Oklahoma State University has announced that former North Texas offensive coordinator Eric Morris will take the helm of the Cowboys’ football program for the 2026 season. The hiring follows a 4‑20 record over the last two years and a decision by the university to return to a pass‑heavy style of play. The new coach is expected to install an Air Raid offense, a scheme that has long been associated with the Big 12 and the Cowboys’ recent history. In addition, the Cowboys have added former North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who led the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing yards last season and is described by an anonymous Big 12 coach as the best signal‑caller in the conference.

The Air Raid system, popularized by coaches such as Mike Leach and Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury, emphasizes a shotgun formation with four wide receivers and a single running back. The Cowboys have a tradition of running this style: former head coach Mike Gundy used a high‑flying offense until the end of his 21‑season tenure, and the program’s 2025 record of 4‑20 came under a system that relied heavily on passing. Eric Morris, who played wide receiver for Leach at Texas Tech from 2004 to 2008, was the offensive coordinator at North Texas in 2015 when Patrick Mahomes threw for 4,386 yards and 36 touchdowns. His experience in the Air Raid system and his recent success as a coordinator make him a natural fit for the Cowboys’ offensive philosophy.

Drew Mestemaker transferred from North Texas after two seasons with the Mean Green. He finished the 2025 season with 4,379 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, and five rushing touchdowns, while throwing nine interceptions. According to a report, he also completed 70.2% of his passes and recorded multiple 300‑yard games, including a 608‑yard performance against Charlotte. An anonymous Big 12 coach told ESPN that Mestemaker is “accurate, sneaky athletic, can make all the throws” and that “he looks like an NFL quarterback when you watch his tape.” Morris has publicly praised Mestemaker’s ability to process information quickly, describing him as “big, strong, accurate, and a great thrower” with a “phenomenal recall” of play‑calling.

The Cowboys’ transition to a new head coach and a new quarterback comes at a time when the program has struggled to find consistency. The 2025 season ended with a 4‑20 record over the previous two years, the lowest point in the program’s recent history. The university’s decision to bring in Morris and Mestemaker is aimed at reversing that trend. The Big 12 schedule for 2026 will test the Cowboys against teams that have historically run balanced offenses, and the Air Raid system will need to adapt to the conference’s defensive strategies. The Cowboys’ home games will remain at Boone Pickens Stadium, and the program’s long‑term goal is to return to conference championship contention.

Looking ahead, the Cowboys will face a challenging slate that includes matchups against Oklahoma, Texas, and other Big 12 powerhouses. The team’s performance will be closely watched by analysts who track the effectiveness of Air Raid offenses in the conference. The combination of Morris’s coaching background and Mestemaker’s passing talent provides a foundation for a potential offensive resurgence, but the program will need to address defensive shortcomings and depth issues that contributed to the 4‑20 record.

In summary, Oklahoma State is entering the 2026 season with a new head coach who has a proven Air Raid pedigree and a quarterback who led the nation in passing yards. The program’s recent struggles have prompted a strategic shift toward a high‑flying offense, and the upcoming schedule will test the Cowboys’ ability to compete in the Big 12. The success of this transition will be measured by the team’s offensive production, defensive improvement, and overall record in the 2026 season.