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‘A Force to Be Reckoned With,’ ‘I’d Be Surprised If He’s in College Next Year’ — Drew Mestemaker Leads No. 18 Oklahoma State Past UCF

Oklahoma State’s resurgence under first-year head coach Eric Morris continued Saturday as the Cowboys secured a 42–28 victory over UCF, snapping a 21–21 halftime stalemate with a dominant 21-point fourth-quarter surge. Quarterback Drew Mestemaker delivered another standout performance, completing 19 of 28 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns while avoiding any turnovers—a trend that has now extended to four consecutive 300-yard games.

The Cowboys’ defense also made a pivotal play when safety Evan Jackson returned a fumble for a touchdown, sparking a momentum shift that UCF never recovered from. Oklahoma State’s offense capitalized with a pair of key plays, including a 5-yard touchdown pass from Mestemaker to Wyatt Young, while the Cowboys’ defense stifled UCF on a critical fourth-down stop midway through the fourth quarter.

The win marked Morris’s fourth consecutive victory as he rebuilds a program that finished 1-11 last season, with tight end Morgan McPhaul and linebackers Ethan Wesloski and Tate Romney contributing strong defensive efforts. UCF’s Keyone Jenkins, who had thrown three first-half touchdowns, saw his team’s late rally fizzle out after a backward pass led to Jackson’s game-changing return.

The Cowboys’ offensive line and special teams also played key roles, with kicker Sam Keltner’s field goals extending their lead before the decisive defensive stand.

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