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Eric Morris Questions Oklahoma State's Road Struggles After Loss to Iowa State in Ames
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- Eric Morris Questions Oklahoma State's Road Struggles After Loss to Iowa State in Ames
(USA Today via Reuters Connect)
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris is searching for answers after another frustrating road loss left the Cowboys wondering what went wrong.
Saturday's 51–49 defeat at Iowa State featured 49 points, 533 yards of offense and a fourth-quarter comeback that briefly put Oklahoma State in position to escape Ames with a victory.
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Instead, the Cowboys suffered another setback away from home, raising questions about their consistency and preparation as they enter the final stretch of the regular season.
Following the loss, Morris acknowledged that Oklahoma State must address its difficulties on the road.
"We've got to figure out this thing on the road," Morris said. "We are trying to look at everything and see if we can figure out what we can do to help fix some of these glaring issues."
The Cowboys fell to 5–3 overall and 3–2 in Big 12 play, missing an opportunity to strengthen their position in the conference standings.
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Did Oklahoma State Overlook Iowa State?
Entering Saturday's matchup, Oklahoma State was coming off a victory over Colorado, while Iowa State had dropped two consecutive games. The Cyclones had scored just 13 combined points in their previous two contests, but responded with 51 against the Cowboys.
Asked afterward whether Oklahoma State might have overlooked Iowa State, Morris didn't dismiss the possibility.
"I hope not," Morris said. "If so, we learned a valuable, valuable lesson today."
The contrast between Iowa State's recent offensive struggles and Saturday's performance was striking. Quarterback Jaylen Raynor threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Aiden Flora rushed for 221 yards and two scores. Iowa State finished with 581 total yards, repeatedly answering Oklahoma State's attempts to seize momentum.
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The Cyclones' performance underscored the danger of judging an opponent solely by its recent results.
Self-Inflicted Mistakes Prove Costly
Oklahoma State's problems extended beyond defensive execution. In the second quarter, Iowa State recovered an unexpected onside kick and later capitalized on a muffed punt by Bobby Deal Jr. Those two possessions produced 10 points for the Cyclones and limited Oklahoma State to just one offensive possession during the quarter.
Morris acknowledged the importance of those mistakes afterward.
"Obviously giving them two possessions in the first half was a huge deal," Morris said. "They did a nice job of keeping the ball away from us."
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The Cowboys also struggled to close out the game despite a late offensive surge. Drew Mestemaker threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Young with 53 seconds remaining, giving Oklahoma State a 49–48 lead. However, Young received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the touchdown, affecting the ensuing kickoff.
Iowa State took advantage of the field position, and Kyle Konrardy converted a 34-yard field goal as time expired. The sequence capped a game in which Oklahoma State repeatedly created opportunities but failed to capitalize on them consistently.
Another Road Test Awaits
The Cowboys won't have to wait long for another opportunity to respond. Oklahoma State travels to Kansas State on Saturday, facing another Big 12 opponent away from Stillwater.
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At 5–3, the Cowboys remain one victory shy of bowl eligibility, but Saturday's defeat demonstrated how quickly a promising performance can unravel.
Mestemaker's five touchdown passes and Caleb Hawkins' 194 rushing yards provided plenty of offensive production against Iowa State. The challenge now is turning those performances into victories through more consistent execution across all three phases.
For Morris, the upcoming trip to Manhattan represents another chance to address the road struggles he acknowledged after the loss.
Whether the Cowboys can eliminate the mistakes that hurt them in Ames could determine how they finish the regular season.
