The 1979 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the Big Eight Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first season under head coach Jimmy Johnson, the Cowboys compiled a 7–5 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished in third place in the conference, and were outscored by opponents by a combined total of 212 to 191. The team played its home games at Lewis Field in Stillwater, Oklahoma.