OSU Approaching Crucial Stretch as Cowboys Attempt ‘Sneak in the Back Door’ of Recruits Committed Elsewhere

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STILLWATER — The first month put Oklahoma State firmly on the national radar. The next three weeks could vault the No. 18 Cowboys from relevant to must-watch territory.

That stretch won’t only have postseason implications this year. It could redefine what is possible for the Cowboys on the recruiting trail.

“Our coaches have done a phenomenal job, our recruiting staff has as far as getting a ton of people to the games and involved,” Morris said. “Getting back in on recruits who didn’t really know. Winning is gonna be super important — people want to come play for that.”

Up first, a Saturday morning game as an 11.5-point favorite against what looks like a pretty beat-up UCF (3-2, 1-1 Big 12). Then comes what seems to be a Top 25 showdown at No. 22 Houston (4-1, 1-1 Big 12), where the Cowboys will take the field as 2.5-point underdogs based on current odds.

Not exactly new territory for a team that beat Oregon and West Virginia when most of the country didn’t give them a second thought. OSU then returns home for America’s Greatest Homecoming and should be heavy favorites against a Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) team that still lacks an offensive identity.

On Thursday, Oklahoma State announced that tickets for Saturday’s game sold out. The program also sold out against Oregon and Murray State and has already sold every seat for Colorado’s visit on Oct. 24.

“The energy around this place, I think nowadays, our media team here has done a phenomenal job, social media and blasting stuff out, getting likes and hits and all those different things that are super important to gaining momentum,” Morris said when discussing recruiting. “Not only for us here, but as attendance goes down nationally in college in general, right, it’s everywhere, I think we want to keep the spotlight here. … Obviously our gameday atmosphere sells itself, and I think that’ll continue to do so even though we have an early 11 o’clock game.”

So far Morris has proven he can win the big games. Setting aside the transfer portal, Morris is still looking to prove he can crush recruiting at this level. Oklahoma State’s 2027 class ranks 67th and 78th according to Rivals and 247Sports, respectively.

But that’s largely a reflection on the size, not the talent, of that group.

Although the Pokes officially rank 14th in the Big 12 according to both services, OSU ranks fourth and fifth among Big 12 teams when sorted by average prospect rating. OSU just happens to have only 12 commits while seven conference teams have at least 19 commits and five of the other six teams ahead of OSU have at least 16.

“The majority of the last class, they now come on their official visits during the summer,” Morris said on Sept. 15. “I think for us to try to get back in on, maybe, some people in the ‘27 class once they see the product and see actually what we’re doing on the field, get in Stillwater, experience this game day atmosphere, that’ll be something. …

“We’re a little bit behind in the ‘27 class, to be honest with you, and so we have a little bit of catch-up to do right now.”

Although not ideal, Morris added that historically he’s found some of his best players by combing through senior season film. Typically that tape only matters when guys are late bloomers or just overlooked for whatever reason.

“Winning’s the best recruiting tool of all, and has been forever, will be forever,” Morris said just a few days removed from the win over Oregon. “Obviously, there’s a financial aspect now that goes into the mix, as well. But winning counts.”

Although he’s a bit removed from his signature win, head coaches are limited in what they can do in person during the season, considering they still have a team to coach.

On Tuesday, Morris said coaches and prospects were excited to see him and OSU staffers stop by during the bye week. Although circumstances limited what he could personally get done in the all-important state of Texas.

“Reception was great,” Morris said. “Thursday was not good. Planned to travel and see a ton of kids in Texas. The storms were awful. Donald Trump was in Dallas, so they had all these regulations going into all these airports.

“Got stuck actually, started my day in Waco planning to move up to the metroplex, got stuck in Waco for like four or five hours and wasn’t able to get to the metroplex because of the storm.”

He couldn’t wait out the weather because he still had practice to coach Friday morning before turning his recruiting efforts to Oklahoma.

“Super important, like I said since Day 1, there’s great football players in the state of Oklahoma,” Morris said. “We’ve got to work extremely hard to keep some of those guys here. We’re getting on young guys trying to get ahead, and then we’re trying to sneak in the back door on some guys that might be committed somewhere that we’re trying to keep home.”