College football fans were left furious with ESPN after missing an early candidate for the play of the year when the cable giant cut away from a stunning upset to air the US Open women’s final.
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker’s soaring fourth-quarter touchdown run proved to be the go-ahead score in the Cowboys’ stunning 39-31 win over No. 6 Oregon. The senior transfer from North Texas evaded the Ducks’ pass rush, pump faked and took off for the end zone before launching himself over one Oregon defender and being slammed by another.
Somehow, Mestemaker managed to control the football after crashing into the end zone as Oklahoma State took a 36-31 lead with about 10 minutes remaining.
Coming off a 1-11 season in 2025 and a 14-point loss to in-state rival Tulsa last week, Oklahoma State fans disregarded a warning on the scoreboard and instead poured onto the field at Boone Pickens Stadium to celebrate the stunning upset. Ultimately the field goal posts were dislodged by the exuberant students, who likely put the school at risk of a Big 12 fine in the coming days.
Unfortunately for football fans watching on ESPN, the entire scene was replaced with Aryna Sabalenka‘s match against Elena Rybakina in the US Open final, while the Oregon-Oklahoma State game played out on one of the cable giant’s other premium channels.
‘It’s too bad I missed this because you keep switching the channel it’s on,’ one angry fan wrote to ESPN on X.
For the game, Mestemaker tossed for 317 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown as Oklahoma State ended a 21-game skid against FBS opponents
Students storm the field after the Cowboys ended a 21-game skid against FBS opponents
Oklahoma State Cowboys fans storm the field and tear down a goalpost after the win
Mestemaker gained over 100 yards on the ground in his second start for the Cowboys
‘Terrible decision @espn to switch this game to a station nobody has,’ another critic followed.
Other fans took a more humorous approach: ‘Sounds like a great game. Is it on TV?’
But many more were frustrated to see the highlights on X after missing the end of the game on a cable channel they pay for.
‘If you could show this on our TVs instead of X, that’d be great,’ one angry fan wrote. ‘Pretend like you care about sports once in a while.’
For the game, Mestemaker tossed for 317 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 109 yards and that aforementioned touchdown as Oklahoma State ended a 21-game skid against FBS opponents.
It was also Cowboys coach Eric Morris’ first win since taking over the program after a successful stint at North Texas with Mestemaker.
The Cowboys (1-1) will host Murray State next Saturday, while the Ducks (1-1) welcome Portland St. to Eugene.
