Tulsa World’s OSU Beat Writer, Eric Bailey joins OKState Roundtable Publisher Tyler Jones and gives insight to how things are going in Stillwater surrounding the Eric Morris Era, new players, spring practice, season expectations and more!
In a recent episode of The Jones Report, host Tyler Jones sat down with Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World for an in depth conversation on the changes underway for Oklahoma State football.
With new head coach Eric Morris at the helm following Mike Gundy’s departure, the program is buzzing with hope after two disappointing seasons.
Bailey, who has covered OSU extensively, notes the optimism, strategic rebuilding, and excitement. The discussion touched on everything from coaching philosophy and roster overhaul to NIL investments, bowl-game expectations, the future of Bedlam, and the Cowboys’ place in the evolving Big 12.
A Fresh Start Under Eric Morris
Bailey noted that ramping up excitement in Stillwater wasn’t difficult after back-to-back losing campaigns. Fans are “hopeful to return to winning ways” and see Morris as the catalyst to restore OSU to national prominence. Hired on November 25, 2025, from North Texas, Morris has fully embraced those expectations. He retained zero members of the previous staff, even down to support personnel, creating what Bailey called a “fresh start” that took the program “down to the studs.” As of late March 2026, the team has completed three spring practices, focusing on heavy installation and player-coach chemistry. Nothing is seamless in Year 1, but Bailey described the transition as “as close as it gets.”
Young, Hungry Staff and Program Rebuild
One standout element is the youth and energy of Morris’s coordinators, aged 31 and 29, younger than the previous defensive coordinator alone. Bailey mentions their aggressive recruiting approach, which landed a record 81 newcomers via the transfer portal in a single cycle. This “hungry group” is hitting the trail hard, bringing in talent that reflects a complete cultural reset. The move mirrors OSU’s wrestling program, which succeeded by hiring outsider David Taylor after John Smith’s retirement rather than promoting internally.
Transfers and Offensive Foundation
A major theme was the loyalty of three North Texas standouts who followed Morris - quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins, and wide receiver Wyatt Young. dubbed the “triplets.”
Mestemaker, one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in 2025 despite limited prior starts at the position, has already begun informal throwing sessions and early installs to accelerate team chemistry.
Bailey likened the strategy to Indiana’s successful import of James Madison talent under Curt Cignetti. These core pieces, once courted by Power conference teams, stayed loyal because of Morris’s belief in them early on.
NIL Investment and Fan Buy In
NIL money emerged as a critical factor. Reports indicate Mestemaker’s two-year deal is worth approximately $7.5 million, a staggering figure for a quarterback with just 14-15 career starts.
Bailey notes that OSU boosters appear far more willing to open their wallets under Morris than in Gundy’s final years, when skepticism may have limited investments. This financial commitment signals genuine belief that the program is turning the corner.
Year-One Expectations - Bowl Game as Benchmark
Bailey suggested that reaching a bowl game and securing six wins would constitute a successful debut, proving the “trajectory is changing.” While fans and players may dream bigger (nine or ten wins), simply returning to postseason play after a conference-win drought would mark meaningful progress.
Both sides expressed strong interest in reviving the historic Bedlam rivalry. Morris voiced his desire at his introductory press conference, and former OU athletic director Joe Castiglione has echoed similar sentiments. Yet scheduling hurdles remains a hill to climb.
Oklahoma plays nine SEC conference games, OSU nine in the Big 12, leaving limited non-conference slots already occupied by series like OSU’s home-and-home with Alabama. Bailey noted the game’s history and importance to Oklahoma fans, calling it a “big game for every college football fan in the state.” Recent discussions involving Norman and Stillwater mayors have kept the idea alive, though concrete dates have not been set.
Long-Term Outlook in the Big 12
Bailey agreed that OSU has a viable path to compete at the upper echelon despite financial gaps with programs like Texas Tech and BYU. Coaching, scheme execution, and player development remain decisive.
Morris’s track record of success at every stop, combined with deep Texas recruiting ties, positions the Cowboys well. Money matters, but Bailey emphasized that “it also comes down to coaching,” and the current staff appears to be the “perfect storm.”
Overall, the conversation captured a program at a crossroads…grateful for Gundy’s foundational contributions but energized by the clean break. With spring ball underway and the 2026 season on the horizon, Oklahoma State fans have legitimate reasons for optimism.
Whether six wins, a bowl berth, or an eventual Bedlam return materializes, it’s clear that the juice is back in Stillwater.