Caleb Hawkins Nears Oklahoma State’s Running Back Receiving Record in Cowboys’ Loss to Houston

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HOUSTON — The Cougars entered Saturday night with the best run defense in the Big 12, but that didn’t stop the Cowboys from getting their star tailback the ball. They just did it in a different way.

Oklahoma State lost a big game to Houston 35-32 on Saturday night in TDECU Stadium, where OSU running back Caleb Hawkins finished with 125 receiving yards on seven catches.

It’s the second-most receiving yards an OSU running back has ever had in a game. It trails only Terry Brown, who had 127 receiving yards against Kansas in 1968.

Hawkins finished with 68 rushing yards, 125 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.

“I mean, he’s a dog,” OSU quarterback Drew Mestemaker said. “… People kind of forget about how big of a part he is, how big of a part in this offense he is.

“He’s not an emotional guy. He’s always just gonna do his job, and I think having a guy that you can go to in games like this, honestly, he’s the reason it was close. Threw that little wheel route to him, and he took it to the house. All those big runs. So I think that really shows how big of a part he is in this offense, and we got to get him rolling earlier.”

Hawkins took a little flair route in the second half and turned it into a 14-yard gain, but it wasn’t exactly that simple.

As Hawkins neared the first-down marker, Houston defensive back Will James tried to chop the 219-pound Hawkins down at the knees, but Hawkins soared over him.

On Hawkins’ way down, defensive back Javion White tried to lay some lumber on him, but Hawkins braced for the hit and bounced out of bounds. Meanwhile, White — who technically got credit for the tackle — had to take some injury time after the play.

Caleb Hawkins takes FLIGHT 🤯

@CowboyFB https://t.co/a7ZygfP6EE

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 18, 2026

“The play before, I kinda tumbled over somebody, and I was kind of in the air a little bit,” Hawkins said. “Just setting my mind on if I get the ball and it’s a safety, I might as well jump over him because they’re gonna go low. It was more of a game-time decision, but I had it in the back of my head.”

Then early in the fourth quarter, Mestemaker hit a somewhat mundane swing pass out to Hawkins, who proceeded to run 66 yards to the end zone. He made one man miss about 40 yards downfield before winning the race to the goal line. It was the Cowboys’ biggest play of the night.

Caleb Hawkins takes it 66 yards to the HOUSE for @CowboyFB 🏠 https://t.co/I4YOoUHCCD

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 18, 2026

As flashy as those plays were, Hawkins will do the dirty work, as well.

The Cowboys had a 4th-and-7 to start the fourth quarter. Mestemaker dropped back to pass as Houston sent a rusher from the edge opposite of the side Hawkins lined up on.

Hawkins got across the line and stoned the would be rusher. Mestemaker hit Justin Bowick for a first down on the play.

Hawkins will run it. And if that doesn’t work, he’ll catch it. And if that doesn’t work, he’ll vaporize a blitzing linebacker. He’s just a football player.

“His pass pro has been phenomenal all year,” OSU coach Eric Morris said. “He’ll stick his nose in there and take on whoever they bring. Same way, he’s someone that loves to compete. He’ll fight to the end with his teammates. I thought that we could get him on some matchup at times in the passing game. I think just continues to create value for this team in so many different ways.

“The ball continues to find people that plays the way he does.”