Oklahoma State pulled off a stunning 39-31 upset over No. 6 Oregon on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Boone Pickens Stadium. Entering the matchup as 24-point underdogs, the Cowboys ended a 21-game losing streak against FBS opponents and sparked a massive field-storming celebration that saw a goalpost dumped into Theta Pond.
Drew Mestemaker and the Cowboys Overwhelm Oregon
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker delivered a stellar performance in Stillwater, throwing for 317 yards and two touchdowns while adding 109 rushing yards and a sensational leaping score that sent him flipping through the air.
The victory marks the first win for first-year coach Eric Morris in Stillwater. It also reverses a painful piece of recent history for the program. Almost a year to the day prior, Oregon routed Oklahoma State 69-3, a defeat that marked the deepest low of Mike Gundy’s tenure and ultimately led to a 1-11 campaign and a coaching change.
“That’s as bad as it gets, what we faced starting off the way that we started off with so much hype and whatever. Not happy at all that we lost — we spent way too much time, resources, too many people over here that pour their heart and soul into this to want to go out there and have a performance like that.”
Eric Morris, Oklahoma State coach
Boone Pickens Stadium Descends Into Pandemonium
When the final whistle sounded, fans rushed the field and tore down one of the west goalposts from Boone Pickens Stadium. The heavy metal structure was carried approximately 15 minutes across campus before being unceremoniously dumped into Theta Pond.
Even high-ranking political figures joined in the celebration. U.S. Sen. James Lankford posted a selfie video outside the stadium amid the rushing crowds.
“I’m probably supposed to say they shouldn’t, but upsetting the No. 6 team in the nation to end a 12-game skid seems like a pretty good reason to rush the field! What a way for Coach Morris to earn his first home win as a Cowboy.”
Sen. James Lankford
As the goalpost made its way toward the water, stadium operators rubbed salt in the wound by blasting “Shout” over the public address system—the signature anthem Oregon typically plays between the third and fourth quarters at Autzen Stadium.
Dante Moore and Oregon Face Tough Questions
For Oregon, the loss represents a severe blow to national championship aspirations. The Ducks entered the season as a preseason national title contender and carried a 23.5-point advantage into Stillwater. Quarterback Dante Moore, viewed by scouts as a top prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, struggled to find a rhythm early as the offense managed just 50 total yards in the first half and went 5-of-14 on third downs.
The Ducks dropped to 1-1 following a narrow opening win over Boise State.
Oregon coach Dan Lanning now faces difficult questions regarding both sides of the ball after his team struggled to execute and gave up numerous explosive plays in Stillwater.
Playoff Fallout and Upcoming Schedules
Despite the historic embarrassment, historical precedent in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff suggests Oregon’s postseason hopes are far from finished.
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