Oklahoma State Rout Sends Cowboys to Bowl Game

Oklahoma State scored 49 points before halftime and overwhelmed Kansas State 66-28 on November 7, securing its first bowl appearance since 2023. The Cowboys improved to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, while Kansas State fell to 4-5 and 1-5 after losing its third straight game. Oklahoma State’s 66 points set a record for a game in Manhattan, and its first-half total was its highest in a conference game since 2011.

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker completed 22 of 28 passes for 313 yards, throwing four touchdowns. He also ran for a score and caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Young, becoming the first Bowl Subdivision player to record that combination since 2021. Mestemaker threw an interception returned for a touchdown, but Oklahoma State’s offense kept producing.

Caleb Hawkins ran for 175 yards and three touchdowns, and caught six passes for 71 yards and another score. He passed 1,000 rushing yards for the season. The Cowboys built a 28-7 lead in the first quarter, with Hawkins scoring twice, then added three more touchdowns before halftime. Mestemaker’s final first-half scoring pass, to Miles Coleman, came with 11 seconds remaining.

Oklahoma State’s defense forced two turnovers in the first half and stopped Kansas State on two fourth-down attempts. The Wildcats’ 77-yard touchdown pass came on a coverage breakdown; otherwise, the Cowboys limited them to 183 total yards before halftime. Linebacker LaDainian Fields intercepted Blake Barnett twice, including one pass intended for his cousin, former Cowboy Rodney Fields Jr. Oklahoma State hosts Texas Tech next Saturday; Kansas State visits TCU.