Oklahoma State upsets No. 6 Oregon 39-31 to snap 21-game skid against FBS teams

Breakdown of the upset

Oklahoma State entered Saturday as an underdog by 23.5 to 24.5 points against sixth-ranked Oregon at Boone Pickens Stadium. The Cowboys had opened their 2026 campaign with a 24-10 loss to Tulsa following a 1-11 campaign in 2025 that included a 69-3 blowout defeat against Oregon. The Cowboys established momentum on their opening offensive snap when quarterback Drew Mestemaker broke loose for a 75-yard run. Oklahoma State generated 554 total yards of offense, overcoming two first-half interceptions on tipped passes that Oregon converted into 14 points.

Everybody counted them out, told them how bad they were. Told them how bad they were. Proud of those kids.

Quarterback duel and offensive output

Mestemaker, a former high school backup who walked on at North Texas before following head coach Eric Morris to Oklahoma State, completed 26 of 43 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns. He also accumulated between 102 and 109 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore struggled behind an offensive line that allowed four sacks, opening the game 5-of-15 passing for 45 yards in the first half before concluding 14-of-29 for 191 yards and two scores. A scouting group of 20 NFL scouts, two general managers, and one president of football operations attended the matchup.

Decisive fourth-quarter finish

Oregon, which had opened its season with a narrow home victory over Boise State, sputtered early under new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, recording three three-and-outs during five empty opening drives. Although Moore connected on touchdown passes to Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart, the Ducks struggled to sustain momentum. With 4.5 minutes remaining in the game, Mestemaker scored on a 10-yard run to put Oklahoma State ahead 36-31. Trailing by five with roughly seven minutes left in earlier action, Oregon had failed on fourth-and-8 from its own 33-yard line following a 2-yard run by Da'Jaun Riggs. Mestemaker later converted a 7-yard run on a zone read with 1:33 remaining to secure the final first down.

This is the best moment of my life, honestly. Not even close.

Impact on both programs

The result ended Oklahoma State's 12-game overall losing streak, providing the program its first win since a 28 August 2025 victory over UT-Martin. The win also snapped a 21-game losing streak against Football Bowl Subdivision opponents, marking the first time in Associated Press poll history that a team with a losing streak of 10 or more games defeated a top-10 opponent. For Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, the result marked his first loss to an unranked opponent at the school, with all five of his prior defeats coming against teams that played for or won the national championship.

I don't know if I can top this. I'm not going to retire, but I might think about it tonight.