Breaking Down OSU's 2026 Schedule — Game-by-Game Analysis of Morris' First Season

Oklahoma State’s 2026 schedule has been unveiled.

On Jan. 21, the Big 12 released full slates for each conference member. The Cowboys open the season Sept. 5 at Tulsa, before hosting Oregon for the first home game of the Eric Morris era at OSU. The Cowboys are coming off a 1-11 campaign, which included a second-straight winless season in conference play and marked their worst finish since 1991. That led to the firing of longtime coach Mike Gundy, who was dismissed Sept. 23 following a home loss to Tulsa and a 1-2 start.

Since Morris’ hiring in December, however, OSU has invested heavily in the transfer portal. The Cowboys have reeled in 55 transfers to overhaul their roster for the 2026 season. 

But will it be enough to improve upon last season’s insipid finish? Morris and Co. will have to embark on that journey without Gundy — who spent more than two decades at the helm — and a bevy of key players who transferred out following his firing.

To provide clarity on OSU’s chances of returning to a bowl game in Year 1 under Morris, here is a breakdown of all of its games this season. 

Saturday, Sept. 5 — at Tulsa 

All-Time Series: OSU leads 44-29-5

To officially kickstart the Morris era in Stillwater, OSU will get a shot at redemption.

Tulsa upset OSU 19-12 at Boone Pickens Stadium last season in a game that was more lopsided than the final score might have indicated. The Golden Hurricane clinched their first win in the Turnpike Classic since 1998, and their first in Stillwater since 1951 (!), severing the Gundy era at OSU. 

This game likely won’t provide a clear gauge as to how OSU’s 2026 season will progress. It will, however, give fans a glimpse into what Morris’ air raid scheme will look like with quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins and wide receiver Wyatt Young, each of whom followed Morris to OSU from North Texas.

Advantage: OSU

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Saturday, Sept. 12 — vs Oregon 

All-Time Series: Oregon leads 2-0

For OSU, the 2025 matchup at Autzen Stadium in Eugene was one to forget. 

The Ducks manhandled OSU 69-3, handing the Cowboys their largest margin of defeat since 1907. And the 2026 contest in Stillwater won’t be any easier.

With star quarterback Dante Moore announcing his return to Oregon for the upcoming season, complemented by a plethora of noteworthy transfer portal additions this offseason, the Ducks, per usual, will boast a roster loaded with talent heading into this Week 2 matchup. Upsets are one of the many beauties of college football. But this shouldn’t be a matchup OSU fans should expect to come out victorious. However, a competitive product on display might be enough of a silver lining to provide fans optimism the rest of the way. 

Advantage: Oregon

Saturday, Sept. 19 — vs Murray State

All-Time Series: N/A

OSU’s buy game couldn’t come at a more-ideal time — immediately after the Oregon game, and shortly before Big 12 play commences. This should be Morris’ best chance to delve deep into his roster to gain a clear gauge of its makeup.

This marks the first matchup between the two schools, and Cowboys haven’t lost to a modern FCS program since the NCAA split into Division-I-A and Division-I-AA in 1978. 

Advantage: OSU

Saturday, Sept. 26 — at West Virginia 

All-Time Series: OSU leads 10-6

The Cowboys head to the country roads to face a Mountaineer squad that also delved heavily into the transfer portal. Coach Rich Rodriguez, in the second season of his second stint in Morgantown, ushered in 33 transfers, overhauling a roster that finished 4-8 a season ago. 

OSU hasn’t lost in Morgantown since 2013, but Milan-Puskar Stadium is widely regarded as one of the more difficult places to compete in as the opposition. It should make for a telling inaugural Big 12 test for Morris’ team.

Advantage: OSU

Saturday, Oct. 3 — BYE Week

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Saturday, Oct. 10 — vs UCF

All-Time Series: UCF leads 2-0

UCF has clinched both contests against OSU as a Big 12 member. However, both contests have been played in Orlando. 

The Knights finished 5-7 in the first season of Scott Frost’s second stint, and welcomed in 29 transfers from the portal. The Cowboys will face another relatively new-look roster in their second Big 12 tests this season. 

Advantage: OSU

Saturday, Oct. 17 — at Houston

All-Time Series: Houston leads 11-10

Houston coach Willie Fritz pioneered an impressive turnaround with a six-win improvement from Year 1 to 2. The Cougars finished 2025 at 10-3, clinching their 10th 10-win season in program history with a 38-35 win against LSU in the Texas Bowl. 

