STILLWATER — Eric Morris isn’t looking for moral victories in his first season as Oklahoma State football coach.
And good for him, he hasn’t had to settle for any.
His Cowboys are “growing and learning how to win in different ways.”
The latest and fourth consecutive victory — 42-28 against UCF on Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium — was an endurance test for the OSU defense.
The Cowboys gave up 27 first downs, leading to a 10-minute difference in time of possession.
“There’s going to be so much to clean up,” Morris said, “but we’ve got to reset really fast and get ready to go on the road.”
Let’s get to the grades for the Cowboys (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) and Knights (3-3, 1-2):
More: Drew Mestemaker fixed lone flaw in his game to lead Oklahoma State football past UCF
Drew Mestemaker’s draft profile: A+
With each passing week, OSU quarterback Drew Mestemaker stacks highlight upon highlight.
Saturday’s stat line doesn’t necessarily wow — 19-for-28 passing for 304 yards and two TDs with another short rushing score — other than it was his first turnover-free game of the season.
Expect a game like this to further add to Mestemaker’s draft hype. He’s already atop one ESPN draft board for quarterbacks.
Mestemaker is often compared to reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen. Just like the former Wyoming star, both quarterbacks had forgettable season openers in their final (or potentially final) college seasons. Allen had two interceptions in a 24-3 loss to Iowa in 2017. Mestemaker had two INTs in a 24-10 loss at Tulsa last month.
Since then, Mestemaker has four straight 300-yard games.
“I'll be surprised if (Mestemaker) is in college next year,” UCF coach Scott Frost said. “Some of the plays and throws that he made, when you see that happen, you know what kind of guy they got.”
TAKEAWAYS: Oklahoma State football flips script vs UCF on Evan Jackson's defensive TD
Justin Bowick’s magic act: A
Justin Bowick saw Wyatt Young’s one-handed catch a few weeks back against Murray State and had to respond.
With the Cowboys trailing 14-7 late in the first quarter Saturday, Bowick pulled off a one-handed catch that left ESPN play-by-play announcer Lowell Galindo asking, “How he do that?”
Bowick led the Cowboys with six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown against UCF.
“I mean that's the main reason I came here,” the Illinois transfer said. “... It's exciting to just keep getting better every week.”
RECAP: Oklahoma State football roars past UCF as Drew Mestemaker, Cowboys win 4th straight game
Ethan Wesloski tackling machine: A-
Who is the only FBS player with at least 17 tackles in multiple games this season (hat tip to ESPN)?
Meet OSU linebacker Ethan Wesloski.
The North Texas transfer and trivia answer followed up his 17-tackle game at West Virginia with another one Saturday for the home folks against UCF.
Still, he’d rather have his defense get more third- and fourth-down stops so he “could probably take away 10 of those (tackles).”
More: Where Oklahoma State ranks in college football polls after win vs UCF
Evan Jackson house call: A+
UCF quarterback Keyone Jackson had quite the day, going 30-for-42 passing for 265 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
But he also committed the turnover of the day with a backward pass early in the fourth quarter that OSU safety Evan Jackson had scouted perfectly. His 28-yard touchdown return gave the Cowboys a 35-21 lead.
More: Mike Gundy reflects on Oklahoma State football tenure during TNT show
Mike Gundy TV voice: A
Making his debut in the TNT studio Saturday, former OSU football coach Mike Gundy was gracious in his comments about his alma mater and former employer.
Sporting an orange tie, Gundy said he’s “very, very thankful for Oklahoma State and excited about what they’re doing now.”
Gundy went 170-90 in 21 seasons as OSU head coach before his exit last fall.
More: Drew Mestemaker backed up these QBs in high school. Here's how they view OSU football star
Big 12 TV windows: B
These are first-world problems, but you’d ideally not have the two best games involving Big 12 teams competing for the same eyeballs.
But that’s what we’re getting Saturday, Oct. 17, with the league’s two top-25 games.
For the 6:30 p.m. games Saturday night, ABC will broadcast No. 8 BYU hosting No. 2 Notre Dame, while Fox has No. 18 OSU visiting No. 20 Houston.
The Big 12’s game in the 2:30 p.m. window is Arizona State vs. No. 10 Texas Tech on Fox.
Jeff Patterson is the sports editor for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jeff? He can be reached at jpatterson@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jeffpattOKC. Support Jeff's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football gives scary thought for Big 12. Cowboys are 'learning how to win'