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Saturday, September 5
Tulsa, Okla.
2:45 p.m.
University of Tulsa
vs
Oklahoma State
Tulsa Opens Season with Gateway Turnpike Classic
9/3/2026 10:41:00 AM | Football
| GAME 1: TULSA (0-0, 0-0 American) vs. OKLAHOMA STATE (0-0, 0-0 BIG 12) | |
|---|---|
| Date/Time: | Saturday, September 5, 2:45 p.m. (CT) |
| Site: | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Stadium: | H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000) |
| Coaches: | TULSA – Tre Lamb (Tennessee Tech '12), 2nd year OKLAHOMA STATE – Eric Morris (Texas Tech '08), 1st year |
| TV: | ESPNU |
| Talent: | Mike Corey (pxp), Barrett Brooks (analyst) |
| Tickets: | CLICK HERE |
| Radio: | Big Country 99.5 FM or Online |
| Talent: | Bruce Howard (pxp), Rick Couri (analyst), Jeremie Poplin (sideline) |
| Live Stats: | Live Stats |
| Series: | 78th Meeting (Oklahoma State leads series, 44-28-5) |
| Game Notes: | Tulsa | Oklahoma State | American Conference |
GATEWAY TURNPIKE CLASSIC OPENS 2026 SEASON
• Tulsa opens the 2026 season against in-state rival Oklahoma State in the Gateway Turnpike Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5, at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
• Kickoff is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. CT on ESPNU. Single-game tickets for the matchup are sold out.
• The 2026 contest marks the 78th meeting in a series that dates to 1914. Oklahoma State holds a 44-28-5 advantage.
• The programs are separated by approximately 72 miles and have met more frequently than Oklahoma State has faced any opponent other than Oklahoma.
• Tulsa defeated Oklahoma State 19-12 in Stillwater in 2025, snapping the Cowboys' 10-game series winning streak and earning the Golden Hurricane's first victory in the series since 1998.
• This will be the 11th time Tulsa and Oklahoma State have met in a season opener and the first time the Cowboys have opened a season in Tulsa since 2000.
• The Golden Hurricane holds a 21-17-2 advantage over Oklahoma State in games played in Tulsa.
COOL ZONE
It could be warm on game day, and we want you to stay cool and have a great time. Below is a map with all the ways you can stay hydrated and cool down. The Reynolds Center will be open and have air conditioning if you need to escape the heat.
2026 CAPTAINS
• Head Coach Tre Lamb announced the 2026 team captains during fall camp.
• Captain selections include one head coach's pick and four team-voted leaders (two offense, two defense).
• The 2026 team captains are:
• Baylor Hayes – Quarterback
• Sevion Morrison – Running Back
• Chris Thompson Jr. – Linebacker
• Jaylen George – Defensive Line
• Malachi Preciado – Offensive Line
NEW NUMBERS FOR 2026
• Seven returning Golden Hurricane players will wear new jersey numbers during the 2026 season.
• Donnell Gee Jr. moves from No. 18 to No. 0, Zach Williams from No. 18 to No. 1, Devin Robinson from No. 16 to No. 2 and Ashton Williams from No. 15 to No. 5.
• Aquavious Dunbar changes from No. 40 to No. 21, Tristan Lawyer from No. 51 to No. 40 and Micah Tease moves from No. 3 to No. 8 as he transitions from wide receiver to cornerback.
RECRUIT LOCAL
• Tulsa's 2026 roster features 27 players from the Tulsa metropolitan area, demonstrating the Golden Hurricane's commitment to recruiting and retaining local talent.
• The group includes 17 players whose listed hometown is Tulsa, four from Owasso, three from Bixby and one each from Collinsville, Jenks and Mannford.
• Local players represent every phase of the roster, with Tulsa-area talent appearing on offense, defense and special teams.
• The group includes players from several of the area's most successful high school programs, including Bixby, Booker T. Washington, Cascia Hall, Collinsville, Holland Hall, Jenks, Metro Christian, Owasso, Rejoice Christian and Union.
• Tulsa's local contingent includes returning Golden Hurricane players as well as student-athletes who returned home after beginning their collegiate careers elsewhere.
• Head coach Tre Lamb and his staff continue to prioritize relationships with area high school coaches while providing local players an opportunity to compete at the FBS level in their hometown region.
