Oklahoma State is coming off its first home loss to Tulsa since 1951, and with Big 12 games looming, it’s urgent the Cowboys clean up some serious flaws. If they don’t, the rest of the season could spiral out of control. Here are three areas that must improve, and quickly.
1. Quarterback Play Needs to Step Up
Zane Flores is young and still earning his stripes, but being inexperienced can't continue to be an excuse for hesitancy. He’s often looking safe, avoiding mistakes, and playing not quite loose enough to stretch defenses or make the kind of plays a quarterback needs to make to win tight conference games.
Flores needs to embrace being imperfect. Learning on the fly, taking chances, and letting some mistakes happen. He has to realize sooner than later that’s how growth happens in his position. If he waits for perfect passes and perfect protection, OSU’s offense will remain stagnant. And with Hejny expected back, Flores has a chance to define his spot: either rise as the guy who earns it, or risk being replaced.
Leaders help lift others around them. Flores has to become more vocal, more commanding in the huddle, and more willing to trust his receivers, even if the chemistry isn’t perfect yet. The supporting cast isn’t elite, but every quarterback in college has been there. The question is: will Flores be the kind of leader who demands more from teammates, or settle into safe mediocrity?
2. Secondary: Too Many Big Plays and Breakdown in Coverage
It may be the single most glaring weakness so far. The secondary looks lost far too often. Wide receivers are getting wide open and once they catch the ball, they’re running away with it. The RAC yards opportunity is what is killing this defense. There's yards in between corners and opposing wideouts. OSU’s giving up massive cushion and run‑after‑catch space that should be closed off, but isn’t.
Passing offense results against them have piled up: in the first few games, they’ve allowed hundreds of yards through the air, multiple touchdowns, and almost no turnovers or big plays to disrupt the rhythm of opponents. They’ve had very few interceptions, and they haven’t defended enough passes. The coverage schemes seem fraught with miscommunication, blown assignments, and too many times, no urgency in reacting once the ball is in the air.
Against Baylor and other Big 12 foes, whose quarterbacks and receivers are more polished, these lapses will be brutally punished and things will get ugly. Getting more disciplined in zone coverage, better alignment in man or press schemes, and sharper tackling in space are critical. The secondary must get consistent; they can’t be the unit that gives up drives before the team even truly starts.
3. Third‑Down Conversion Rate — The Drive Extender That Changes Games
This isn’t about one player or one area; it’s about buying time, momentum, and rest. OSU’s third‑down conversion rate so far is well below what’s needed in big games. They’re going three-and-out far too often, and each failed third down takes the ball away from the offense and forces the defense back on the field.
When the offense cannot sustain drives, the defense ends up getting winded. That fatigue shows up in mistakes, in missed tackles, in blown coverages. And once the defense is tired, the whole game tilts away. Conversely, when offenses can stay on the field, eating up yards and time, it boosts confidence, limits opponent possessions, and gives coaches room to make in‑game moves.
OSU must find ways to convert third downs: establish a short‑yardage identity, scheme favorable looks, dial up plays that suit Flores and his receivers, leverage the run game or screen passes, whatever it takes. The offense and defense complement each other in this way. The offense must give defense rest; defense must give offense chances by forcing stops. Right now that balance is broken.
Final Thought: Time Is Running Out
Fixing these three areas won’t solve everything, but they’re foundational. If Flores doesn’t grow into a more confident leader, if the secondary doesn’t clamp down, or if drives continue to die on third down, OSU will limp through conference play and miss any chance at turning the season around.
The implications are big: wins, recruiting, fan support, and ultimately the evaluation of Mike Gundy as head coach all depend on progress. The Big 12 won’t wait for Oklahoma State to find itself. The league is tougher, more talented, and less forgiving than many give it credit for.
There’s still time, even though many have lost hope. The season is only 3 games in for this team. The Cowboys get to start Big 12 play with all cards on the table. If they address these issues now — with urgency, accountability, and bold adjustments — they might salvage not just a season, but a chance at restoring belief.