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09/12 16:50 CDT Oklahoma State knocks off No. 6 Oregon 39-31 for first major
upset of the season
Oklahoma State knocks off No. 6 Oregon 39-31 for first major upset of the season
By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer
Oklahoma State was given no shot at beating No. 6 Oregon, not after losing at
Tulsa last week nor a 66-point thumping by the Ducks last season.
The Cowboys were seemingly the only ones who believed and they did it on a wild
Saturday in Stillwater, beating Oregon 39-31 in the first major upset of the
college football season.
The win gave coach Eric Morris a memorable moment in his first win at Oklahoma
State and sent Cowboys fans pouring onto the field.
"I don't know if I can top this," Morris told ESPN after the game. "I'm not
going to retire, but I might think about it tonight."
Everything appeared to be against the Cowboys (1-1).
They had lost 21 straight games against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents and
12 straight overall spanning two seasons, their only win to FCS Tennessee
Martin in the 2025 opener. Oklahoma State was blown out 69-3 by Oregon last
season, was coming off a lackluster 24-10 loss to Tulsa and entered Saturday's
game as 23 1/2-point underdogs.
The Cowboys never flinched, stifling Oregon's vaunted offense while racking up
554 total yards.
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker overcame two interceptions on tipped passes to
throw for 317 yards and two touchdowns, adding a pinballing 10-yard TD run that
put the Cowboys up 36-31 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
"This is the best moment of my life, honestly," Mestemaker said. "Not even
close."
The main event No. 1 Ohio State (1-0) at No. 4 Texas (1-0) on Saturday night is expected to be one of the best games of the season. This series is only 21 years old and the Buckeyes lead 3-2 after last year's 14-7 win in Columbus. There are stars aplenty with quarterbacks Julian Sayin and Arch Manning, receivers Jeremiah Smith and Cam Coleman and running backs Bo Jackson and Hollywood Smothers. Many figure the outcome here could impact seeding for the College Football Playoff bracket in early December, though both teams have a murderer's row of opponents between now and then. The Texas secondary will try to keep Smith in check for a third straight time and grab the Longhorns' first win over a No. 1 team since they beat Oklahoma 45-35 in 2008. The winner also gives either the Big Ten or the Southeastern Conference bragging rights. The SEC was a combined 16-0 through Week 1 while the Big Ten went 17-2.
Heisman Trophy watch Manning and Sayin will have a prime-time showcase for Heisman voters and Miami QB Darian Mensah looks every bit a favorite. Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is in that mix, too. A year after throwing for nearly 4,000 yards, the fifth-year player threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, adding 60 yards and a TD on the ground in the season-opening win over Louisville. Chambliss will likely have another productive day against Charlotte on Saturday, but he may not play a full game --- the Rebels are 45-point favorites. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
The main event No. 1 Ohio State (1-0) at No. 4 Texas (1-0) on Saturday night is expected to be one of the best games of the season. This series is only 21 years old and the Buckeyes lead 3-2 after last year's 14-7 win in Columbus. There are stars aplenty with quarterbacks Julian Sayin and Arch Manning, receivers Jeremiah Smith and Cam Coleman and running backs Bo Jackson and Hollywood Smothers. Many figure the outcome here could impact seeding for the College Football Playoff bracket in early December, though both teams have a murderer's row of opponents between now and then. The Texas secondary will try to keep Smith in check for a third straight time and grab the Longhorns' first win over a No. 1 team since they beat Oklahoma 45-35 in 2008. The winner also gives either the Big Ten or the Southeastern Conference bragging rights. The SEC was a combined 16-0 through Week 1 while the Big Ten went 17-2.
Heisman Trophy watch Manning and Sayin will have a prime-time showcase for Heisman voters and Miami QB Darian Mensah looks every bit a favorite. Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is in that mix, too. A year after throwing for nearly 4,000 yards, the fifth-year player threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, adding 60 yards and a TD on the ground in the season-opening win over Louisville. Chambliss will likely have another productive day against Charlotte on Saturday, but he may not play a full game --- the Rebels are 45-point favorites. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here
