Oklahoma State Upsets No. 6 Oregon to End 21-Game Skid

Oklahoma State pulled off a major college football shock on Saturday, beating sixth-ranked Oregon 39-31 at Boone Pickens Stadium. The victory ended a 21-game losing streak against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents for the Cowboys, who entered the matchup as 24.5-point underdogs. The defeat was Oregon’s first loss against an unranked opponent under head coach Dan Lanning.

Offensive Explosion Led by Transfers

Oklahoma State generated 554 total yards of offense, driven by quarterback Drew Mestemaker and a group of transfers from North Texas. Making his home debut, Mestemaker completed 317 yards through the air and added 109 yards on the ground, accounting for three total touchdowns. His performance included a 75-yard run on the game’s opening play and a 10-yard leaping touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Mestemaker received key assistance from fellow North Texas transfers Caleb Hawkins, who rushed for 110 yards, and receiver Wyatt Young, who compiled 121 receiving yards. The Cowboys controlled tempo against Oregon’s defense a year after suffering a 69-3 defeat to the Ducks.

Oregon’s Fourth-Quarter Stumbles

After Mestemaker scored to put Oklahoma State ahead 36-31 with 10:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, Oregon failed to regain the lead across three late possessions. The Ducks’ first attempt resulted in a three-and-out, while their second ended when Lanning opted to go for it on fourth-and-8 from Oregon’s own 33-yard line. Quarterback Dante Moore scrambled to his right before throwing an incomplete pass.

Defending his decision to attempt the conversion deep in his own territory, Lanning said, “If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, then you create short fields.”

Oregon got one final opportunity with 3:11 remaining while trailing by eight points, but running back Dierre Hill Jr. lost a fumble on a toss play. Addressing the late error, Lanning noted that “there were several plays that we didn’t play well enough to deserve to win this game.”

Historical Underdog Victory

The outcome stands as Oklahoma State’s second-largest upset victory since 1978. Entering the contest, Oregon had won 57 consecutive games when favored by 24 points or more. Additionally, sportsbook BetMGM reported that 95 percent of straight-up money wagers had been placed on Oregon, with Oklahoma State holding 11-1 odds to win outright.

Following the final whistle, fans in Stillwater dismantled a goalpost to celebrate the outcome. Reflecting on his team’s struggles, Lanning conceded, “We got our ass kicked in a lot of areas.” Oregon pass rusher Teitum Tuioti, the only Ducks player to address reporters after the game, acknowledged the defensive shortcomings, adding, “We’ve really got to lock in now.”

Background

Oregon entered the season ranked second nationally before dropping to sixth following a seven-point victory over Boise State in their opening week. Under head coach Dan Lanning, the program held a 35-0 record against unranked opponents, with its only defeats since the start of the 2024 season coming against national champions Ohio State and Indiana.

Oklahoma State entered Saturday’s game following a 14-point defeat against Tulsa to start their campaign. The win over Oregon represents one of the largest point-spread upsets in the program’s history.