Mike Gundy’s reign at Oklahoma State is officially shaking after the Cowboys endured an embarrassing 69-3 blowout loss to Dan Lanning’s Ducks. Coming off a brutal 3-9 season last year and a 0-9 Big 12 record, Gundy was already on thin ice. Now? The ice is cracking beneath him. Gundy’s troubles began before kickoff with his controversial remarks about Oregon’s spending on players. And guess what? That jab backfired spectacularly. Oklahoma State’s offense completed just 7 of 19 passes with two interceptions and failed to mount any fight against the Ducks.

But inside Oklahoma State, the pressure cooker is reaching a boiling point. The Cowboys’ board of regents has had serious discussions about firing Gundy for cause, and rumors swirl about who might replace the longtime coach. That’s when the Sooners’ offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, with a hefty $4.5 million price tag, became the talk of the town in Stillwater circles, as per the NY Times. It seems his success in Norman hasn’t gone unnoticed. And names like former OSU quarterback Zac Robinson being a replacement for Gundy’s throne also came into conversation.

But if Oklahoma State decides to pull the plug on Mike Gundy, it won’t come cheap. The longtime Cowboys coach, who’s been at the helm for 21 seasons and has become Oklahoma State’s winningest coach, signed a restructured contract late last year. That also reduced his salary by a million less. The new deal locks him in through Dec. 31, 2028, starting with a $6.875 million paycheck for 2025 and a $125K raise every year. The kicker? If the school cuts him loose without cause before the end of 2027, they owe him a fat $15 million. Wait it out until after Dec. 31, 2027, and that number drops to $10 million. Now that’s a hefty price tag, but par for a veteran coach with his pedigree.

That brutal 69-3 loss stirred up a storm of questions about Gundy’s leadership. Fans and pundits weren’t just shaking their heads at the loss itself; they were wondering if Gundy’s sideline ramblings exposed a deeper problem. “Mike Gundy set the table for what was going to be a lopsided loss at Oregon,” On3’s Pete Nakos said. “But watching the 69-3 loss at Oregon did not quell any concerns about Gundy’s future. The Cowboys have dropped 10 of their last 11, dating back to last September.” So yeah, Gundy definitely had it coming. But let’s get back to the replacement. Why Ben Arbuckle? He’s the guy Oklahoma State might want to bet on to bring that spark back.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ OC has already made waves with his dynamic, up-tempo offense and a solid track record of turning struggling units into high-scoring machines. Take John Mateer, for example. Mateer followed Arbuckle from Washington State, where the duo lit up defenses together, to Norman with a shared philosophy. In last week’s 24-13 win over No. 15 Michigan, Mateer stole the show. He racked up three touchdowns and kept drives alive as the Sooners converted 9 of 17 third downs. Now in his second year running Arbuckle’s wide-open spread offense, Mateer leads the entire SEC with 760 yards of total offense in just two games.

Remember, OU was dead last in the SEC and 124th in the country in yards per play (4.81) a year ago. If this turnaround keeps rolling after that 6-7 mess, don’t be surprised if Arbuckle’s name starts popping up in the ‘next big thing’ conversations.

Betting on familiar talent with a modern edge

When the discussion heats up about who could replace Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State, there is this one name that keeps popping up, other than Ben Arbuckle. Zac Robinson. A former Cowboys quarterback and now the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. With that, he’s the clear No. 1 target, and for good reason. Robinson’s connection to Oklahoma State runs deep. It’s a guy who knows Stillwater football culture inside and out. Playing under Gundy himself, Robinson lived the OSU way.

He understands the expectations on and off the field. And can also speak the language of the fanbase and community. On the coaching front, Robinson has steadily risen through the NFL ranks and earned the respect of his peers. Right now, as Atlanta’s offensive coordinator, he’s learning the ropes at the highest level of football. This NFL edge gives him insight into the modern game’s speed. It will be a new look for the Big 12. Then there’s the timing. Carson Cunningham from Pistol Guys confirms there was mutual interest last spring.

“I can confirm Zac Robinson is the clear-cut, No. 1 target,” Cunningham posted on X. “There was mutual interest last spring, and that remains today. Tricky hire timing-wise with the Falcons’ final regular season game being Dec. 29. OSU’s season ends Nov. 29.” The tricky part? Robinson is still coaching deep into the NFL regular season as Atlanta’s coordinator, with contractual ties that make any quick hire complicated. Despite the timing hurdles, Oklahoma State’s brass sees Robinson as an ideal modern, offensive-minded coach who fits the changing landscape of CFB.