Oklahoma State remains outside the AP Top 25 despite receiving 50 votes after its 59-0 win over Murray State. The Cowboys have won two straight, but Saturday’s Big 12 opener at West Virginia — which received 95 votes — provides another chance to strengthen their case.
Oklahoma State followed one of the biggest wins of the young college football season by doing exactly what was expected against Murray State.
It still wasn't enough to push the Cowboys into the AP Top 25.
OSU received 50 votes in the latest AP poll released Sunday, keeping the Cowboys outside the Top 25 following Saturday's 59-0 demolition of Murray State.
The Cowboys are coming off consecutive victories after opening the Eric Morris era with a loss at Tulsa. OSU stunned then-No. 6 Oregon 39-31 in its home opener before overwhelming Murray State 59-0 one week later.
Now comes another opportunity to strengthen its case. Oklahoma State opens Big 12 play Saturday at West Virginia, which is also knocking on the door of the Top 25.
The Mountaineers received 95 votes in the AP poll, placing them among the leading teams outside the rankings alongside Washington and Kentucky.
That sets up an intriguing conference opener between two programs receiving significant voter support but still looking for the victory that could push them into the rankings.
Four Big 12 Teams Make AP Top 25
BYU remains the Big 12's highest-ranked team at No. 9, followed closely by No. 11 Texas Tech. Utah checks in at No. 15, while Houston rounds out the conference's ranked representation at No. 25.
For Oklahoma State, the 50 votes are another indication of how quickly the perception surrounding the Cowboys has changed.
Two weeks ago, OSU was coming off a 24-10 loss at Tulsa in which Morris called the offensive performance embarrassing. Then came the Oregon upset.
The Cowboys followed it by avoiding any hint of a letdown against Murray State, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions, building a 31-0 halftime advantage and eventually finishing with 662 yards of offense.
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker completed 20-of-22 passes for 324 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, setting Oklahoma State single-game records for completion percentage and passing efficiency in the process.
OSU's defense held Murray State to 160 total yards and completed its first shutout of the Morris era.
Coaches Poll Tells Similar Story
Oklahoma State also remains outside the Coaches Poll after receiving 36 votes. West Virginia received 55 votes, once again placing the Mountaineers ahead of the Cowboys among teams outside the Top 25.
The conference's ranked teams are similar, with BYU at No. 9, Texas Tech at No. 10 and Utah at No. 15. Houston received the most votes among teams outside the Coaches Poll Top 25.
Ultimately, neither poll will matter much once Oklahoma State and West Virginia take the field. The Cowboys have spent the past two weeks rebuilding momentum after their season-opening loss. West Virginia enters conference play with even stronger support from voters. On Saturday, both will have an opportunity to make their case on the field.
For Oklahoma State, a third consecutive victory — and its first Big 12 win of the Morris era — would give voters another result to consider when the next rankings are released.
