ESPN GameDay Crew, Celebrity Picker Steve Young Predict Houston to Beat Oklahoma State 3-2

The Cowboys are in their own version of a marque Big 12 matchup in Houston, but ESPN’s GameDay crew is in Provo to check out another Big 12 team on the big stage. BYU hosts Notre Dame in a Top 10 matchup that will certainly have overall conference ramifications.

But the GameDay crew turned their sights toward Houston for a moment, along with celebrity guest picker, NFL Hall of Famer and former BYU quarterback Steve Young.

Desmond Howard kicked things off with some confidence for the Pokes. “I like the young quarterback, Drew Mestemaker. I like what he’s doing so far offensively with the Cowboys, so give me the Cowboys.”

Nick Saban countered on behalf of the home team. “I’m going to take Houston. I think they’re one of the most underrated teams in the country.”

Pat McAfee rattled off his latest throw-away catch phrase. “I like Coach Fritz and Houston, as well, Coach Saban. I like that your mind was thinking like my mind is thinking. Is Steve Young’s mind thinking like our mind?”

The hall of famer broke that noise up with an actual coherent answer germane to the matchup. “Connor Weigman. The guy has 15 touchdowns throwing, five rushing [actually six]. He’s true dual-threat, not a runner who can pass. He’s a passer who can run.”

Kirk Herbstreit took a minute to validate Young’s comment. “And this guy knows about that.”

Bringing things home for the Cowboys, Kirk Herbstreit pointed back to Mestemaker.

“There are so many good games today. This one’s a sneaky really, really good game. An important game in the Big 12. Balanced attack with Weigman and their ability to run the football. And as we’ve been talking about this Mestemaker. This guy is playing as well as any quarterback in college football. I think he’s the difference in the game, in a high-scoring shootout, old-school WAC kind of game. Give me Oklahoma State to win that one.”

.@KirkHerbstreit: ball knower https://t.co/uY1nEFTHKl

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) October 17, 2026