On3's Brett McMurphy ranked Oklahoma State's 2026 schedule tied for fifth toughest in the Big 12. The Cowboys face Oregon and several conference contenders, but a closer look shows plenty of winnable games and a real opportunity for Eric Morris to make progress in Year 1.
Is OSU's schedule as tough as Brett McMurphy says?
Oklahoma State will reportedly face one of the Big 12's toughest schedules this season.
On3 national reporter Brett McMurphy recently ranked the Cowboys' 2026 schedule as tied for the fifth toughest in the conference alongside BYU.
That sounds intimidating.
When looking at Oklahoma State's schedule though game by game, I'm not convinced it's as daunting as the ranking suggests.
Let's make one thing clear.
Oklahoma State's schedule is difficult.
The Cowboys host Oregon in Week 2, face potential Big 12 contenders Houston and Texas Tech and play four conference road games over a six-week stretch late in the season.
There aren't many easy Saturdays on the schedule.
There are plenty of winnable ones.
The biggest challenge for Oklahoma State may actually come before the Cowboys settle into Big 12 play.
Eric Morris opens his first season in Stillwater on the road against Tulsa before Oregon comes to Boone Pickens Stadium. The Cowboys then host Murray State before beginning conference play at West Virginia.
Oregon is obviously the game everyone circles.
The Ducks have established themselves as one of college football's premier programs, and Oklahoma State will be tested immediately against one of the most talented rosters in the country.
Here's where perspective matters though.
Oklahoma State doesn't have to beat Oregon for this season to be successful.
If the Cowboys take care of Tulsa and Murray State, they can enter Big 12 play at 2-1 with an entirely new coaching staff and a roster featuring massive turnover.
That's a good position to be in.
Once conference play begins, the schedule becomes much more interesting.
West Virginia.
UCF.
Houston.
Colorado.
Iowa State.
Kansas State.
Texas Tech.
Arizona State.
Kansas.
Those are Oklahoma State's nine Big 12 opponents in 2026.
There are difficult games in that group.
Houston and Texas Tech are receiving plenty of preseason attention as potential Big 12 contenders. Road trips to Ames, Manhattan and Tempe are never easy, either.
Oklahoma State's late-season stretch could be the true test. The Cowboys travel to Iowa State and Kansas State in consecutive weeks before hosting Texas Tech and heading to Arizona State. Three of those four games are on the road.
How many games on the entire conference schedule feel completely unwinnable?
That's where I push back on McMurphy's fifth-toughest schedule ranking.
The Big 12 is filled with parity. Oklahoma State isn't entering conference play as the favorite, but the Cowboys also won't face a weekly gauntlet of national championship contenders.
They also avoid BYU and Utah, two programs expected to be among the stronger teams in the conference.
Oklahoma State's schedule may be difficult because of the number of competitive games.
That doesn't necessarily mean those games can't be won.
The Cowboys also have something most rebuilding programs don't.
Continuity in the most important parts of their new offense.
Eric Morris brought quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young with him from North Texas after the trio emerged as key pieces of one of college football's most productive offenses.
That doesn't guarantee the same production will immediately translate to the Big 12.
It does gives Oklahoma State a legitimate identity entering Year one of a rebuild.
The Cowboys know who their quarterback is.
They know who their top running back is.
Many of the key players already understand Morris' offensive system.
That's why the non-conference portion of the schedule is so important.
Get through Tulsa.
Take care of Murray State.
See what happens against Oregon.
Enter Big 12 play with a winning record and an offense that's had three games to settle in.
From there, Oklahoma State has opportunities.
A bowl game shouldn't be ruled out.
A winning season shouldn't be ruled out.
If the offense translates faster than expected, the Cowboys could become one of the Big 12's biggest surprises.
So yes, McMurphy has Oklahoma State tied for the fifth-toughest schedule in the Big 12.
But difficult and unwinnable aren't the same thing.
If the Cowboys survive September in good shape, there are enough opportunities on the Big 12 schedule for Morris to make significant progress in Year 1.
The ranking says the schedule is tough.
The actual games say Oklahoma State has a chance.
