I'll probably be touching on some Heisman Trophy futures over the next few weeks with the 2026 college football season kicking off Aug. 29 – I can't believe it's less than two weeks now. With a new head coach in Eric Morris and almost an entirely new roster, Oklahoma State opens Sept. 5 at in-state rival Tulsa, and it will be the Cowboys debut of quarterback Drew Mestemaker. He is one of many transfers in from North Texas, where Morris coached from 2023-25.
Morris turned the Mean Green into one of the best non-power conference teams last season with 11 wins as they earned a spot in the American Conference title game. That club was led by Mestemaker, who is one of the most unique stories in college football. Bet on Oklahoma State football at DraftKings, where new users get $200 when they spend $5+: BetMGM is more exposed on the 20-year-old to win the Heisman Trophy than any other player in the country.
While Mestemaker isn't among the top three in tickets (2.2%) or handle (1.9%) to win the award, he was a +10000 longshot to open so that's why the exposure. No player nationally has seen his odds shorten more, with Mestemaker now +5000. If you're interested in college football betting and want to try it on the best sports betting apps, you can check out the SportsLine Projection Model for picks on games once the season starts from both the simulations and our experts.
Highly, highly doubtful as not much is expected of the Cowboys off a school-worst 1-11 campaign in 2025. Their projected win total this season is only 6.5, and it's 3.5 for Big 12 victories. Okie State's only win last year was in the season opener against FCS school UT Martin.
It was even upset at home by Tulsa – the Golden Hurricane's first win in the series in 27 years and first in Stillwater since 1951 -- and it lost every Big 12 game but one by at least a touchdown. But, hey, maybe Morris is Curt Cignetti and Mestemaker is Fernando Mendoza. The 6-foot-4 Mestemaker was a walk-on at North Texas – he wasn't even a starting QB in high school but was a good punter and a zero-star recruit -- and was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 and won the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the top player nationally who began his career as a walk-on.
Probably the best-known winner of that award in history (debuted in 2010) was future Heisman winner Baker Mayfield, who actually won it twice at Oklahoma. Bet on college football futures using the latest FanDuel promo code for up to $1,000 in bet reset tokens: As a redshirt freshman last year, Mestemaker threw for 4,379 yards (including a whopping 608 in one game) and 34 touchdowns, both of which led the FBS. He also led the nation in completions of at least 10 yards (168), 20 yards (67), 50 yards (11), 60 yards (eight) and 70 yards (five).
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