Oklahoma State lost a classic back-and-forth Big 12 game to Iowa State in the final seconds on Saturday, Oct. 31. A late mental mistake will plague the Cowboys moving forward, even with the defense being torched by the Cyclones in the loss.
Star receiver Wyatt Young scored a go-ahead touchdown with 53 seconds left in the fourth quarter, giving Oklahoma State a 49-48 lead. After scoring the touchdown, Young went near the stands and said something to a group of Iowa State fans, which prompted an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that awarded Iowa State 15 yards on the ensuing kickoff.
The 15 yards aided Iowa State as it went down the field in the final seconds and kicked a walk-off field goal
to win 51-49. The Cyclones started their drive on their own 37-yard line as a result of the penalty.
Young didn't talk to reporters after the game, but apologized to Oklahoma State fans on social media.
"I apologize to all cowboy football supporters, my teammates, and coaches for the lack of discipline and selfishness I displayed today," he wrote Nov. 1 on X. "Football is a team sport and one play, like the one I made, can change the outcome of the whole game and I'm sorry for that.
"The lack of maturity I showed is inexcusable and should have never been displayed on the field. I deeply regret representing the loyal and true motto Oklahoma State stands by the way I did. I take full accountability for what happened, our coaches do not teach us or allow us to act the way I did."
Oklahoma State WR Wyatt Young was given an unsportsmanlike penalty for this. pic.twitter.com/62yE2D7kO0
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) November 1, 2026
Young, one of the top receivers in the Big 12, finished the game with seven receptions for 74 yards with two touchdowns, including his 7-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.
Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris ultimately took the blame for Young's lapse in judgment, but didn't mince his words on his thoughts on the penalty.
"To put the nail in the coffin at the end on Halloween night, we had the most selfish penalty ever after we score a touchdown to go up and put our defense in a bad position right there," Morris said. "That falls on me. That falls on me as a head coach and that's something I'll get fixed."
Quarterback Drew Mestemaker, a projected first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, completed 27-of-42 passes for 323 yards with five touchdowns to an interception in the game. Young has been Mestemaker's favorite target since breaking out for North Texas last season before the duo followed Morris to Oklahoma State in the transfer portal.
He said Young has to do a better job of toeing the line between playing with an edge and keeping his cool.
"It's hard because he plays his best when he's walking that line," Mestemaker said. "Obviously, we can't have that happen and he knows it and he's beating himself up the most out of anyone. Just gotta be there for him."
The loss is Oklahoma State's second in conference play this season, which puts it in a tough position for contending for a Big 12 championship game berth. The Cowboys are in a four-way tie for fourth place in the standings after the loss.
Oklahoma State's defense was thrashed for 581 total yards on the night, but Young's penalty certainly didn't help the Cowboys' cause.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Most selfish penalty ever’: Oklahoma State mistake proves costly vs. Iowa State
