That Was Fast: Oklahoma State Football’s Return to the Top 25 Already Started

Oklahoma State’s football team hasn’t had much of a buzz since the Cowboys were run off their own field by a West Virginia team in 2024 that later fired its head coach.

It felt like Eric Morris changed all of that before his ongoing success in the transfer portal. Oklahoma State ranks sixth overall (247Sports) and 20th (On3) in the portal rankings.

This week, others have started taking notice.

Pro Football Focus ranked the Cowboys 25th in their first way-too-early rankings for the 2026 season.

“This one is admittedly us calling our shot, considering Oklahoma State had the worst record of any Power Four program this past season,” Max Chadwick wrote. “The Cowboys should be the most improved team in college football this upcoming season, thanks to work that new head coach Eric Morris has done in the transfer portal.”

PFF only ranked two other teams that won fewer than eight games in 2025. California (7-6) ranked 21st while Penn State (7-6) ranked 24th.

PFF only ranked one team with fewer than eight wins in its initial way-too-early rankings last year, when Chadwick ranked Auburn 24th. The Tigers finished with matching 5-7 records in 2024 and 2025.

The Cowboys certainly hope to end up better than Auburn, but even the Tigers speak to how conservative PFF (and most other way-too-early) rankings tend to be this time of year.

Given Morris’ success in the portal and his recent run at North Texas, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Cowboys inched their way onto the bubble of the top 25 of most polls throughout the next seven months.

In fact, it’s already started.​

NEW: @CrainAndCone 2026 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25🏈

Do you agree? 🤔https://t.co/GvcdvyyJMI pic.twitter.com/4NRvcP3nih

— On3 (@On3) January 21, 2026

​CBS Sports writer Brandon Marcello didn’t rank the Cowboys in his initial rankings, but he did include them in a list of six teams he also considered alongside fellow Big 12 member Arizona State.

“Everyone wants to know who will be the next Indiana,” Marcello said. “I’m telling you now: that lightning isn’t striking again in 2026. But a few programs are positioned to surge back into relevance inside their leagues. For example, I’m a firm believer that Oklahoma State will rebound from one of the worst seasons ever to become a challenger in the Big 12 after Eric Morris’ arrival from North Texas. He has completely rearranged the roster with an impressive haul from the portal, led by QB Drew Mestemaker.”