Oklahoma State Cowboys at West Virginia Mountaineers

Injuries noted

Oklahoma State Cowboys: Braydon Nelson (out) — Offensive lineman recovering from knee surgery; Morris said he would not be available for this game, with an Oct. 10 return targeted.; Joseph Hanson (questionable) — Starting guard; listed questionable after missing the Murray State game with an undisclosed injury.; Iman Oates (questionable) — Defensive tackle; listed questionable after missing the Murray State game with an undisclosed injury.; Chris Barnes (probable) — Wide receiver and kickoff returner; listed probable after missing the prior game with a shoulder injury.; Johnny Dickson III (probable) — Offensive lineman; listed probable. No condition was disclosed.; Braylon Rigsby (probable) — Defensive lineman; listed probable after missing the previous two games with an undisclosed injury.; Jacob Sexton (out for season) — Left tackle; out for the season with a lower-right-leg injury suffered in the opener.

West Virginia Mountaineers: Emory Snyder (out) — Nickel/safety; listed out on the second Big 12 availability report. No condition was disclosed.; Andre Devine (out) — Running back; listed out. No condition was disclosed.; Darius Wiley (out for season) — Defensive lineman; listed out for this game and identified as West Virginia's lone long-term, season-ending injury.; Chris Talley (questionable) — Running back; listed questionable. No condition was disclosed.; Cam Ball (probable) — Tight end; listed probable. No condition was disclosed.; Prince Strachan (probable) — Wide receiver; listed probable after making his season debut against Virginia.; Martavious Boswell (probable) — Running back; listed probable. No condition was disclosed.; Nick Taylor (probable) — Cornerback; newly added as probable on the second report. No specific condition was disclosed.

QUARTERBACK

• Drew Mestemaker is OKST's projected starter

  7.74 Y/A

  Drew Mestemaker is OKST's projected starting quarterback. Oklahoma State's current-week depth chart lists Mestemaker alone atop the quarterback position, ahead of Grant Jordan OR Broderick Vehrs; the source is a depth chart rather than an explicit game-day confirmation. 2026 line: 882 passing yards, 65.8% completions, 7.74 yards per attempt, 8-4 TD-INT over 3 games.

TRENCHES

• WVU: 281.3 rushing yards per game to OKST's 221.7

  59.7 YPG

  OKST is at 221.7 rushing yards per game over 3 games; WVU is at 281.3 over 3 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 25. Last season OKST was at 118.3 over 12 games and WVU at 160.6 over 12 games.

PACE & SCRIPT

• OKST @ WVU carries a 61.5 market total

  61.5

  At 61.5, this game sits 7 points above the 54.5 slate median, so the market expects both offenses to find the end zone at a steady clip. More possessions and quick drives drive a number like this. It cracks if drives stall in the red zone and turn into field goals instead of touchdowns. Watch how scoring trips finish.

• OKST: 34:16 time of possession per game to WVU's 28:21

  5:54 TOP

  OKST is at 34:16 time of possession per game over 3 games; WVU is at 28:21 over 3 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 25. Last season OKST was at 28:46 over 12 games and WVU at 26:34 over 12 games.

TURNOVERS

• WVU: 0.67 turnovers committed per game to OKST's 2.33

  1.67 TO

  West Virginia has protected the ball at 0.67 giveaways a game over three games, while Oklahoma State is at 2.33, up from 1.42 last season. A pass-heavy OKST offense turning it over more fits together, though turnover rates swing hard in small samples. WVU at home with a cleaner ball game is the side giving itself fewer free possessions.

MISMATCH

• OKST: 306.3 pass yards a game to WVU's 177

  306.3 VS 177

  Oklahoma State is throwing for 306.3 yards a game through three games after averaging 174.1 last season, the biggest swing on the sheet. West Virginia is at 177, close to its 188.9 last season. A jump that large over three games tends to come back down some, while West Virginia's number looks steady. The question for this game is whether Oklahoma State's new passing game holds up on the road.

COVERAGE

• OKST: 16.2% third downs allowed to WVU's 35.7%

  19.5 PP

  OKST is at 16.2% third downs allowed over 3 games; WVU is at 35.7% over 3 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Sep 25.

• OKST: 167.3 passing yards allowed per game to WVU's 246.7

  79.3 YPG

  Oklahoma State has allowed 167.3 passing yards a game over 3 games, and West Virginia has given up 246.7. Three games can't tell us how much the schedule shaped either number. West Virginia's secondary has been the easier one to throw on, which points toward Oklahoma State's passing props more than West Virginia's.

REPLACEMENT

• Jacob Sexton (OL) is out for the season for OKST

  OUT FOR SEASON

  Left tackle; out for the season with a lower-right-leg injury suffered in the opener. Oklahoma State Week 4 Injury Report: Who’s Trending Up for West Virginia Showdown? (2026-09-22)

• Darius Wiley (DL) is out for the season for WVU

  OUT FOR SEASON

  Defensive lineman; listed out for this game and identified as West Virginia's lone long-term, season-ending injury. WVU Updates Status for WR Jaden Bray, OL Nick Krahe for Oklahoma State Game (2026-09-25) Six WVU Players Questionable or Probable in First Availability Report vs. OSU (2026-09-24)

• Braydon Nelson (OL) is out for OKST

  OUT

  Offensive lineman recovering from knee surgery; Morris said he would not be available for this game, with an Oct. 10 return targeted. Oklahoma State Week 4 Injury Report: Who’s Trending Up for West Virginia Showdown? (2026-09-22)

• Emory Snyder (DB) is out for WVU

  OUT

  Nickel/safety; listed out on the second Big 12 availability report. No condition was disclosed. WVU Updates Status for WR Jaden Bray, OL Nick Krahe for Oklahoma State Game (2026-09-25)

• Andre Devine (RB) is out for WVU

  OUT

  Running back; listed out. No condition was disclosed. WVU Updates Status for WR Jaden Bray, OL Nick Krahe for Oklahoma State Game (2026-09-25)

SITUATIONAL

• OKST: 306.3 team passing yards per game to WVU's 177

  129.3 YPG

  Oklahoma State is throwing for 306.3 yards a game over three games, a big leap from 174.1 last season. West Virginia's 177 sits near its 188.9 from a year ago. OKST's jump is the number more likely to move, since three games is a short look. If it holds, the Cowboys should dictate a pass-heavy script on the road.

• WVU: 100% fourth-down conversion rate to OKST's 42.9%

  57.1 PP

  West Virginia is perfect on fourth down through three games, well above its 45.2% last season. Oklahoma State is at 42.9%, right in line with its 40% a year ago. A perfect rate over three games is almost always a few attempts and will come down. The useful takeaway is that WVU's staff has been willing to go for it, which can extend drives in a close game at home.

• WVU: 53.3% third-down conversion rate to OKST's 35%

  18.3 PP

  OKST is at 35% third-down conversion rate over 3 games; WVU is at 53.3% over 3 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 25. Last season OKST was at 34.8% over 12 games and WVU at 29.6% over 12 games.

• OKST: 28.3 first downs per game to WVU's 20.7

  7.7 FD

  OKST is at 28.3 first downs per game over 3 games; WVU is at 20.7 over 3 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 25. Last season OKST was at 15.6 over 12 games and WVU at 18.8 over 12 games.

• OKST: 2.33 fourth-down attempts per game to WVU's 0.67

  1.67 ATT/G

  OKST is at 2.33 fourth-down attempts per game over 3 games; WVU is at 0.67 over 3 games. Those are this season's games through Sep 25. Last season OKST was at 2.08 over 12 games and WVU at 3.5 over 12 games.