Eric Morris Trying to Solve Oklahoma State Football’s ‘Psychology Problem’

August 29, 2026 - 02:39

The numbers are stunning when one considers how good Oklahoma State had been for the past 20 years. But this season, the Cowboys have stumbled into a pattern that looks less like a talent gap and more like a mental block. That is where Eric Morris comes in. The offensive coordinator has been blunt about what he sees, calling it a "psychology problem" that has to be fixed before anything else on the field can improve.

Morris is not talking about a lack of effort or desire. He is pointing to a deeper issue: the team seems to tighten up in critical moments, especially after a turnover or a stalled drive. Instead of shaking off a bad play, the players appear to carry it into the next series. That hesitation shows up in missed blocks, dropped passes, and poor decision-making. The result is a unit that looks sharp in practice but freezes when the game is on the line.

The coach has been working on drills that force players to reset their minds quickly. He wants them to treat every snap as a fresh start, not a continuation of the last mistake. It is a simple concept, but breaking a habit that has built up over several weeks takes more than a speech. Morris has also leaned on veteran players to call out the negative body language on the sideline, hoping to stop the spiral before it starts.

There is no quick fix for this kind of issue. But Morris believes the talent is there, and the scheme is sound. What has to change is the belief that one bad moment ruins the whole game. If the Cowboys can get past that, the numbers might start looking a lot more like the old Oklahoma State.