{
  "id": 12427299,
  "title": "Oklahoma State surges to No. 18 under coach Eric Morris, with QB Drew Mestemaker leading the way",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/oklahoma-state-surges-to-no-18-under-coach-eric-morris-with-qb-drew",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T17:18:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/oklahoma-state-surges-no-18-171820393.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Oklahoma State University's football team has made a notable resurgence under the guidance of head coach Eric Morris, who was recently promoted from North Texas. The team, which secured a spot at No. 18 in the latest AP poll, boasts a strong performance led by quarterback Drew Mestemaker. Mestemaker, once a walk-on at North Texas, has been instrumental in the team's success, leading the FBS in passing yards as a freshman. The Cowboys have had a successful season thus far, with three wins against teams ranked in the top six and a notable victory over Oregon. Additionally, they claimed their first Big 12 win since November 2023, defeating West Virginia. Morris, who previously coached at North Texas, has brought a fresh perspective and a wealth of talent to the program, which has seen significant growth since his arrival. The team's resurgence has been further fueled by the rich tradition of Oklahoma State football, including \"The Walk,\" a pre-game ritual that has left a lasting impression on Morris. As the season progresses, the team faces challenges such as the bye weeks faced by other Big 12 teams, but their determination and support from the fanbase continue to drive them forward.",
  "summary": "To fix things on the football field, Oklahoma State looked south to Denton, Texas. By glancing in that direction, the Cowboys are once again heading north in the standings and rankings.",
  "key_points": [
    "Oklahoma State football team rises to No. 18 in AP poll under Eric Morris",
    "QB Drew Mestemaker leads team with most passing yards in FBS as freshman",
    "Cowboys defeat West Virginia, first Big 12 win since November 2023"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Ohio State coach Ryan Day speaks to media before Maryland. Watch here",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/ohio-state-coach-ryan-day-speaks-to-media-before-maryland-watch-here",
        "published": "2026-10-06T15:49:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Oklahoma State surges to No. 18 under coach Eric Morris, with QB Drew Mestemaker leading the way",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/oklahoma-state-surges-to-no-18-under-coach-eric-morris-with-qb-drew-12430737",
        "published": "2026-10-06T17:19:56.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}