College football fans voiced significant anger towards ESPN on Saturday after the network cut away from a dramatic upset victory by Oklahoma State over No. 6 Oregon to broadcast the US Open women's final.

The controversial decision meant many viewers missed a crucial touchdown run by Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, which ultimately secured the Cowboys' 39-31 win. Mestemaker's play, an early candidate for the season's best, saw him evade the Ducks' pass rush, execute a pump fake, and then launch himself over a defender for the go-ahead score.

Despite being slammed by another Oregon player upon landing, Mestemaker managed to retain possession of the ball as Oklahoma State took a 36-31 lead with approximately 10 minutes remaining in the game. The victory marked a significant turnaround for the Cowboys, who were coming off a 1-11 season in 2025 and a recent loss to Tulsa.

Following the go-ahead touchdown, exuberant Oklahoma State students stormed the field and eventually dislodged the goalposts, a celebration that could lead to a Big 12 fine for the university. However, viewers watching on ESPN saw the event replaced by live coverage of the Aryna Sabalenka versus Elena Rybakina match in the US Open final, while the Oklahoma State-Oregon game was relegated to another ESPN premium channel.

Frustration erupted on social media, with fans lamenting the difficulty of finding the game. "It's too bad I missed this because you keep switching the channel it's on," one user wrote to ESPN on X. Another criticized the network's decision, stating, "Terrible decision @espn to switch this game to a station nobody has." Many expressed disappointment at seeing highlights of the missed play on social media after paying for a cable package that did not provide access.

Mestemaker's performance was central to the upset. He completed 317 passing yards and two touchdowns, while also contributing 109 rushing yards and a touchdown. This win was also the first for Cowboys coach Eric Morris since he took over the program, having previously coached Mestemaker at North Texas.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys, now 1-1, are scheduled to host Murray State next Saturday. The Oregon Ducks, also 1-1, will play Portland State at home.