Oklahoma State wide receiver Wyatt Young issued an apology to fans, teammates, and coaches after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he incurred proved costly in the Cowboys' 51-49 loss to Iowa State. The penalty occurred immediately after Young scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, a score that had tied the game at 48-48.
Instead of kicking off from the standard position, the ensuing kickoff was moved back 15 yards due to Young's penalty for shouting at Iowa State fans. This gave Iowa State the ball at their own 37-yard line after the return. The Cyclones then executed a 33-yard play, moving them into field goal range.
Iowa State ultimately kicked a game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining, securing the victory. While Young's penalty did not directly cause the loss, it significantly aided Iowa State's final offensive drive.
Young took to social media to express his remorse. "I apologize to all cowboy football supporters, my teammates, and coaches for the lack of discipline and selfishness I displayed today," Young wrote on X. "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."
He added that he regrets not upholding the standards of Oklahoma State and that his actions were not taught or condoned by the coaching staff. Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris described the penalty as "the most selfish penalty ever" during his postgame press conference.
The loss dropped Oklahoma State's record to 5-3 for the season, effectively ending their College Football Playoff aspirations.