Drew Mestemaker Named Sportsvival’s Impact HVAC College Football Player of the Week
College football is filled with great statistical performances every Saturday, but the Sportsvival Impact HVAC Player of the Week award is about more than numbers. It is about producing when the pressure is highest, changing the outcome of a game and creating one of the defining moments of the weekend.
Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker checked every one of those boxes.
Mestemaker is the Sportsvival Impact HVAC College Football Player of the Week after leading Oklahoma State to a stunning 39-31 victory over No. 6 Oregon.
A quarterback usually will not win this award after throwing two interceptions. Turnovers matter, especially at the quarterback position. However, Mestemaker did everything else Oklahoma State needed him to do while leading the Cowboys to the biggest upset of the week.
Impact HVAC Player of the Week: Oklahoma State, QB, Drew Mestemaker
Passing: 26-43, 317 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Rushing: 109 yards, 1 touchdown
Total offense: 426 yards, 3 touchdowns
Final score: Oklahoma State 39, No. 6 Oregon 31
Oregon entered the game as a 23.5-point favorite, but Mestemaker immediately showed that Oklahoma State was not going to be intimidated. On the Cowboys’ first offensive play, he exploded for a 75-yard run, the longest run by a Power Four quarterback this season.
Mestemaker eventually finished with 317 passing yards and 109 rushing yards. His 426 yards of total offense were the most by a player against an AP Top 10 opponent since September 2024. He connected with Wyatt Young on a 52-yard touchdown pass and later scored on a critical 10-yard run during the fourth quarter.
The interceptions kept Oregon in the game, but Mestemaker never allowed those mistakes to change how he played. He remained aggressive, continued creating explosive plays and delivered with Oklahoma State trying to protect its lead.
Oklahoma State finished with 554 total yards while holding Oregon to only 281. The victory ended the Cowboys’ 12-game losing streak and gave the program its first victory over an FBS opponent in 21 games. It was also the first Oklahoma State victory for new head coach Eric Morris.
That is why Mestemaker gets the award. Beau Brungard produced the biggest individual numbers, Kingston Lopa delivered the best defensive performance and Jeremiah Smith dominated against elite competition. However, Mestemaker was responsible for 426 yards while directing the weekend’s biggest upset.
Mestemaker’s Background
Mestemaker’s journey makes this performance even more impressive.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound quarterback attended Vandegrift High School in Austin, Texas, but barely played quarterback during his high school career. He arrived at North Texas in 2024 as a walk-on and began his first training camp fifth on the depth chart.
When North Texas needed a quarterback for the 2024 First Responder Bowl, Mestemaker received his opportunity and threw for 393 yards with two touchdowns. That performance became the beginning of one of college football’s best walk-on stories.
Mestemaker took over as North Texas’ starter in 2025 and led the country with 4,379 passing yards. He threw 34 touchdown passes, produced 4,468 yards of total offense and helped the Mean Green win 12 games. Mestemaker was named the American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and won the Burlsworth Trophy, presented to the nation’s most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on.
Following the season, Mestemaker entered the transfer portal and followed Morris from North Texas to Oklahoma State. His victory over Oregon showed that his production can translate against nationally ranked Power Four competition.
Does Drew Mestemaker Have NFL Draft Ability?
Mestemaker has legitimate NFL Draft ability, but he remains a developing prospect.
He has good size, toughness and enough athletic ability to threaten a defense with his legs. He plays confidently, pushes the football downfield and has shown he can operate a high-volume passing offense. His ability to remain aggressive after making a mistake is another quality NFL evaluators will appreciate.
The biggest questions will involve his arm strength, decision-making under pressure and whether some of the production is being created by Morris’ quarterback-friendly offensive system. The two interceptions against Oregon are part of the evaluation. Mestemaker must become more consistent at recognizing coverage and understanding when to take the safe completion.
Right now, Sportsvival would view Mestemaker as a developmental Day Three prospect. He does not yet possess the complete physical profile of a first-round quarterback, but he has already overcome every limitation placed on him. If he continues producing against Big 12 competition and cuts down on turnovers, he will force NFL teams to take him seriously.
Runner-Up: Kingston Lopa, S, California
Statistics: 5 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1 interception return for a touchdown
Final score: California 21, Syracuse 18
California safety Kingston Lopa delivered the best defensive performance of the weekend.
Lopa intercepted Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli three times, returning one of those interceptions for a touchdown. His final interception came with 54 seconds remaining and allowed California to secure a 21-18 road victory in its ACC opener.
The junior safety transferred to California after beginning his career at Oregon. He possesses good size at approximately 6-foot-5 and brings the length and range needed to affect passing lanes. Lopa entered the season needing to prove that he could turn his physical tools into consistent production. A three-interception performance against Syracuse was a major step forward.
Lopa is not yet a finished NFL prospect, but his combination of size, range and ball production makes him someone scouts will monitor closely. California Athletics, ACC
Runner-Up: Beau Brungard, QB, Youngstown State
Passing: 20 of 23, 290 yards, 6 touchdowns, 0 interceptions
Rushing: 14 carries, 111 yards, 2 touchdowns
Total: 401 yards, 8 touchdowns
Final score: Youngstown State 70, Duquesne 13
No player in the country produced a more overwhelming statistical performance than Beau Brungard.
The Youngstown State quarterback completed 20 of 23 passes for 290 yards and six touchdowns. He added 111 rushing yards and two more scores, giving him eight total touchdowns in Youngstown State’s 70-13 victory over Duquesne.
Brungard accounted for seven touchdowns before halftime and consistently hurt Duquesne with both his arm and his legs. He is the son of former Youngstown State quarterback Mark Brungard, who helped lead the Penguins to national championships in 1993 and 1994.
Beau Brungard won the 2025 Walter Payton Award after passing for 3,230 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 1,468 yards and 27 scores. At 6-foot and approximately 215 pounds, his size could work against him in the NFL evaluation process. However, his athletic ability, toughness, production and experience give him a chance to compete for a roster spot as a developmental quarterback or versatile offensive weapon. Youngstown State box score
Runner-Up: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Statistics: 8 receptions, 164 yards, 1 touchdown
Final score: Texas 24, Ohio State 23
Ohio State suffered a heartbreaking 24-23 loss to Texas, but Jeremiah Smith once again showed why he is one of the best players in college football.
Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown against a talented Texas defense. His 19-yard touchdown reception helped Ohio State build a 23-3 lead before the Buckeyes surrendered 21 unanswered points during the fourth quarter.
Smith now has 16 receptions for 315 yards and three touchdowns through two games. He is a dominant combination of size, strength, speed, body control and ball skills. He consistently wins against tight coverage and is dangerous after the catch.
There is very little mystery surrounding Smith’s NFL ability. If he remains healthy, he projects as one of the top overall prospects in the 2027 NFL Draft. His performance against Texas strengthened his case as the best wide receiver in college football, even though Ohio State was unable to finish the game. Associated Press
Sportsvival Impact HVAC Players of the Week
Week 0: Beau Pribula, QB, Virginia
Week 1: Mason Heintschel, QB, Pitt
Week 2: Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State
Congratulations to Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, the Sportsvival Impact HVAC College Football Player of the Week!
-For your heating and cooling needs, contact Impact HVAC at 412-297-1852.
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