Houston beat the Cowboys last season in Stillwater. And with quarterback Conner Weigman and wide receiver Amare Thomas expected to return, the Cowboys’ contest in H-Town won’t be an easy task.

Advantage: Houston

Saturday, Oct. 24 — vs Colorado

All-Time Series: Colorado leads 27-20-1

The Cowboys welcome Deion Sanders and Co. for Homecoming.

The Buffs got the best of OSU in Boulder in 2024, cruising to a 52-0 win. Simultaneously, they are coming off a 3-9 finish, the worst under Sanders, who is entering his fourth year at the helm. 

Expectations should be inflated with former five-star prospect Julian Lewis the likely starter at quarterback, along with the hiring of Brennan Marion at offensive coordinator. Sanders also reeled in 42 prospects from the transfer portal, highlighted by the additions of 

CU should feature a drastically improved product. But overall, the Cowboys likely have the edge at home. And being 58-40-6 all-time in Homecoming games helps, too. 

Advantage: OSU

Saturday, Oct. 31 — at Iowa State

All-Time Series: OSU leads 34-22-3

A good test for two programs with relatively new-look rosters under new head coaches. But which rebuild triumphs the latter? 

The Cyclones cashed in with the addition of former Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor from the transfer portal. As a junior with the Red Wolves, Raynor threw for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, to go with 423 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

The Cowboys haven’t won in Ames since 2019, but who’s to say Lady Luck won’t shed a different fortune their way this go-around? 

Advantage: OSU

Saturday, Nov. 7 — at Kansas State

All-Time Series: OSU leads 43-29

Another game, another matchup with a new coaching staff.

Following Chris Kleiman’s abrupt retirement, Kansas State hired former Texas A&M offensive coordinator and program alumnus Collin Klein as Kleiman’s successor. And so far, it’s paid dividends on the recruiting trail.

Starting quarterback Avery Johnson and former five-star tight end Lincoln Cure have both announced their returns to K-State for the 2026 season. Additionally, the Wildcats have welcomed in four OSU transfers, highlighted by former starting running back Rodney Fields and All-Freshman Big 12 edge rusher, Wendell Gregory.

OSU hasn’t won in Manhattan since 2016, having lost five of their last seven in the Little Apple.

Advantage: Kansas State

Saturday, Nov. 14 — vs Texas Tech

All-Time Series: Texas Tech leads 25-24-3

Texas Tech’s reported $28 million investment toward its program paid off — pun intended.

The Red Raiders are coming off a program-best, 12-2 record, which featured the program’s first Big 12 title and an appearance in the College Football Playoffs quarterfinals. And if you thought the oil men in Lubbock had finalized their big-money moves, you were mistaken.

They just reeled in former Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby from the portal to complement an already-loaded transfer portal class. Additionally, Texas Tech added immense size to a front-seven unit that already ranked atop the Big 12 in rushing defense. 

At this point, a competitive outing might bring OSU fans solace for this matchup. But who knows? Perhaps a rowdy Boone Pickens Stadium will be enough to alter its trajectory in favor of the home team. 

Advantage: Texas Tech

Saturday, Nov. 21 — at Arizona State

All-Time Series: Tied 3-3

A stellar 10-4 campaign in 2024, which saw the Sun Devils win a Big 12 championship and clinch a College Football Playoffs appearance, brought immense hype to coach Kenny Dillingham’s program. But an uninspiring 8-5 finish to the 2025 season put a damper on that.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt joined Lane Kiffin at LSU. Star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is off to the pros and will likely be a first-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Dillingham welcomed in former Kentucky starting quarterback Cutter Boley to take the reins under center. But will that be enough to get the Sun Devils trending upward again?

Advantage: Arizona State

Saturday, Nov. 28 — vs Kansas 

All-Time Series: OSU leads 42-31-2

Jaylon Daniels exhausted his eligibility, leaving uncertainty as to who will start at quarterback for the Jayhawks in 2026.

Lance Leipold led Kansas to consecutive bowl appearances from 2022-23 for the first time in more than a decade. That included a 9-4 finish in 2023.

But coming off consecutive 5-7 finishes, this might be a make-or-break year for Leipold. And fortunately for OSU fans, the Cowboys host them at Boone Pickens Stadium to close out the regular season. 

Advantage: OSU