Skyler Cassity rebuild the defense?
This is the most important question facing Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys do not need to become an elite defensive team overnight. They simply need to stop being one of the worst units in college football.
Cassity helped improve North Texas’ defense before following Morris to Oklahoma State, but rebuilding this group will require more than a new scheme. It will require communication, discipline and confidence from a roster filled with new faces.
The Oregon game should not define the defense.
Tulsa, Murray State and West Virginia will provide the better evaluation. If Oklahoma State tackles consistently, limits explosive plays and forces opponents to sustain drives, that would represent a major step forward.
Respectable defense could be the difference between another difficult season and one of the best turnarounds in college football.
By October, Oklahoma State will not have every answer.
We should know though whether the North Texas transfers belong, whether Cassity can stabilize the defense and whether Morris has the Cowboys moving in the right direction.
After a 1-11 season, that progress may be the most important victory of all.
