Oklahoma State cracks College Football Playoff rankings at No. 25 ahead of showdown with No. 12 Texas Tech

STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State is back in the College Football Playoff rankings, and the timing couldn't be much better for the Cowboys.

Following Saturday's dominant 66-28 victory over Kansas State, Oklahoma State debuted at No. 25 in the latest CFP rankings released Tuesday night, marking the program's first appearance in the committee's top 25 since the 2023 season.

The recognition comes as head coach Eric Morris and the Cowboys prepare for one of their biggest games of the season, hosting No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday night at Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma State enters the matchup at 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, having already secured bowl eligibility for the first time since 2023.

The Cowboys' return to the national rankings reflects a remarkable offensive turnaround under Morris, highlighted by quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins. Mestemaker continued his record-setting season against Kansas State, completing 22 of 28 passes for 313 yards and four touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown and catching another score on a trick play.

His performance extended his Oklahoma State school record to eight consecutive games with at least 300 passing yards, surpassing the previous mark of seven held by Mason Rudolph.

Hawkins was equally impressive, rushing for 175 yards and three touchdowns while adding 71 receiving yards and another score. His 246 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns helped Oklahoma State produce its highest-scoring performance of the season.

The Cowboys scored 49 first-half points and finished with 565 total yards against the Wildcats, continuing to establish themselves as one of the Big 12's most explosive offenses.

Now comes an opportunity to turn that momentum into an even bigger statement. Texas Tech climbed three spots to No. 12 in Tuesday's CFP rankings after defeating West Virginia 53-48. The Red Raiders enter Saturday's game at 8-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play, firmly positioned in the Big 12 championship race.

The matchup will be Oklahoma State's third game this season against a team currently ranked in the CFP top 25. The Cowboys previously defeated No. 16 Oregon and fell to No. 14 Houston, giving them a 1-1 record against teams appearing in Tuesday's rankings.

Oklahoma State is also one of six Big 12 teams included in the latest rankings. Utah leads the conference at No. 2, followed by BYU at No. 10, Texas Tech at No. 12, Houston at No. 14, Arizona at No. 23 and Oklahoma State at No. 25. Georgia took over the No. 1 overall ranking, followed by Utah, Alabama and UCLA.

While Oklahoma State's No. 25 ranking places the Cowboys outside the current 12-team playoff field, Saturday presents an opportunity to strengthen their résumé against a nationally ranked conference opponent. A victory over Texas Tech would give Oklahoma State another signature win and potentially move the Cowboys higher in the committee's next rankings. It would also keep the Cowboys in the conversation during the final stretch of the Big 12 regular season.

The stakes are particularly intriguing considering Oklahoma State's remaining schedule. Following Saturday's matchup, the Cowboys travel to Arizona State on November 21 before closing the regular season at home against Kansas.

For a program that entered the season looking to establish a new identity under Morris, appearing in the CFP rankings represents another significant step forward. But the Cowboys now have an opportunity to prove they belong even higher.

No. 25 Oklahoma State hosts No. 12 Texas Tech on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN in a blackout game at Boone Pickens Stadium.

The next College Football Playoff rankings will be released Tuesday, November 17.