Blog Article
Oklahoma State Football Is At A Crossroads In 2025
Oklahoma State‘s 2024 season was one of the most disappointing in program history. The Cowboys finished 3-9 overall and went winless (0-9) in Big 12 conference play.
This collapse was especially shocking considering:
- The Cowboys returned most of their production from a 10-win team
- They had played in the Big 12 Championship Game just a year earlier
- Many analysts had them as preseason Big 12 title contenders
- Some even predicted a College Football Playoff appearance
Now, head coach Mike Gundy – after nearly two decades of remarkable stability and success – finds himself in unfamiliar territory: firmly on the hot seat.
The Complete Collapse: What The Hell Happened In 2024?
The 2024 season was disastrous for a program that had grown accustomed to bowl appearances and conference title contention.
After starting 3-0, the Cowboys:
- Suffered a seven-game losing streak (longest in the Gundy era)
- Finished the season with a humiliating 52-0 shutout loss at Colorado
- Failed to win a single Big 12 conference game
- Missed a bowl game for the first time since 2005
The statistics painted an even bleaker picture:
- Defense allowed 500.6 yards per game (among the worst in FBS)
- Surrendered 35.6 points per game (last in the Big 12)
- Gave up 215 rushing yards per game (a defensive collapse)
- Offensive line ranked 98th nationally in rushing yards before contact
Even with star running back Ollie Gordon II (who rushed for 880 yards and 13 TDs), the offense couldn’t overcome the defensive liabilities.
The Great Reset: Gundy’s All-In Coaching Overhaul
Mike Gundy has responded to the 2024 disaster with the most dramatic staff overhaul of his two-decade tenure.
Of his on-field assistants, only two remain in the same roles:
- Sean Snyder (special teams coordinator)
- Rob Glass (strength and conditioning)
The defensive staff has been completely rebuilt:
- Todd Grantham (defensive coordinator/OLBs) – brings experience from Florida, Alabama, and the NFL
- Ryan Osborn (defensive line) – previously Charlotte’s defensive coordinator
- Kap Dede (linebackers) – from Western Kentucky
- Greg Brown (safeties) – promoted from analyst
- Jules Montinar (cornerbacks) – from East Carolina
The offensive makeover is equally dramatic:
- Doug Meacham (offensive coordinator/inside WRs) – returns to OSU with a reputation for high-scoring offenses
- Kevin Johns (quarterbacks) – previously with Oklahoma and Duke
- Cory Patterson (running backs)
- DJ Tialavea (tight ends) – formerly at Utah State
- Theron Aych (wide receivers)
- Cooper Bassett and Andrew Mitchell (offensive line)
This wholesale staff turnover acknowledges that the previous approach had failed catastrophically.
The Transfer Portal Frenzy: Rebuilding The Roster
Oklahoma State’s roster transformation for 2025 might be the most dramatic in college football.
The exodus was substantial, including:
- Four NFL Draft picks: Collin Oliver (Packers), Ollie Gordon II (Dolphins), Korie Black (Giants), and Nick Martin (49ers)
- Multiple transfers to conference rivals: Lyrik Rawls (Kansas), Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma)
- Other key departures: Jason Brooks (Houston), Isaia Glass (Vanderbilt), De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss)
In response, OSU assembled what many consider a top-10 transfer portal class:
- Chandavian Bradley (EDGE, former five-star, Tennessee transfer) – expected difference-maker
- JK Johnson (CB, LSU) and Jaylen Davies (CB, UCLA) – immediate secondary help
- Hauss Hejny (QB, TCU) – will compete for the starting QB role
- Shamar Rigby (WR, Purdue) and Jaylen Lloyd (WR, Nebraska) – adding speed and experience
- Mordecai McDaniel (DB, Charlotte) – previously played for DC Todd Grantham at Florida
These newcomers will be supplemented by a 2025 recruiting class of around 21 commits, mostly three-star prospects focused on developmental depth.
The Schedule: A Path To Redemption?
Oklahoma State’s 2025 schedule offers both opportunity and challenge.
Non-Conference:
- Aug. 28: UT Martin (Home)
- Sept. 6: Oregon (Away)
- Sept. 20: Tulsa (Home)
Key Conference Games:
- Sept. 27: Baylor (Home)
- Oct. 11: Houston (Home)
- Oct. 18: Cincinnati (Home – Homecoming)
- Nov. 15: Kansas State (Home)
- Nov. 29: Iowa State (Home – Senior Day)
Brutal Road Tests:
- Oct. 4: Arizona (Away)
- Oct. 25: Texas Tech (Away)
- Nov. 1: Kansas (Away)
- Nov. 22: UCF (Away)
CBS Sports projects OSU to finish 5-7, predicting wins against UT Martin, Tulsa, Houston, Cincinnati, and Iowa State, while projecting losses in all road contests.
But the most optimistic analysts believe a 9-3 record is possible if the new staff and roster perform well.
Gundy’s Last Stand: The Ultimate Hot Seat
Mike Gundy’s job security has never been more precarious in his two decades at Oklahoma State.
The evidence is overwhelming:
- He agreed to a pay cut and restructured buyout (now $15 million over three years, down from $25+ million)
- His new contract requires him to assist in finding his replacement if fired
- There’s growing “Gundy fatigue” among the fan base and donors
- Another losing season would almost certainly end his tenure
Simply making a bowl game (6+ wins) is now considered the minimum threshold for Gundy to keep his job.
The 5 Critical Factors For 2025 Success
Oklahoma State’s ability to rebound will depend on five key factors:
- Defensive Resurrection – Grantham must immediately establish a more fundamentally sound unit to keep games competitive.
- Quarterback Stability – TCU transfer Hauss Hejny must provide the leadership and playmaking that was inconsistent in 2024.
- Offensive Line Improvement – The addition of dedicated O-line coaches Bassett and Mitchell must fix a unit that struggled mightily.
- Culture Reset – After such a disastrous campaign, rebuilding player confidence and establishing a winning mindset is crucial.
- Early Momentum – With winnable games early (UT Martin, Tulsa), building confidence quickly could create positive momentum.
The Bottom Line: A Program-Defining Season
The 2025 season represents the most pivotal moment of the Gundy era at Oklahoma State.
Most analysts project improvement from the 3-9 mark in 2024, with consensus expectations falling in the 5-7 to 7-5 range. Given the massive turnover in coaching staff and roster, significant uncertainty remains.
A reasonable expectation would be a return to bowl eligibility at 6-6 or 7-5, representing improvement enough to likely save Gundy’s job.
What’s abundantly clear is that Oklahoma State football stands at a crossroads.
The next few months will determine whether this proud program can recapture its winning ways under the coach who built it into a national contender, or whether a new chapter in Cowboy football will begin.
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