Oklahoma State knew today was coming.
Coach Mike Gundy had barely escaped 2024 together with his job, after a winless Large 12 marketing campaign that crashed out with a 52-0 loss at Colorado. Gundy changed his whole teaching workers and entered this season with a tenuous quarterback state of affairs, which turned extra dire after starter Hauss Hejny broke his foot within the opener. Usually, conditions like Oklahoma State’s do not finish properly, even for a coach as synonymous with this system as Gundy.
The crew’s first dwelling loss to Tulsa since 1951 spelled the top for Gundy, who was fired on Tuesday. Gundy is the winningest coach in Oklahoma State historical past, and led his alma mater to 9 AP top-20 finishes between 2008 and 2021. However this system fell off sharply after 2023, and can now reset.
When Oklahoma and Texas left the Large 12, Gundy thought Oklahoma State was positioned to doubtlessly be the league’s new kingpin. However the league has modified, faculties like Texas Tech are making main investments and Oklahoma State’s future appears murky. Nonetheless, Oklahoma State has some particular plusses, together with a historical past of successful that Gundy molded.
Candidates | Transfers
5 candidates for the job
UTSA coach Jeff Traylor: Two years in the past, Traylor could be a slam-dunk rent for Oklahoma State, and nonetheless could be. He was on the radar for higher-profile jobs like Texas A&M after main UTSA to 23 wins and consecutive Convention USA titles from 2021 to 2022. A four-time Texas state highschool coach of the yr at Gilmer Excessive, the place he received three state titles, Traylor stays one of the crucial related and revered coaches in Texas. He served as a university assistant at Texas, SMU and Arkansas earlier than coming to UTSA, the place he is 48-22 and has received consecutive bowl video games. The one potential concern is whether or not the 57-year-old’s inventory has cooled a bit as UTSA is 9-8 for the reason that begin of the 2024 season.
Texas State coach G.J. Kinne: If Oklahoma State desires a reset with a younger, rising star coach with an offensive background and ties to the state, Kinne makes numerous sense. The 36-year-old starred at quarterback for Tulsa, successful Convention USA Offensive Participant of the Yr honors and ending with 9,472 passing yards and 81 touchdowns. After a professional profession, Kinne started teaching and moved up shortly, parlaying coordinator jobs at Hawai’i and UCF into his first head job at Incarnate Phrase. He is 19-11 as a university coach, brings an thrilling model of play and is aware of the area properly as a Texas native and son of a highschool coach.
Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein: If Oklahoma State is open to a first-time head coach, Klein could be an ideal candidate. The Pokes additionally might injury a fellow Large 12 competitor in Kansas State, the place Klein thrived as a quarterback — ending third in Heisman Trophy voting in 2012 earlier than shifting up the ranks shortly as a coach. He coached Kansas State quarterbacks from 2016 to 2023 and served as offensive coordinator in his remaining two seasons earlier than leaving for a similar function at Texas A&M. After an up-and-down 2024 season, the Aggies offense is flourishing below Klein’s management and could possibly be a candidate to return to his alma mater in some unspecified time in the future. The 36-year-old is aware of the Large 12 and the area very properly and would match very properly in Stillwater.
North Texas coach Eric Morris: He is somewhat older than Kinne at 39 however has walked an analogous path as a Texas native who constructed his repute as an offensive coach. Morris is from the Mike Leach/Air Raid tree, having performed huge receiver for Leach at Texas Tech and later teaching below him each with the Purple Raiders and in 2022 at Washington State, the place he served as offensive coordinator. He preceded Kinne at Incarnate Phrase, twice reaching the FCS playoffs, and has proven his means to determine and develop gamers at North Texas, which is 4-0 this fall after reaching a bowl recreation in 2024.
Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen: There would not be a lot character drop-off from Gundy to Holgorsen, who could possibly be positioning himself for a return to head-coaching duties if Nebraska’s offense continues to make strides this fall. Holgorsen, 54, is aware of the Large 12 and Oklahoma State, the place he served as Gundy’s offensive coordinator in 2010. He navigated West Virginia’s transition from the Large East to Large 12 and completed at 20 video games over .500 with the Mountaineers. Though issues went downhill shortly for Holgorsen at Houston in 2023, the varsity additionally was making its Large 12 debut. Holgorsen’s expertise and data of the world and league make him a transparent match at Oklahoma State. — Adam Rittenberg
Three necessary gamers to retain
The Cowboys tried a large roster overhaul this offseason to attempt to flip its fortunes after the 3-9 yr. They introduced in a complete of 62 newcomers, including 38 switch portal pickups who got here in with a mixed 17,056 profession snaps of taking part in expertise. This is likely one of the extra senior-heavy rosters within the nation with 30 seniors together with 11 tremendous seniors. It is protected to say the Pokes’ subsequent head coach must herald numerous newcomers whereas trying to retain their younger expertise.
OLB Wendell Gregory: Gregory, a redshirt freshman, tied a Large 12 freshman file with three sacks within the season-opening win towards UT Martin. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound edge rusher transferred in from South Carolina this spring and has shortly made an impression. Gregory was additionally arrested after the opener on 4 counts of larceny for allegedly stealing $211 price of merchandise from an area Walmart, however he has nonetheless began in each recreation since.
QB Hauss Hejny: We’ve not seen a lot of Hejny after he exited the Cowboys’ opener early with a damaged bone in his left foot, however the TCU switch was dynamic in restricted motion. Hejny put up 96 passing yards, 27 dashing yards and two TDs towards UT Martin in his debut. He is solely a redshirt freshman and would have three extra seasons of eligibility – or maybe 4, if he misses the remainder of this season.
RB Rodney Fields Jr.: Fields was one of many few vibrant spots of a tough evening towards Tulsa. The 5-foot-9, 195-pound redshirt freshman emerged from a crowded steady of backs to place up a career-high 113 dashing yards and 39 receiving yards within the loss. Fields rushed for 99 yards over 4 video games throughout his redshirt season and can have three extra seasons of eligibility. — Max Olson