Oklahoma State made history in November when it hired Eric Morris off a 10-1 season at North Texas, becoming the first time the school ever poached a sitting FBS head coach mid-success. The Cowboys needed a reset after a rough stretch, and Morris was supposed to be the guy who ends the bleeding. Instead, his debut turned into a rerun of the same show.
Halftime: Tulsa 10, Oklahoma State 3 Tulsa going for two straight wins over OK State. Rough start to the Eric Morris era thus far.
Tulsa held Oklahoma State to just 3 first-half points, which Brett McMurphy noted tied the fewest points a Morris-coached team has scored in a first half in his 3 years running the show at North Texas. That's not the kind of stat a brand-new hire wants attached to his name in Week 1, and it only got worse from there — Bruce Feldman flagged Oklahoma State still stuck on a single field goal late into the third quarter, down 17-3.
Oklahoma State fans leaving Tulsa's Chapman Stadium midway thru 4th quarter. Golden Hurricane leading Cowboys 24-10 t.co/rtLS0roYd8
By the fourth quarter, Oklahoma State fans were reportedly heading for the exits at Tulsa's Chapman Stadium with the Golden Hurricane up 24-10. A Drew Mestemaker interception in the end zone all but sealed it in the final minutes, per Pete Thamel, and Tulsa closed it out 24-10 behind two rushing touchdowns from Damari Alston and a touchdown pass from Baylor Hayes, per Yahoo Sports, while forcing a lopsided turnover battle.
Tulsa beats Oklahoma State 24-10, first back-to-back wins over OK State since 1950-52. OK State has lost 21 straight games to FBS opponents and 12 straight games overall, both the longest in FBS since UMass won.
The number that actually matters here belongs to the losing side. Chris Vannini reported Oklahoma State has now dropped 21 straight games to FBS opponents and 12 straight overall, both the longest active streaks in FBS behind only UMass. That skid predates Morris — he inherited it — but it's now his to fix, and Week 1 didn't offer much hope.
For Tulsa, this is validation of what Tre Lamb is building. Beating Oklahoma State in back-to-back seasons hadn't happened since 1951-52, per multiple outlets, after decades of Tulsa being little more than a name on Oklahoma State's schedule. Lamb wasn't shy about it afterward, and Vannini pointed out he'd earned the right to talk.
Tulsa coach Tre Lamb talking that shit. And he's right! Tulsa missed two field goals and still won by two TD's.
Oklahoma State gets a quick chance to answer with its home opener still ahead, but the Morris era is now 0-1 with a losing streak that's older than some of his players' college careers. Tulsa, meanwhile, just became the program nobody in Stillwater wants to see on the schedule.