Oklahoma State Climbs to No. 18 in AP Poll, Still Outside Coaches Poll

Oklahoma State didn't play this weekend, but the Cowboys still managed to move up in the national rankings.

OSU climbed one spot to No. 18 in the latest AP Top 25, continuing its rise following three consecutive victories entering the bye week. The Cowboys are now 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 play.

The coaches, however, still aren't convinced enough to put Oklahoma State in their Top 25. The Cowboys remained outside the US LBM Coaches Poll, creating an interesting split in how OSU is being viewed nationally after the first month of Eric Morris' tenure.

Oklahoma State entered the AP rankings at No. 19 following its 41-24 victory over West Virginia, then moved up another position despite being idle this weekend.

The rise caps a dramatic turnaround from where the Cowboys stood following Week 1. OSU opened the season with a 24-10 loss at Tulsa, turning the ball over four times and immediately raising questions about how quickly Morris could rebuild a program coming off a difficult 2025 season.

Three weeks changed the conversation. Oklahoma State responded by upsetting then-No. 6 Oregon 39-31 at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Cowboys followed that with a dominant 59-0 win over Murray State before opening Big 12 play with the road victory at West Virginia.

The win in Morgantown snapped Oklahoma State's 18-game Big 12 losing streak and gave the Cowboys their first conference victory in 1,036 days.

OSU's offense has been a major reason for the turnaround. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker has thrown for more than 300 yards in three consecutive games, including 389 yards and three touchdowns against West Virginia. The Cowboys have also surpassed 500 yards of total offense in each of their past three games.

That body of work has been enough for AP voters to move Oklahoma State inside the top 20. It hasn't yet been enough for the coaches.

While rankings in early October ultimately have little impact on Oklahoma State's final goals, the discrepancy provides another indication of how quickly perceptions surrounding the Cowboys have changed — and how much they still have to prove.

Oklahoma State will get that opportunity when it returns from the bye and resumes Big 12 play against UCF at Boone Pickens Stadium.

For now, the Cowboys will leave their bye week ranked even higher than when they entered it.

No. 18 according to the AP — and still trying to convince the coaches.