Oklahoma State football delivered the biggest early upset of 2026 by stunning No. 6 Oregon 39-31. But even more revealing was how the Cowboys outsmarted the Ducks. Which head coach Eric Morris described in shocking fashion when it came to preparing for Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.
Morris broke down how the heavy underdog figured out the high-octane offense with CBS Sports Network. He credits the cerebral side of his linebackers Ethan Wesloski and Tate Romney for spearheading the win.
Because both saw how Moore was tipping Oregon's plays, per Morris.
âÂÂSuper, super sharp kids who have played a ton of football,â Morris said.
Article Continues BelowOklahoma State Head Coach Eric Morris tells @JonesN4mo how they identified Dante Moore tipping run plays and pass plays.#ICF pic.twitter.com/f71kowyAZG
â CBS Sports College Football ð (@CBSSportsCFB) September 16, 2026
Moore's stance pre-snap gave away where plays were going. The Oklahoma State âÂÂbackers noticed how Moore sometimes lined up with one foot pivoted back, which signaled a pass. Moore standing with both feet aligned straight indicated a run play.
So Morris earns his biggest win of his early Cowboys career after coming over via North Texas.ÃÂ Morris credited the defenders for jumping on the tip. Even though Morris coaches with admitted paranoia about signals and plays getting picked up on his end.
âÂÂCoaches are always paranoid. WeâÂÂre paranoid about, are we getting our signals stolen? WeâÂÂre paranoid about, are we tipping something off by a stance? An offensive lineman? By the way the quarterback stands? We always live in a state of paranoia,â Morris said. âÂÂThose things help a little bit, but executionâÂÂs still the most important thing in this game.âÂÂ
Still, the underdog Cowboys managed to out-smart one of the nation's most loaded rosters. Spearheaded by a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate in Moore. So now Oklahoma State features two smart linebackers who'll look closer at opposing QB stances or other alignments moving forward.