HAYES REWRITES THE FRESHMAN RECORD BOOK
• Quarterback Baylor Hayes returns for his second season with the Golden Hurricane after producing one of the most accomplished freshman campaigns by a quarterback in Tulsa history.
• Hayes appeared in 10 games and made nine starts as a redshirt freshman in 2025, completing 186-of-316 passes for 2,158 yards and a team-leading 12 touchdowns.
• He established Tulsa freshman single-season records for passing yards (2,158), touchdown passes (12), total offense (2,346 yards) and 200-yard passing performances (6).
• Hayes' six 200-yard games came against Oklahoma State (219), Tulane (245), East Carolina (251), Temple (296), Florida Atlantic (235) and Army (267).
• He produced three consecutive 200-yard performances against East Carolina, Temple and Florida Atlantic, combining for 782 passing yards and five touchdowns during that stretch.
• Hayes delivered his best statistical performance against Temple, completing 19-of-31 passes for a career-high 296 yards and three touchdowns. His 296 yards rank seventh among Tulsa freshman single-game performances, while his three touchdown passes are tied for the third most by a Golden Hurricane freshman.
• One week before the Temple game, Hayes threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns at East Carolina, establishing career highs in both categories at the time.
• He accounted for 18 of Tulsa's first 26 completions covering at least 20 yards during the 2025 season, including a 72-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brody Foley against Tulane.
• The 72-yard connection with Foley was Tulsa's longest offensive play of the season and one of Hayes' four completions covering at least 40 yards against Temple and Tulane.
• Hayes helped engineer Tulsa's fourth-quarter comeback at Army, completing 20 passes for 267 yards and one touchdown in the Golden Hurricane's 26-25 victory.
• With Tulsa trailing Army 25-14 late in the fourth quarter, Hayes connected with Josh Smith for a touchdown that pulled the Golden Hurricane within two points and helped set the stage for the game-winning field goal with 12 seconds remaining.
• Hayes also contributed on the ground, finishing the season with 188 rushing yards and three touchdowns to bring his total-offense figure to a Tulsa freshman-record 2,346 yards.
• Through 12 career appearances between Tulsa and East Tennessee State, Hayes has completed 204 passes for 2,339 yards. He enters the 2026 season as a redshirt sophomore and one of five players selected by his teammates to serve as a team captain.
JONES PROVIDES EXPLOSIVE OPTION
• Senior running back Trequan Jones brings proven big-play ability to the Tulsa backfield after a breakout 2025 season at Old Dominion.
• Jones played in all 13 games and made five starts for the Monarchs, rushing 105 times for 792 yards and six touchdowns.
• His average of 7.5 yards per carry ranked sixth nationally and was the highest among Old Dominion players with at least 25 rushing attempts.
• Jones averaged more than 60 rushing yards per game despite receiving just 8.1 carries per contest. He averaged 7.0 yards or better in five of his most productive games.
• He delivered one of the most explosive performances in the country against North Carolina Central, rushing for 163 yards and three touchdowns on only five carries.
• Jones averaged 32.6 yards per carry in that contest and scored on runs of 93, 39 and 14 yards. His 93-yard touchdown established an Old Dominion record for the longest rushing play in program history.
• The 5-foot-9, 180-pound back demonstrated that his production translated against Power Four competition when he rushed 13 times for 101 yards and one touchdown in Old Dominion's 45-26 road victory over Virginia Tech.
• Jones also recorded 13 carries for 89 yards in a victory over Liberty, 14 attempts for 98 yards against Coastal Carolina and nine carries for 96 yards and a touchdown against Troy.
• He concluded the season by rushing eight times for 56 yards and a touchdown in Old Dominion's 24-10 victory over South Florida in the Cure Bowl.
• Jones averaged at least 6.5 yards per carry in each of those five victories against North Carolina Central, Virginia Tech, Liberty, Coastal Carolina and Troy.
• Before joining Old Dominion, Jones spent two seasons at Georgia Military College. He combined for 1,071 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 7.5 yards per carry over his two junior-college seasons.
• Across his three seasons at Georgia Military and Old Dominion, Jones has accumulated 1,863 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 247 carries—an average of 7.5 yards per attempt.
• He has also caught 22 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns during that span, giving him 2,072 yards from scrimmage and 22 offensive touchdowns.
