Oklahoma State Tops Tulsa in Thrilling Late‑Game Finish, Morris and Mestemaker Shine

When the final whistle blew at the Cotton Bowl, the scoreboard read 31‑24 in favor of Oklahoma State – a result that left both coaches and fans buzzing about how the Cowboys managed to pull away in the closing minutes.

It wasn’t a blow‑out by any stretch. Tulsa came out firing, jumping to an early 14‑7 lead thanks to a slick 45‑yard pass from senior quarterback Dalton Gray and a short‑yard plunge by running back James Carter. The Golden Hurricane looked like the team that could dictate the pace, especially when they stifled the Cowboys’ first two drives with a blitz that forced a three‑and‑out.

But the tide began to turn when Oklahoma State’s linebacker Jared Morris entered the fray. On the third series, he read a play‑action fake perfectly, ripped the ball from the hands of Tulsa’s tight end, and returned it deep into enemy territory. That forced turnover sparked a momentum swing, and the Cowboys responded with a 32‑yard field goal from senior kicker Ethan Harper, trimming the deficit to 14‑10.

Enter sophomore quarterback Tyler Mestemaker. Still finding his rhythm early in the season, Mestemaker showed poise beyond his years. After the Morris turnover, he methodically marched the offense down the field, mixing short slants with a surprise deep shot to wide receiver Malik Davis. The drive culminated in a 12‑yard touchdown pass that finally put Oklahoma State ahead for the first time, 17‑14.

Tulsa refused to fold. Their offense answered with a quick strike: a 22‑yard scramble by Gray set up a 5‑yard rush from Carter, tying the game at 21‑21 just before halftime. The teams went into the locker room neck‑and‑neck, each knowing the second half would be a test of endurance and grit.

The third quarter belonged to the Cowboys. A stout defensive stand forced Tulsa into a three‑and‑out, and the Cowboys capitalized. Mestemaker, now more comfortable in the pocket, slipped a screen to running back Kai Hernandez, who broke free for a 38‑yard gain. A subsequent 8‑yard run by Hernandez capped the drive with a touchdown, extending the lead to 28‑21.

Tulsa, ever resilient, narrowed the gap late in the fourth quarter with a 30‑yard field goal, making it 28‑24. With just under two minutes left, they had the ball deep in OSU territory, threatening a potential game‑tying score.

That’s when Morris struck again. On a crucial third‑down play, he burst through the line and sacked Gray for a 7‑yard loss, pushing Tulsa back and forcing a fourth‑down gamble. The Golden Hurricane attempted a pass, but Morris leapt over the line and tipped the ball away, sealing the turnover.

With possession now, Mestemaker orchestrated a calm, methodical drive. He sang the ball to his tight end, then tucked it on a designed quarterback draw, chewing up the clock. Finally, with just 12 seconds remaining, he launched a 15‑yard strike to Davis in the corner of the end zone. The extra point was good, and the Cowboys walked away 31‑24.

Post‑game, OSU coach Mike Gundy praised his young quarterback, noting, “Mestemaker showed a lot of heart tonight. He stayed composed, made the right reads, and delivered when we needed him most.” He also lauded Morris, calling his defensive play “the catalyst that changed the whole complexion of this game.”

Tulsa’s head coach, Philip Miller, remained optimistic despite the loss. “We fought hard, and we’ll learn from those missed opportunities,” he said, already looking ahead to the next matchup.

For the Cowboys, the win improves their conference record and keeps them in the hunt for a bowl invitation, while the Golden Hurricane will need to regroup quickly as the season rolls on.