Jackson’s fumble return helps Oklahoma State pull away from UCF, 42–28

Evan Jackson turned a loose backward pass into the play that separated Oklahoma State from UCF on Saturday. His 28-yard fumble return for a touchdown, followed by Drew Mestemaker’s two-point run, put the Cowboys ahead 35–21 on the way to a 42–28 win in Stillwater.

The 18th-ranked Cowboys improved to 4–1 overall and 2–0 in the Big 12. UCF fell to 3–3 and 1–2 after matching Oklahoma State through the first half but scoring only once after the break.

Jackson’s return came with 10:32 remaining, shortly after Sam Keltner’s second field goal had made it 27–21. Keyone Jenkins’ backward throw hit the turf, and Jackson collected it and ran to the end zone. What could have been an ordinary stalled possession instead gave Oklahoma State a two-touchdown lead.

The defense followed that score with another important stop. UCF went for fourth-and-1 at its own 34, and Luke Webb brought down Landen Chambers without a gain. Pistols Firing’s on-site recap identified that stop as the follow-up that allowed the Cowboys to make the final stretch considerably less tense.

Mestemaker then found Wyatt Young for a five-yard touchdown with 7:30 left, extending the lead to 42–21. UCF’s last score, a four-yard Jenkins pass to Caden Piening with 3:57 remaining, reduced the margin but did not reverse the second-half separation.

Mestemaker completed 19 of 28 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception. He also scored on an 11-yard first-quarter run. Justin Bowick caught six passes for 98 yards and an 18-yard touchdown; Young had five catches for 52 yards. Miles Coleman added 69 receiving yards, and Caleb Hawkins led the rushing attack with 83 yards on 23 carries.

UCF had made Oklahoma State work for its advantage. Jenkins threw three first-half touchdown passes, including a three-yarder to Tyren Hornes with 13 seconds left in the second quarter that tied the game at 21. His earlier scores went to Grayson Brousseau and Josh Derry.

Jenkins finished with four touchdown passes and 265 yards on 30-of-42 passing, plus one interception. Derry caught 11 passes for 84 yards, while Piening had seven receptions for 60 yards. That production kept the Knights competitive early, but it could not offset the defensive touchdown and failed fourth-down attempt after halftime.

Oklahoma State scored the first 21 points of the second half. The Cowboys’ ability to pair an efficient passing game with a decisive defensive play preserved their unbeaten conference start and turned a difficult opening half into another home victory.