COLLEGE FOOTBALL FLASHBACK – AUG 14, 2025: Revisiting Oklahoma State’s Stunning Win Over West Virginia MORGANTOWN, WV — On October 21, 2023, in front of a roaring crowd at Milan Puskar Stadium, the West Virginia Mountaineers mascot stood tall, rallying fans in a high-stakes Big 12 showdown. But the Oklahoma State Cowboys shocked Morgantown with a second-quarter surge that turned the tide. Nearly two years later, the memory of that upset still echoes through college football. A night of passion, power, and unexpected turns—etched into Mountaineer history.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FLASHBACK – AUG 14, 2025: Revisiting Oklahoma State’s Stunning Win Over West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, WV — It was supposed to be just another home game for West Virginia. A sea of old gold and blue packed into Milan Puskar Stadium on October 21, 2023. The air buzzed with expectation. The Mountaineer mascot, clad in his signature buckskins and carrying a musket, had just fired his ceremonial shot. The crowd was electric. West Virginia, coming off a string of solid performances, was favored to defend their turf against an inconsistent Oklahoma State squad.

But college football, as always, had other plans.

Few could have predicted the shocking twist that would unfold over the course of four quarters—especially the second, when the Cowboys completely flipped the script.

It all started with a flurry of quick plays from Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman, who orchestrated a no-huddle offense that left the West Virginia defense gasping. A 48-yard touchdown pass silenced the home crowd, followed by a special teams fumble recovery that quickly led to another score. Within minutes, the Mountaineers found themselves trailing in a game they thought they controlled.

The second quarter was chaos—pure, stunning chaos. Oklahoma State outscored West Virginia 21-3 during that frame alone. The Cowboys’ defense, previously considered shaky, suddenly looked impenetrable. They forced turnovers, dominated the trenches, and capitalized on every Mountaineer mistake. By halftime, disbelief gripped the stadium. Fans who came expecting a celebration were now watching a meltdown.

West Virginia tried to rally in the second half. Running back CJ Donaldson broke a few big plays, and quarterback Garrett Greene scrambled for a late touchdown. But every time they closed the gap, Oklahoma State answered—sometimes with explosive plays, other times with methodical, clock-draining drives that crushed WVU’s momentum.

Final score: Oklahoma State 48, West Virginia 34.

It wasn’t just a loss—it was a gut punch. West Virginia head coach Neal Brown called it “one of the most frustrating performances” of his tenure. The defeat knocked WVU out of Big 12 title contention and sparked intense scrutiny over the team’s discipline and preparation.

For Oklahoma State, it was a turning point. The win jump-started a late-season surge that eventually helped them claw back into bowl eligibility. Head coach Mike Gundy praised his team’s resilience, calling the performance “as complete a game as we’ve played all year.”

Nearly two years later, fans still talk about that night—not just because of the upset, but because of how quickly and completely the game spiraled. One minute, West Virginia was pounding its chest; the next, it was picking itself off the turf.

Even now, the image of the Mountaineer mascot standing stoically on the sideline during the unraveling has become an unintentional symbol of that evening—brave, proud, but ultimately powerless to stop what was coming.