Oklahoma State visits West Virginia on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in a game that serves as the Mountaineers' Big 12 opener. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, WV, with West Virginia listed as a 1.5-point favorite.
The matchup lands at a moment when both teams have already offered a clear early-season story. West Virginia is 3-0 after a 38-27 win over Virginia, while Oklahoma State is 2-1 after a 59-0 win over Murray State. The difference in records has not stopped the Cowboys from drawing attention, because their 39-31 upset of then-No. 6 Oregon still hangs over this game and makes the point spread feel thinner than it looks.
West Virginia's offense has leaned on Hawkins, who has completed 26 of 38 passes for 477 yards and five touchdowns without an interception while also rushing 44 times for 322 yards and six scores. He had 190 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, plus 123 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns, against Virginia, then earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Epps has been the top target, with eight catches for 240 yards and three touchdowns, including three receptions for 92 yards and both of Hawkins' passing touchdowns against Virginia.
Oklahoma State has its own quarterback making the trip with momentum. Mestemaker accounted for 426 total yards and three touchdowns in the upset of Oregon, completing 26 of 43 passes for 317 yards and two scores while rushing for 109 yards and one touchdown. On the season, he has thrown for 882 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Bowick has given him a steady downfield option with 16 receptions for 281 yards and three touchdowns through three games, averaging 17.6 yards per catch.
The numbers suggest a game that may be decided by which side can impose its style for longer. West Virginia is averaging 281.3 rushing yards and 40.3 points per game while allowing 19.3, and Oklahoma State is averaging 221.7 rushing yards while allowing 18.3. That makes Hawkins' dual-threat production and Oklahoma State's response after giving up 31 points to Oregon the clearest dividing line in the matchup. If the Cowboys can keep Hawkins from turning first downs into sudden scores, the line looks live; if not, West Virginia has already shown enough balance to make a short favorite look justified.
What happens next is simple: the teams settle it under the lights in Morgantown, and one unbeaten start will survive while the other side's breakthrough win gets a second test against a ranked-level profile without the ranking attached.
