Oklahoma State's No. 9 ranking in the USA Today Big 12 Media Poll feels more like a reflection of last season than this year's roster. With Eric Morris, Drew Mestemaker and a rebuilt team, the Cowboys have all the ingredients to become one of the conference's biggest surprises.
Are you surprised Oklahoma State is 9th?
Nobody should be shocked that Oklahoma State was picked ninth in the USA Today Big Media Big 12 Poll. After all, the Cowboys are coming off a 1-11 season—the worst record in program history.
That doesn't mean ninth is where they'll finish.
If anything, the modest expectations may be exactly what Oklahoma State needs entering Eric Morris' first season.
The Cowboys look almost nothing like the team that struggled through 2025. Morris inherited one of the biggest rebuilding projects in college football and attacked it aggressively through the transfer portal, bringing in players who already understand his system and fit the culture he's trying to establish.
That starts with quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
The nation's leading passer reunites with Morris after thriving in his offense at North Texas, giving Oklahoma State one of the most experienced quarterback-coach pairings in the conference. Add one of the nation's highest-graded returning running backs in Caleb Hawkins, an experienced offensive line, and a completely revamped roster, and this isn't the same team voters watched lose 11 games.
The defense has reason for optimism, too.
Defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson has repeatedly praised the talent and depth up front, while several returning players have spoken about the chemistry developing throughout the offseason. After showing improvement late last year under Clint Bowen, the defense has an opportunity to take another significant step forward.
Preseason polls also tend to reward stability over potential. Teams returning established starters and coaching staffs often receive the benefit of the doubt, while programs undergoing major changes are viewed with skepticism until they prove otherwise. That's understandable, but it also creates opportunities for teams like Oklahoma State to outperform expectations. If Morris' new-look roster comes together quickly, the Cowboys could become one of the Big 12's biggest surprises. History has shown that preseason projections rarely tell the full story once conference play begins.
None of this guarantees Oklahoma State will challenge for a Big 12 title.
The Cowboys still have plenty to prove, and until they start winning games, skepticism is understandable.
Ninth feels more like a reflection of last season than an evaluation of this roster.
Sometimes the most dangerous teams are the ones nobody expects.
For Eric Morris, that may be exactly where he wants Oklahoma State.
If the Cowboys exceed expectations this fall, don't be surprised if people look back at this preseason poll as one of the biggest misses heading into the 2026 season.
