Drew Mestemaker brings 300-yard streak to Stillwater

Oklahoma State's margin, Colorado's defense

Against Power 4 opponents, Oklahoma State is +36 in point margin, 18th nationally and fifth in its conference. Colorado is -68 in the same games, 77th nationally and 15th in its conference.

Colorado's defense is the exception. It allows 26.6 points a game, 40th nationally, while Oklahoma State allows 29.5, 47th.

The quieter categories lean to Oklahoma State. Against Power 4 opponents, Colorado is penalized 80 yards a game, 84th nationally and 16th in its conference, against 56 for the Cowboys, who rank 44th. Possession is close: Oklahoma State holds the ball 28:51 a game, 51st, to Colorado's 28:33, 56th.

Oklahoma State's offense meets Colorado's defense

When Oklahoma State has the ball, the nation's best offense against Power 4 opponents meets one of the better defenses at that level. The Cowboys gain 519 yards a game, first nationally, and throw for 344, second. They score 38.5 points a game, the best in the Big 12 and third in FBS. Colorado allows 354 yards a game, 24th nationally and fourth in its conference, and 222 passing yards, 31st.

Third down is where the Buffaloes can push back. Oklahoma State converts 31.8%, 66th nationally, and Colorado holds opponents to 37.5%, 25th. On the ground, the Cowboys run for 175 yards a game, 17th, into a Colorado front allowing 132, 33rd.

Justin Bowick is second on Oklahoma State in receiving yards with 469, and his 6 touchdown catches are tied for third in the Big 12. Ayo Adeyi is second in rushing yards with 200 on 30 carries. For Colorado, defensive back Randon Fontenette leads the team in tackles with 51, and Santana Hopper is tied for the Big 12 lead with 9.5 tackles for loss.

When Colorado has the ball, yards have not turned into points. Against Power 4 opponents, the Buffaloes gain 357 yards a game, 40th nationally, yet score 13.0 points, 75th nationally and 15th in their conference. They score on 64.3% of red zone trips, 81st, and are -6 in turnover margin, 87th.

Oklahoma State's defense gives them room. Against Power 4 opponents, it allows 407 yards a game, 50th nationally, and 174 on the ground, 54th, and opponents convert 46.7% on third down, 64th nationally and 14th in its conference. Colorado runs for 132 yards a game and throws for 225.

Joseph Williams leads Colorado in receiving yards with 508 and in catches with 37, with 5 touchdowns. JaQuail Smith leads the Buffaloes in rushing yards with 259 on 51 carries. Linebacker Ethan Wesloski leads the Big 12 with 62 tackles, and defensive end Malik Charles leads the Cowboys in sacks with 2.5.

Oklahoma State rebuilt its offense from nothing

Oklahoma State went 1-11 last season and scored 14.2 points a game. It returned none of its 2025 passing yards and none of its receiving yards. Transfers brought in 4,964 passing yards from 2025, 4,369 of them by Mestemaker, and the Cowboys now score 37.2 points a game in all games.

Julian Lewis had no stats against Utah

Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis leads the team in passing yards with 733, with 6 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 64.2 completion percentage. He had no stats in last week's 27-24 loss to Utah.

The Cowboys own the fourth quarter

Oklahoma State is 3-1 against Power 4 opponents, and the loss came at Houston. The wins include a 39-31 victory over No. 6 Oregon. The Cowboys have outscored Power 4 opponents 55-21 in the fourth quarter.

Mestemaker's North Texas teammates

Wyatt Young followed Mestemaker from North Texas, and he leads Oklahoma State in receiving yards with 561, second in the Big 12, and in catches with 32. He has a receiving touchdown in 5 straight games.

Caleb Hawkins also came from North Texas and leads the Cowboys in rushing yards with 592 on 123 carries. Last week against Houston he caught passes for 125 yards, his first career 100-yard receiving game, topping a previous best of 90 against UTSA in 2025. It was the third straight game he raised his receiving total.

