Cowboys Face Challenging Big 12 Slate in Morris Era
Oklahoma State’s 2026 football schedule revealed with tough road stretch and manageable early season slate as new head coach begins first campaign
The complete schedule has been set for Eric Morris’ inaugural season as Oklahoma State head coach, with the Big 12 Conference releasing league matchups that feature a backloaded slate of challenging road contests and a more manageable opening stretch.
The Cowboys will launch their Big 12 campaign September 26 with a road trip to West Virginia. The conference schedule intensifies as the season progresses, featuring difficult away contests at Iowa State, Kansas State, and Arizona State before concluding the regular season with a home matchup against Kansas on November 28.
The annual Homecoming celebration is scheduled for October 24 when Colorado visits Stillwater.
Oklahoma State’s nonconference slate, announced previously, opens September 5 with a road game at Tulsa. The Cowboys then welcome national powerhouse Oregon to Boone Pickens Stadium on September 12, followed by Murray State on September 19.
Kickoff times and television broadcast details will be announced at a later date.
Complete 2026 Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 5 | Tulsa | Away | Season opener |
| Sept. 12 | Oregon | Home | National powerhouse |
| Sept. 19 | Murray State | Home | Nonconference finale |
| Sept. 26 | West Virginia | Away | Big 12 opener |
| Oct. 3 | — | Open Date | Bye week |
| Oct. 10 | UCF | Home | — |
| Oct. 17 | Houston | Away | — |
| Oct. 24 | Colorado | Home | Homecoming |
| Oct. 31 | Iowa State | Away | Halloween game |
| Nov. 7 | Kansas State | Away | — |
| Nov. 14 | Texas Tech | Home | 2025 Big 12 Champions |
| Nov. 21 | Arizona State | Away | 2024 Big 12 Champions |
| Nov. 28 | Kansas | Home | Season finale |
Schedule Analysis
A four-week stretch from October 31 through November 21 will serve as the ultimate test of how far the Cowboys can progress in Morris’ debut season.
The challenge begins with a Halloween trip to Iowa State, followed immediately by another road contest at Kansas State. Oklahoma State returns home November 14 to face Texas Tech before completing the grueling stretch at Arizona State. Four consecutive matchups against four of the Big 12’s premier programs—three on the road—represents a formidable challenge for any team, particularly one in transition.
Iowa State recently lost head coach Matt Campbell and numerous key contributors to Penn State, yet Ames remains one of the conference’s most difficult venues. The Cowboys have dropped their previous two contests at Jack Trice Stadium, both coming from OSU teams that reached the Big 12 Championship Game.
Kansas State enters with new leadership in Collin Klein, who established himself as an offensive mastermind at Texas A&M this past season. Oklahoma State has lost three of its last four games in Manhattan, including consecutive defeats.
Texas Tech captured the 2025 Big 12 title and is reloading following a College Football Playoff appearance, positioning themselves as one of the league’s top contenders again. Arizona State claimed the conference championship in 2024, with head coach Kenny Dillingham proving himself among the Big 12’s elite tacticians.
The silver lining: Morris will have two months to prepare his squad for this backloaded gauntlet. While there’s no expectation for a sweep—or even a .500 record—during Morris’ inaugural campaign, this stretch will provide a clear barometer of the program’s progress nearly one year into the new coaching staff’s tenure.
Setting aside the Oregon matchup—the Ducks will again compete for national titles, making an upset a significant longshot—Morris inherits a relatively favorable early-season schedule.
The head coach’s debut comes against Tulsa, which served as the final opponent for former coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys then welcome Murray State to close nonconference play. Big 12 action commences at West Virginia, historically a challenging environment, though the Mountaineers are coming off a disappointing 4-8 campaign.
Following an open date, Oklahoma State hosts UCF, travels to Houston, and returns home for the Colorado Homecoming game. This represents a navigable stretch that provides Morris with a gradual introduction to conference play before the schedule intensifies.
The question becomes: Could Oklahoma State realistically be 6-1 or 5-2 heading into Halloween? The early schedule certainly provides that opportunity.
As Oklahoma State embarks on a new era under Morris, the 2026 schedule presents both opportunities and challenges. The manageable opening provides a foundation for building momentum and installing systems, while the late-season gauntlet will reveal the program’s true trajectory.
With no pressure for immediate championship contention, Morris can focus on development and establishing the culture that will define Oklahoma State football for years to come. The schedule allows for that measured approach while still providing marquee opportunities to make statements when the Cowboys are ready.
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