Oklahoma State Cowboys vs Houston Cougars Final — October 17, 2026
OKSTOffense2026 regular season to dateHOU
OKSTDefenseHOUOKSTRecent formHOUOKSTHome and roadseason to dateHOUOKSTLast 10 gamesHOURest & travelrest and travel
OKSTRest & travelHOUAbout these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 6 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
The pre-game matchup
Oklahoma State (3-1) visited Houston (4-1) on Saturday, October 17 at 7:30 PM ET.
Oklahoma State has the 68th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 39th-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, Houston has the 19th-ranked offense and the 94th-ranked defense. When Oklahoma State has the ball, a 68th-ranked offense (+0.065 EPA per play) meets a 94th-ranked defense (+0.129 allowed); when Houston has it, a 19th-ranked offense (+0.254) meets a 39th-ranked defense (−0.021 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Oklahoma State offense is at 48.7% (51st) and the Houston offense at 53.8% (11th). Oklahoma State scores 33.0 points per game (30th) and allows 26.8 (75th); Houston scores 32.6 (33rd) and allows 21.8 (43rd).
Oklahoma State is 4-1; its last game was a 42-28 win over UCF. Houston is 4-1 and 2-3 against the spread; its last game was a 35-16 win over Kansas State.
Houston closed as a 3.5-point favorite at home against Oklahoma State. The spread closed where it opened. The total closed at 62.5, up from 58.5 at the open. After removing the vig, the closing moneyline (Oklahoma State +150, Houston -182) prices Oklahoma State at 38% and Houston at 62%.
Written from the numbers available before kickoff.
Result
Final score and result vs the closing line
Oklahoma State Cowboys 32, Houston Cougars 35
Houston Cougars won by 3.
- Against the closing spread (Houston Cougars -3.5): Oklahoma State Cowboys covered.
- Combined score 67 vs the closing total of 62.5: Over.
- Houston Cougars closed at -182 on the moneyline (a 62% no-vig market-implied chance).
Before the game: market and G&W
From open to close the market moved 1 point toward Houston Cougars.
Market numbers are the consensus moneyline with the bookmaker margin removed.
Win probability
Each team's chance of winning through the game, starting from the market's closing price (Oklahoma State Cowboys 38%, Houston Cougars 62%) and moving with every snap until the final.
Biggest swings
- Q3 15:00 — Oklahoma State Cowboys ball, 1st & 10 at OKST 25No Huddle-Shotgun #17 D.Mestemaker pass complete short right to #24 C.Hawkins caught at OSU18, for 1 yard to the OSU26 (#8 K.Webb)Oklahoma State Cowboys 13% → 26% (+13 pts) · Drive 10 in Drive X-Ray
- Q3 14:25 — Oklahoma State Cowboys ball, 2nd & 9 at OKST 26No Huddle-Shotgun #17 D.Mestemaker pass complete short right to #24 C.Hawkins caught at OSU30, for 12 yards to the OSU38 (#8 K.Webb), out of bounds, 1ST DOWNHouston Cougars 72% → 87% (+15 pts) · Drive 10 in Drive X-Ray
- Q3 12:09 — Oklahoma State Cowboys ball, 2nd & 7 at HOU 48No Huddle-Shotgun #24 C.Hawkins rush middle for 17 yards gain to the HOU31 (#3 J.Rhym; #8 K.Webb), 1ST DOWNHouston Cougars 67% → 87% (+21 pts) · Drive 10 in Drive X-Ray
- Q3 3:49 — Houston Cougars ball, 3rd & 7 at HOU 28No Huddle-Shotgun #1 C.Weigman rush middle for 44 yards gain to the OSU28 (#32 E.Wesloski), 1ST DOWNHouston Cougars 71% → 83% (+11 pts) · Drive 13 in Drive X-Ray
- Q4 11:57 — Oklahoma State Cowboys ball, 1st & 10 at OKST 34Caleb Hawkins 66 Yd pass from Drew Mestemaker (Drew Mestemaker Pass to Justin Bowick for Two-Point Conversion)Oklahoma State Cowboys 10% → 26% (+16 pts) · Drive 16 in Drive X-Ray
Game DNA
| Oklahoma State | Points added | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| +3.2 | Passingdropbacks | -0.3 |
| +0.3 | Rushingdesigned runs | +7.7 |
| +15.6 | Explosive plays5 plays · 5 plays | +16.1 |
| -2.3 | Turnovers1 giveaways · 1 giveaways | -4.9 |
| -1.2 | Special teamskicks, punts and returns | +0.2 |
| +5.3 | Penaltiespre-snap and dead-ball | -1.2 |
| +0.5 | Red zoneTDs on trips: 3 of 5 · 3 of 4 | +4.2 |
| +21.4 | All plays | +21.8 |
The biggest single gap: rushing, worth about 7.4 points to Houston Cougars. The final margin was 3.
