Week 7 Recap: Same Story, Different Opponent for Oklahoma State in Loss to Houston
Week 7 felt like déjà vu for Oklahoma State football, as the Cowboys put together another disappointing performance — this time falling to the Houston Cougars in a game that was one-sided from start to finish. From the first drive to the final whistle, it was clear: OSU's issues on both sides of the ball remain unsolved.
The defense, once again, looked overmatched. Houston had their way offensively — running the ball with ease and slicing through the secondary with minimal resistance. By halftime, the Cougars had piled up over 225 yards of total offense, including 177 yards and two touchdowns through the air from quarterback Conner Weigman. Oklahoma State had no answer for Houston’s pace, tempo, or execution.
And things didn’t get better after the break.
Weigman continued to dominate in the second half, finishing with his best passing performance of the season, surpassing 300 yards. OSU’s secondary couldn’t contain Houston receiver Amare Thomas, who had a career day exploiting soft coverage and missed assignments. Thomas ended up with 157 receiving yards on the day. Time after time, Thomas found space and punished the Cowboys for it. The Cougs ended up totaling 166 yards on the ground. When the opposing team dominates in both phases on offense, it'll be a long day for any team. The Cowboys felt the heat early and often.
While the defense struggled, the offense didn’t do much to help. Aside from a well-executed trick play, a 63-yard trick play touchdown pass from wide receiver Shamar Rigby to running back Rodney Fields, the Cowboys’ offense was mostly stagnant. There were too many three-and-outs, too few sustained drives, and not nearly enough explosiveness to keep up with Houston’s relentless attack.
To his credit, offensive coordinator Coach Meachem is at least trying to shake things up. The trick play was a bright spot and a sign that the staff is looking for creative solutions. But creativity can only go so far when the offense can’t stay on the field. The constant short drives wore down the defense even further, as they were forced back onto the field with little rest or time to regroup.
Falling behind early didn’t help either. The Cougars jumped out to a big lead quickly, putting even more pressure on the offense to respond. But with limited firepower and no real rhythm, the Cowboys simply couldn’t keep up. Sam Jackson couldn't get anything going running or throwing. His most valuable asset was his athleticism and that couldn't be utilized the way it's been in the past. Houston had a good gameplan and smothered the OSU offense all afternoon.
Final score was 39-17 in favor of the Houston Cougars over Oklahoma State. In the end, it was another frustrating Saturday for the Cowboys— a game that followed a now-familiar script of defensive breakdowns, offensive inconsistency, and a growing list of missed opportunities. Unless something changes soon, the Cowboys risk letting the season slip completely out of reach.