HOUSTON — Oklahoma State came to Houston with a chance to stake a claim at one of the top spots in the Big 12.
But after a 35-32 loss to the Cougars, the Cowboys leave town likely needing to win out to make the conference title game or have any shot at the College Football Playoff.
Let’s get to the grades.
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Drew Mestemaker: C-
The Cowboy quarterback threw for just shy of 400 yards — but he wasn’t good enough.
I know, I know, that’s a high bar, but that’s the expectation that Mestemaker has created with his play over the past month or so. And while he went 22 of 34 for 365 yards and three touchdowns, he also threw an interception and fumbled twice, one of which was recovered by Houston.
The Cowboys lost the turnover battle 2-1.
In a game decided by only three points, that disadvantage was huge, and while all the blame isn’t on Mestemaker — his blockers and receivers had a hand in those turnovers, too — taking care of the ball in those situations ultimately falls heavily on him.
Late-down defense: D-
The OSU defense was abysmal on third and fourth downs. Houston finished the game converting on 7 of 13 third downs and 3 of 3 fourth downs.
Worse, the Cougars scored their first four touchdowns on third or fourth down.
Third-and-2 from the 2? Touchdown pass.
Third-and-5 from the 7? Touchdown pass.
Third-and-2 from the 2? Touchdown pass.
Fourth-and-3 from the 21? Touchdown pass.
The Cowboys forced the Cougars into late-down situations, which was good, but allowing Houston to convert 10 of 16 of them was not good enough at all.
“In big-time games,” OSU coach Eric Morris said, “they came up with the plays.”
Secondary: D
Morris was blunt in his postgame assessment of his defensive backs.
“I thought we were really bad in the secondary,” he said. “We lost in zone coverage. We lost in man coverage.”
It led to Houston quarterback Conner Weigman going 24 of 33 for 343 yards and five touchdowns.
Five touchdown passes!
Plus, Weigman had 10 passes of 15 yards or more, including passes of 48 and 51 yards.
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Self-inflicted wounds: F
Too many problems that the Cowboys caused themselves.
Not being able to finish early drives has been a season-long problem, and it was a huge issue Saturday. OSU settled for a field goal on their first possession, then turned the ball over on downs on the second possession and failed to score despite a first-and-goal from the 8.
The Cowboys also committed too many penalties, being whistled for nine that cost them 71 yards.
Then there were the two turnovers. And not getting off the field on third and fourth downs. And on and on.
Caleb Hawkins: B+
The Cowboy tailback didn’t do much in the first half, but in the second half, he was dynamic.
He finished with 68 rushing yards on 17 carries and 125 receiving yards on seven catches, including a 66-yard touchdown reception that was all Hawkins. The pass was only a yard long, but Hawkins maneuvered his way downfield for the other 65 yards.
Mestemaker said after the game the Cowboys were in it late because of Hawkins.
Hard to argue that.
OSU fans: B
A solid turnout by Cowboy fans. Yes, Houston is a big hub for OSU alums, and the Loyal and True turned out. There were areas where the entire section was orange and black, and this went beyond the designated OSU sections.
I'd estimate somewhere around 6,000 or 7,000 OSU fans were in attendance. Solid for sure.
Houston fans: C
Houston did just about everything under the sun to get fans through the gates. Ticket giveaways. Cheap concessions. Drone shows at half and before the fourth quarter. Not to mention this was a game with huge Big 12 implications.
And still, even though a sellout was announced, the stadium wasn’t packed.
Not the greatest.
Hispanic Heritage Game: A
A mariachi band performing the national anthem is the marching-band alternative we didn’t know we needed.
You’d have to dig deep in recent years to find times when “The Star-Spangled Banner” has been performed by something other than a marching band before a major-college football game. But before the Hispanic Heritage Game on Saturday at Houston, a five-person mariachi band did the honors.
Frankly, I wish the group had turned up the tempo on the tune, but still, something different like that is cool.
Then, a Houston Cougar red low-ride car with huge rims led the Houston players onto the field.
Totally fun.
Jenni Carlson: Jenni can be reached at jcarlson@oklahoman.com. Like her at facebook.com/JenniCarlsonOK, follow her at @jennicarlsonok.bsky.social and twitter.com/jennicarlson_ok, and support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football QB Drew Mestemaker not good enough vs Houston | Report card