Points added: what each team's plays added to its expected points, credited to the team with the ball. Each play counts once.
The official play, graded
The official play on this game, at the price it was sent, graded against the final score.
Every official play is logged and graded, wins and losses alike. Full track record.
Line review
Houston Cougars closed as the market favourite at 62% and won.
The line moved toward Houston Cougars before kickoff, and they won.
Market
Closing line and line movement
Oklahoma State +3.5 (-110)
Oklahoma State +3.5 (-108)
Houston -172 61%
Houston -182 62%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. Open = first line after both teams' previous games; Close = consensus at kickoff. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts169
- Completion %67.5%47th
- Passing yards1,57532nd
- Yards per attempt9.326th
- TD–INT13–5
- Rushing yards52423rd
- Season line106 carries, 524 yds, 2 TD
- Receiving yards46222nd
- Season line27 catches, 462 yds, 4 TD
- Tackles5316th
- Attempts165
- Completion %66.7%57th
- Passing yards1,42755th
- Yards per attempt8.748th
- TD–INT15–1
- Rushing yards40457th
- Season line75 carries, 404 yds, 2 TD
- Receiving yards40049th
- Season line33 catches, 400 yds, 6 TD
- Tackles38134th
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 259 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 14, 5:34 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | Oklahoma State | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateOklahoma State offense vs Houston defense | 48.7%17th | 43.7%80th |
| Early-down success rateHouston offense vs Oklahoma State defense | 41.2%45th | 47.3%25th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateOklahoma State offense vs Houston defense | 34.6%101st | 40.0%68th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateHouston offense vs Oklahoma State defense | 38.3%58th | 60.0%1st |
| Explosive play rateOklahoma State offense vs Houston defense | 9.5%11th | 8.5%117th |
| Explosive play rateHouston offense vs Oklahoma State defense | 6.4%58th | 6.6%75th |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 50.8%68th-highest | 43.6%111th-highest |
On 3rd down Oklahoma State converts 34.6% (101st) against a Houston defense allowing 40.0% (68th).
On 3rd down Houston converts 60.0% (1st) against a Oklahoma State defense allowing 38.3% (58th).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | Oklahoma State | Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Eric Morris | Willie Fritz |
| Tenureat this school | 1st season | 3rd season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 4–1 | 19–12 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 26–17 | 90–66 |
| Offensive coordinator | Sean Brophy | Slade Nagle |
| Defensive coordinator | Skyler Cassity | Austin Armstrong |
Staff list as of October 13, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 2 times since 2021: Oklahoma State won 1 and Houston 1.
| Date | Score | Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2025 | Houston 39, Oklahoma State 17 Houston won | ||
| Nov 18, 2023 | Oklahoma State 43, Houston 30 Oklahoma State won |
Meetings since 2021, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.
Teams
Oklahoma State Cowboys
- Oklahoma State Cowboys team stats
- Oklahoma State Cowboys at Iowa State Cyclones (Oct 31)
- Colorado Buffaloes 24, Oklahoma State Cowboys 57 (Oct 24)
- UCF Knights 28, Oklahoma State Cowboys 42 (Oct 10)
- Oklahoma State Cowboys 41, West Virginia Mountaineers 24 (Sep 26)
Houston Cougars
- Houston Cougars team stats
- Houston Cougars 13, Utah Utes 21 (Oct 24)
- Houston Cougars 35, Kansas State Wildcats 16 (Oct 10)
- UCF Knights 17, Houston Cougars 27 (Oct 3)
Gridiron & Wine graded a pick on this game: see the archived pick.
More NCAAF games on October 17, 2026
- Florida Atlantic Owls 24, Army Black Knights 56 (Oct 17)
- Pittsburgh Panthers 21, Boston College Eagles 27 (Oct 17)
- Ball State Cardinals 32, Bowling Green Falcons 31 (Oct 17)
- Charleston Southern Buccaneers 0, Clemson Tigers 37 (Oct 17)
- Ohio State Buckeyes 19, Indiana Hoosiers 15 (Oct 17)
- Georgia State Panthers 22, James Madison Dukes 49 (Oct 17)
- Kansas Jayhawks 24, Kansas State Wildcats 35 (Oct 17)
- Mississippi State Bulldogs 0, LSU Tigers 31 (Oct 17)
- Northwestern Wildcats 24, Michigan State Spartans 21 (Oct 17)
- Virginia Cavaliers 13, SMU Mustangs 23 (Oct 17)
- Florida Gators 27, Texas Longhorns 24 (Oct 17)
- Cincinnati Bearcats 42, West Virginia Mountaineers 45 (Oct 17)
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights 37, Maryland Terrapins 30 (Oct 17)
- UMass Minutemen 18, Buffalo Bulls 25 (Oct 17)
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