Oklahoma State vs Tulsa Turnpike Classic Kicks Off Saturday

Oklahoma State vs Tulsa Turnpike Classic Kicks Off Saturday in Tulsa

The Oklahoma State Cowboys and Tulsa Golden Hurricane open their 2026 football seasons Saturday afternoon in an in-state matchup carrying plenty of history and some unfinished business from last year.

The Oklahoma State vs Tulsa Turnpike Classic kicks off at 2:45 p.m. Saturday, September 5, at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa and will be televised nationally on ESPNU. The game is sold out.

Fans heading to the stadium should also prepare for hot conditions. Tulsa is allowing empty clear plastic water bottles under 32 ounces, providing free water stations and opening the air-conditioned Reynolds Center as a cooling area during the game.

Oklahoma State vs Tulsa Turnpike Classic Opens Eric Morris Era

Saturday marks the debut of Eric Morris as Oklahoma State’s head coach and the beginning of a dramatically different era for Cowboy football.

Oklahoma State essentially rebuilt its program following consecutive seasons without a conference victory. Morris arrived from North Texas and brought in more than 40 new staff members and 91 new players. Newcomers account for approximately 79% of the Cowboys' 115-player roster, according to OSU.

That makes Tulsa the first real test of whether the reconstructed roster can come together quickly.

Saturday is also Oklahoma State's 127th season opener and the first time since 2019 that the Cowboys have opened a season on the road. It is the first time since 2000 that OSU has opened its season at Tulsa.

Official game information, statistics and broadcast details are available through Oklahoma State Athletics.

Tulsa Looks to Repeat 2025 Upset of Oklahoma State

The Turnpike Classic has additional intensity after what happened in Stillwater last season.

Tulsa defeated Oklahoma State 19-12 in 2025, ending a 10-game losing streak against the Cowboys and earning its first victory in the rivalry since 1998.

The rivalry dates to 1914, and the schools are separated by only about 72 miles.

Oklahoma State leads the overall series, while Tulsa has historically held the advantage when the game is played on its home field. The Golden Hurricane enters Saturday with a 21-17-2 advantage in games against OSU played in Tulsa.

The two programs are currently scheduled to play annually through 2031, alternating between Tulsa and Stillwater.

Additional game-day information for H.A. Chapman Stadium is available through Tulsa Golden Hurricane Athletics.

Tulsa Adds Cooling Stations for Hot Saturday Kickoff

With the game kicking off in the middle of the afternoon, heat safety will be an important part of Saturday's game-day experience.

Tulsa officials say fans may bring clear, empty plastic water bottles smaller than 32 ounces into the stadium and fill them after entering.

Free water stations will be available throughout the stadium concourse.

The university will also open the Reynolds Center, located next to H.A. Chapman Stadium, to fans who need to get out of the heat and spend time in an air-conditioned space.

Fans attending an afternoon football game in hot weather should drink water before arriving, continue hydrating throughout the game and take advantage of cooling areas if they begin experiencing symptoms of heat illness.

The National Weather Service Tulsa provides current forecasts and heat safety information for northeast Oklahoma.

Once the game begins, attention turns back to one of Oklahoma's oldest college football rivalries. Oklahoma State is trying to launch a new era under Morris, while Tulsa has an opportunity to prove last year's upset was more than a one-game breakthrough.

Kickoff is 2:45 p.m. Saturday at H.A. Chapman Stadium, with the Oklahoma State-Tulsa game televised on ESPNU.

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