Morris has never faced Colorado

Deion Sanders coaches Colorado. Eric Morris coaches Oklahoma State and has never faced Colorado in 4 seasons as an FBS head coach.

Colorado defensive end Yamil Talib was on Oklahoma State's roster in 2024, and Saturday is his first game against the Cowboys since leaving.

Transfers who joined Colorado had 65 tackles for loss in 2025, led by Gideon Lampron's 17.5. Colorado returned 10% of its 2025 tackles and 3% of its tackles for loss, and newcomers brought 667 tackles, led by Gideon Lampron's 119. Linebacker Liona Lefau and receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. arrived from Texas and safety Boo Carter from Tennessee, all 4-star transfers.

Oklahoma State added 4-star receivers Bowick from Illinois and Chris Barnes from Wake Forest. Its defense returned 18% of its 2025 tackles, and Wesloski brought 113 of the 549 that transfers added.

Micah Welch listed Out for Colorado

Update, Sat, Oct 24, 4:30 PM CT: Since Friday's report, Oklahoma State upgraded Gunnar Wilson (probable to available). Since Friday's report, Colorado upgraded Lamont Lester Jr. (probable to available), Preston Ashley (probable to available) and Bo Hughley (probable to available). On the latest report, Oklahoma State lists Landon Dean as out or doubtful, and Dayvon Standard as a game-time decision. Colorado lists Micah Welch, Danny Scudero, Kam Perry and 2 others as out or doubtful.

Sanders said Oct. 20 that running back Micah Welch is hurting, did not practice and may have broken his hand, though he did not know the severity, according to Sports Illustrated. Welch, second on Colorado in rushing yards with 220 and 2 touchdowns, is listed Out.

Defensive lineman Lamont Lester Jr. is listed Questionable. Sanders said Oct. 20 he wants Lester full go against Oklahoma State, and Lester missed the Texas Tech game and played three snaps against Utah, according to Buffaloes Wire via Yahoo Sports. He leads Colorado with 4 sacks, tied for second in the Big 12.

Receivers Danny Scudero and Kam Perry are listed Out. Sanders said Oct. 20 the team does not want to push Scudero and set him back, and Sports Illustrated describes a foot ailment. Sanders said the same day he thinks Perry is still hurt, according to Sports Illustrated. The two transferred in after 1,297 and 976 receiving yards in 2025.

Moore, second on Colorado with 312 receiving yards, is Probable, as are receiver Quentin Gibson and defensive linemen Hopper and Dylan Manuel. Defensive back Braylon Edwards, tight end Zach Atkins and defensive end Sam Gadie are Out, and cornerback Preston Ashley is Questionable.

For Oklahoma State, defensive tackle Landon Dean is Out, receiver Dayvon Standard is Questionable and linebacker Gunnar Wilson is Probable.

Colorado leads the series but not in Stillwater

Colorado leads the series 27-20-1 in 48 meetings since 1920. The Buffaloes won the last meeting 52-0 at home in 2024, when Shedeur Sanders threw for 438 yards. That Colorado team went 9-4, Sanders won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and Travis Hunter won the Heisman and was a unanimous AP All-American. Oklahoma State went 3-9 that season.

Oklahoma State is 11-13 at home against Colorado, and the Buffaloes last won in Stillwater in 2005. That Colorado team went 7-6 behind All-American kicker Mason Crosby, and Oklahoma State finished 4-7.

Three things to watch

Mestemaker's streak: he needs 229 passing yards to reach 7,000 for his career, a number his last five games have cleared.

Colorado's red zone defense: against Power 4 opponents, the Buffaloes allow scores on 78.3% of trips, 24th nationally, and Oklahoma State scores on 91.3% of its trips, 20th nationally.

Sam Keltner's leg: the Oklahoma State kicker leads the Big 12 with 13 field goals and is tied for the conference lead at 100%.