• Athlon Sports named Jones a 2026 preseason second-team All-American Conference selection at running back and all-purpose player.
TEASE FLIPS SIDES
• Redshirt junior Micah Tease made the move from wide receiver to cornerback during Tulsa's 2026 preseason camp.
• The Tulsa native played receiver during his first three collegiate seasons, spending two years at Texas A&M before transferring home to join the Golden Hurricane in spring 2025.
• Tease appeared in seven games and made two starts for Tulsa in 2025, catching 12 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown.
• His first collegiate start came at Oklahoma State, where he caught two passes for 37 yards in Tulsa's 19-12 victory over the Cowboys.
• Tease recorded career highs with four receptions and 69 receiving yards against Abilene Christian. He later scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 34-yard reception at Memphis.
• The move to defense is not entirely unfamiliar for Tease. During his career at Booker T. Washington High School, he played on both sides of the ball and recorded 51 tackles and five interceptions.
• Tease was rated as a four-star prospect and one of the top four players in Oklahoma coming out of high school. His recruiting evaluation highlighted his athleticism, speed and ability to play either receiver or defensive back at the Power Four level.
• His offensive experience gives him a unique perspective at cornerback, including an understanding of route concepts, receiver releases and how opposing pass catchers attack defensive leverage.
• Tease enters the season with experience in 19 collegiate games, including time on offense and special teams at Texas A&M and Tulsa.
• The 6-foot, 190-pound Tease will wear No. 8 as he begins his first season on the defensive side of the ball for the Golden Hurricane.
"FREAK LIST"
• Tulsa defensive lineman Kyran Duhon and running back Trequan Jones earned spots on Bruce Feldman's annual Freaks List, which recognizes the most physically gifted athletes in college football.
• Duhon was ranked No. 74 nationally. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive lineman reached 21 mph, posted a 35-inch vertical jump, bench-pressed 425 pounds and squatted 615 pounds.
• Jones came in at No. 79 after reaching 23.6 mph and recording a 42-inch vertical jump, 3.90-second shuttle and 1.48-second 10-yard split.
• Tulsa was one of the programs with multiple players represented among the 101 athletes selected nationally.
• Duhon and Jones both joined the Golden Hurricane through the transfer portal. Duhon previously played at Oklahoma State, while Jones arrived from Old Dominion.
WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT TULSA'S FOOTBALL TRADITION
• New Year's Day Bowl Streak: Tulsa was the first school to play in five consecutive New Year's Day bowl games: Sun Bowl (1942), Sugar Bowl (1943, 1944), Orange Bowl (1945), and Oil Bowl (1946).
• Ellis Jones: An All-American guard in 1945, Jones played with one arm and was a standout on the College All-Star team vs. the Chicago Bears.
• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Four former Tulsa players are enshrined: Bob St. Clair, Jim Finks, Steve Largent, and Drew Pearson.
• Heisman Runners-Up: Jerry Rhome (1964) and Howard Twilley (1965) finished second in Heisman Trophy voting.
• Glenn Dobbs (1940–42): Considered Tulsa's greatest player, Dobbs also coached the Hurricane in the 1960s. Eighth Street near H.A. Chapman Stadium is Glenn Dobbs Drive, dedicated in 2000. A statue of Dobbs was dedicated before the 2013 spring game.
• Zaven Collins (2020): Consensus All-America linebacker who won the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski awards as college football's top defender.
• NFL Head Coaches: Four former Tulsa players have served as NFL head coaches: Tommy Hudspeth (Detroit Lions), Sam Rutigliano (Cleveland Browns), Ray Rhodes (Philadelphia Eagles/Green Bay Packers), and Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears/Tampa Bay Buccaneers/Houston Texans).
• College Football Hall of Fame: Tulsa has three former players, two former head coaches, and two former assistant coaches inducted:
• Players: Glenn Dobbs (1940–42, 1961–68), Howard Twilley (1963–65), Jerry Rhome (1963–64)
• Head Coaches: Francis Schmidt (1919–21), John Cooper (1977–84)
• Assistant Coaches: Darrell Royal (1951), Sammy Baugh (1963)
Visit www.TulsaHurricane.com for the latest news and information on the football program. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'TulsaFootball' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
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