Oklahoma State wide receiver Wyatt Young issued a statement of apology for his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the loss to Iowa State on Saturday. Regardless of whether or not it was the correct decision for the officials to throw a flag, his touchdown celebration put the Cowboys at a severe disadvantage and the Cyclones were able to capitalize on the short field.
Head coach Eric Morris was disappointed, if not furious.
The college football game was decided by approximately 15 yards. Those 15 yards stemmed from the penalty.
Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State because of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Although one single play does not determine the outcome, one single play can often be the difference between a win and a loss. That was the case in Ames on Saturday.
Oklahoma State trailed Iowa State by six points with two minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys drove 68 yards on 11 plays to set up 1st-and-goal at the seven-yard-line. Drew Mestemaker, who is now projected to be the first quarterback selected in the upcoming NFL Draft, snapped the ball and flipped a shuffle pass to wide receiver Wyatt Young. Young scampered to the left side, past the defense and into the end zone. Touchdown Pokes.
The six-point play and subsequent extra point gave Oklahoma State a one-point lead, 49-48, with 53 seconds left on the clock. The Cyclones would have less than a minute to get into field goal range and kick the game-winner. It seemed like a tall task.
However, Young was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. He ran out of the end zone after his game-tying touchdown to chirp at a group of fans in the front row. This how it looked on the broadcast:
Wyatt Young chirping Iowa St fans after the TD… pic.twitter.com/z1bDQLJZOq
— gmannVOLS (@gmannVOLS) November 1, 2026
Here is how it looked from the field:
Here's Wyatt Young's touchdown and celebration that led to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. pic.twitter.com/takzOHHjoJ
— Jake Brend (@JakeBrendTV) November 1, 2026
Here is how it looked from above:
Wyatt Young scores a game tying touchdown and then is penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. pic.twitter.com/olv1opR2aI
— Ben Hutchens (@Ben_Hutchens_) November 1, 2026
The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was enforced on the ensuing kickoff. Oklahoma State kicked off from its own 20-yard-line instead of the 35-yard-line. Iowa State returned the kick to out to the 37-yard-line. It had great field position.
The Cyclones completed a pass for 33 yards on the next play. Three run plays later, they made a 34-yard game-winning field goal.
The Cowboys are likely knocked out of College Football Playoff contention because of the loss. Three losses in the Big 12 probably won’t cut it.
Wyatt Young issued an apology.
Iowa State was able to get into field goal range with relative ease. Part of that is on Oklahoma State’s defense. A lot of that is on Wyatt Young. The unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gifted the Cyclones with great field position.
Head coach Eric Morris was not happy with his wide receiver.
“To put the nail in the coffin at the end on Halloween night, we have the most selfish penalty ever after we score a touchdown and go up and put our defense in a bad position. That falls on me as the head coach & something I’ll get that fixed.”
Young is equally as remorseful. He issued the following statement after the game:
“I apologize to all cowboy football supporters, my teammates, and coaches for the lack of discipline and selfishness I displayed today. 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.”
This college football season has been especially crazy and there are still four games left in the regular season. Things can change. Chaos is inevitable. However, it seems like Young’s touchdown celebration could be the deciding factor for the Pokes.