What's at stake for Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker against Oregon?

Drew Mestemaker's name has taken a slight hit after subpar performances in his past three games.

He could make it all good again on Saturday when Oklahoma State hosts Oregon, ranked No. 6 in the Associated Press Top 25.

Mestemaker wasn't his usual self during last Saturday's 24-10 loss to Tulsa. He completed 29 of 49 passes for 241 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble lost.

“I think the first thing is, everyone knows I need to play better,” he said after the game. “And I'm not the one to point fingers. I need to play better, and then the offense will play better.”

Mestemaker was one of the best stories in college football at North Texas last season. His dynamic play had the Mean Green in the College Football Playoff conversation for most of the year. In his first 12 games last season, Mestemaker completed 70.9% of his passes for 319.6 yards per game, 29 touchdowns and four interceptions.

In the three games since – a loss to Tulane in the American Conference championship game and a win over San Diego State in the New Mexico Bowl as North Texas’ quarterback and the loss to Tulsa as Oklahoma State’s new signal caller, the numbers aren’t nearly as good. He’s completed 59% of his passes for 261.7 yards per game, and he’s thrown six touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Can’t wait to watch the All-22 of Drew Mestemaker vs. Tulsa. Nation’s leading passer a year ago and a potential first round pick has been held to 157 passing yards by a Tulsa team without their top corner in Elijah Green with 10 to play in the 4th quarter https://t.co/2Q7XkrehM4

There were several factors at play in the past three games. North Texas coach Eric Morris agreed to a deal with Oklahoma State days before the American Conference title game. And in his season opener at Oklahoma State, Mestemaker lost his best offensive lineman, Jacob Sexton, in the first quarter. Sexton’s injury later was determined to be season-ending.

But those are things Heisman winners and first-round draft picks overcome. And for all the damage the past three games might have done to his once-sterling reputation, opportunity knocks on Saturday.

Oregon features Dante Moore, one of the nation’s best quarterbacks.Many NFL scouts will be watching this game for Moore, and it could end up paying off for Mestemaker.

Mestemaker can establish himself at Oklahoma State. Yes, many of his old North Texas teammates know him as a winner, but most of the team has exactly one game with him as their starting quarterback. And he could beat a big-name team. Most of his career success has come in the American Conference. This is the best chance yet to see if he can deal with NFL talent on the other side of the field.

Mestemaker gets to show he can handle pressure. He’s largely an old-school pocket passer who trusts his line. When that line doesn’t come through, Mestemaker has some functional mobility, but he's not a major running threat. It will be interesting to see if he can manufacture opportunities, or if the game plan moves him around to make him less of a standing target.

More: Tulsa 24, Oklahoma State 10

Lastly, Mestemaker can show he can shake off criticism and that his confidence doesn’t waver after off games. This one will be critical in the NFL. Even a good performance in a loss would be good for him and Oklahoma State in the long run.

Mestemaker was very blunt about his disappointment in his performance against Tulsa. Now, we’ll see if he and the team did the proper work between games to make Saturday’s result different.

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