Quarterback to Back: Hauss Hejny Gets First Look at OSU’s Starting QB against UT-Martin

Mike Gundy waited to within 48 hours of the season opener to reveal his QB1, but both of his young passers will be auditioning for a job.

Oklahoma State will start its 2025 season with a visit from FCS opponent UT-Martin. And taking the first snap will be TCU transfer Hauss Hejny. When that news broke Tuesday night, it was also reported that Zane Flores would also see the field. On the Cowboys’ first depth chart, the duo shared an “OR” at the top.

Across the field, the Skyhawks will also be breaking in a new quarterback, at least new to them. Former Central Michigan and Sam Houston backup Jase Bauer brings 25 games’ worth of DI experience to the FCS team trying to turn some heads in Stillwater.

Let’s take a look at the two starting QBs’ career stats, back-to-back, and preview their season-opening matchup.

The chart above is mostly to provide a starting point for Hejny as the season plays out, but also to underline the absolute dearth of experience the Cowboys have at the most important position. If we combined Hejny’s with Zane Flores’ numbers, the totals would not change. Garret Rangel and Maealiuaki Smith, the only OSU quarterbacks who had thrown a collegiate pass, left via the transfer portal, leaving these two to duke it out in fall camp.

OSU fans may be a little leery of an unestablished hierarchy after the nausea-inducing QB carousel they suffered through the last two seasons, but it would be hard to be all too confident in either candidate in the absence of in-game experience.

A Journeyman

Although OSU’s two quarterbacks have virtually zero experience, UT-Martin’s has been around.

Bauer spent two years at Central Michigan, productive both through the air and on the ground. He appeared in six games off the bench as a redshirt freshman in 2022, throwing for 435 yards and rushing for 312. He threw for one TD and rushed for four more, but he threw five picks.

After splitting time at QB in 2022, he took the reins for the Chippewas in 2023, throwing for 1,881 yards and 12 TDs to eight INTs. He picked up another 365 yards and 10 scores on the ground.

On Thursday night, as the Cowboys look to see what they have in their QBs against an FCS opponent, their FCS opponent will be breaking in a former FBS quarterback with some success as a dual-threat option. The Central Michigan ties notwithstanding, OSU fans will probably breathe a little easier if Hejny (or Flores) can put together a couple early scoring drives.