From Walk-On to potential Big 12 Phenom: Can Drew Mestemaker’s Explosive Arm Propel Oklahoma State to greatness in 2026?
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker has emerged as a standout in ESPN’s latest pre-spring rankings for Power 4 college football teams heading into the 2026 season.
Ranked No. 7 overall among the 68 starting quarterbacks, Mestemaker sits atop the Big 12 conference, signaling high expectations for the Cowboys under new head coach Eric Morris.
ESPN’s Bill Connelly highlighted Mestemaker’s explosive potential, drawing from his stellar 2025 performance at North Texas. “What happens when you graft the country’s most prolific mid-major offense onto the country’s worst power-conference roster? We’re going to find out!” Connelly wrote.
At North Texas, Mestemaker posted a 74.8 QBR, 4,379 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions, with a 68.9% completion rate and 13.7 yards per completion. He added 224 non-sack rushing yards and five scores on the ground.
Connelly noted that North Texas ranked first nationally in offensive SP+ last season, scoring at least 45 points nine times, despite Mestemaker being a redshirt freshman and former walk-on who started as a high school backup. “Mestemaker was learning lessons in real time and still thriving, finishing with the nation’s most passing yards and second-most TDs,” Connelly added.
Even in losses to USF and Tulane, where he threw six interceptions and took seven sacks, he rallied late, showing how good he can be when things go wrong.
Mestemaker’s journey to Stillwater is a testament to perseverance and opportunity. A former walk-on at North Texas, he rose from obscurity to lead one of the most dynamic offenses in the Group of 5. His move to Oklahoma State reunites him with Eric Morris, who coached him at North Texas before taking the Cowboys’ head job.
Morris, known for his high-octane, air-raid style, leveraged their ties to bring Mestemaker aboard, viewing him as the ideal signal-caller to revitalize a program that struggled in 2025. This connection has fueled optimism, as Morris aims to transplant the Mean Green’s offensive blueprint to the Big 12.
Oklahoma State’s offseason success in the transfer portal has further assisted Mestemaker’s prospects. The Cowboys secured eight transfers from North Texas on offense, including true freshman running back Caleb Hawkins, who started last season and provides a familiar backfield presence. A revamped wide receiving corps, featuring several UNT holdovers, should offer Mestemaker continuity and comfort.
These additions address OSU’s previous roster deficiencies, which Connelly described as “the country’s worst power-conference roster.” With these familiar weapons, Mestemaker is poised to replicate, and potentially exceed, his 2025 success.
Analysts predict he could throw for over 4,000 yards again, leveraging his quick release, accuracy, and ability to learn on the fly. Under Morris, who emphasizes tempo and explosiveness, Mestemaker’s dual-threat elements could elevate the Cowboys to Big 12 contention, possibly pushing for a conference title or CFP berth if the defense improves.
Compared to other Big 12 quarterbacks in ESPN’s rankings, Mestemaker’s position shows his true edge.
Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby (No. 9, from Cincinnati) brings dual-threat upside but showed inconsistency in losses. Utah’s Devon Dampier (No. 12) thrived after a level-up from New Mexico but faces a new coordinator. BYU’s Bear Bachmeier (No. 15) impressed as a true freshman, while Oklahoma’s John Mateer (No. 19) endured a physical toll in the SEC. Lower-ranked peers like Kansas State’s Avery Johnson (No. 21) and Arizona’s Noah Fifita (No. 27) have solid floors but lack Mestemaker’s proven volume.
Connelly’s take: “I’m guessing they will immediately create one of the Big 12’s better offenses, and there’s a chance they’ll do even more than that.”
As spring ball unfolds, all eyes will be on Mestemaker to validate the hype. In an era of “giant, roster-building thought experiments,” as Connelly puts it, Oklahoma State’s gamble on this North Texas transplant could pay dividends, transforming the Cowboys into a must-watch offense in 2026.