Five Oklahoma State football takeaways from offensive explosion vs Kansas State

MANHATTAN, KS — For the first time this season in a Big 12 game, the Oklahoma State football team entered halftime with a lead.

The halftime cushion Saturday was 35 points.

A perfect offensive first quarter set the tone for a 66-28 blowout OSU victory against Kansas State on Saturday.

Just last month, when OSU went to Houston, slow starts were a big problem for the offense. That narrative was destroyed Saturday.

OSU scored 28 points in the first quarter, the most its scored in a quarter since also scoring 28 in the fourth quarter against West Virginia in 2023.

The Cowboys (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) scored touchdowns on all four first-quarter drives. Three of the touchdown drives took three plays.

In the first quarter, running back Caleb Hawkins averaged 13.8 yards on seven rushes and quarterback Drew Mestemaker started 9 for 9 passing for 117 yards. OSU averaged 13.9 yards per play.

More: What makes Drew Mestemaker a top NFL Draft prospect? A 35-minute test explains so much

OSU coverage busts aren’t completely solved yet

Two defensive coverage busts lead to Wildcat touchdowns.

In the first quarter, three Kansas State receivers lined up on the right side of the formation and no Cowboy defender ran with receiver Derrick Salley Jr. who scored a wide-open 73-yard touchdown.

Kansas State switched quarterbacks at halftime. In the third quarter, Dillon Duff faked a pass to the sideline and OSU safety Evan Jackson broke on the fake. Duff threw deep behind Jackson to Salley Jr. who again snuck behind OSU’s secondary for an open touchdown.

Kansas State (4-5, 1-5) was one of the only teams in the country without a 50-yard passing play this season entering the game.

Cowboys are bowl eligible for the first time since 2023

The Cowboys are going bowling. Their sixth win of the season Saturday earns them a postseason invite.

OSU hasn’t been to a bowl game each of the past two seasons (posting just one win in 2025 and three wins in 2024), so it’s a significant accomplishment.

Prior to the past two seasons, OSU had an 18-year bowl streak under coach Mike Gundy that lasted from 2002-23.

OSU’s most recent bowl appearance resulted in a 31-23 win against Texas A&M in the TaxAct Texas Bowl.

More: Why Oklahoma State football's LaDainian Fields had K-State game 'circled on my calendar'

Some of the offensive records broken Saturday

Most points scored in Manhattan: 66 (Previous record was 45 points in 1972, ‘76 and ‘88).

The most points vs Kansas State ever: 66 (Previous record was 56 in 1975 and 1987).

28: Most points scored in a first quarter of a conference game since 2011 when OSU scored 35 against Kansas.

49: Most points in any half since scoring 49 in the first half against Texas tech in 2011.

Quarterback Drew Mestemaker passed, rushed and ran in a touchdown. It’s the first time a Cowboy has done that since dating back to at least 1995.

LaDainian Fields continues ball-hawking

For all the flack OSU’s secondary has taken, sophomore corner LaDainian Fields has generated some positive buzz.

He came up with two interceptions on Saturday. He entered the game tied for the nation’s lead with five picks.

His first interception against Kansas State might be the most special interception of his career. Quarterback Blake Barnett’s pass was intended for Wildcat running back Rodney Fields Jr., the former Cowboy and LaDainian’s cousin, and LaDainian swooped in to undercut it.

He returned the first interception 27 yards and his second 10 yards.

OSU vs. Texas Tech

KICKOFF: TBA Saturday, Nov. 14, at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater

Ben Hutchens covers OSU athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Ben? He can be reached at bhutchens@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @ben_hutchens_. Sign up for OSU Sports Minute newsletter to access more coverage of the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Support Ben's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Five Oklahoma State football takeaways from offensive explosion vs Kansas State