After 4 years as an assistant and 20 years as a head coach at Oklahoma State, Mike Gundy was finally let go after losses piled on in the 2025 season. For now, offensive coordinator Doug Meacham is the interim head coach and will probably remain in charge for the remainder of the season. However, the search for a new head coach was intensified by the program, with CBS Insider Chris Hummer and Richard Johnson touting Falcons’ OC Zac Robinson for the job. Now, there’s another development in the story, as OSU’s legendary wide receiver is endorsing Robinson’s name.

“Oklahoma state, let’s make Zac Robinson the head coach!” wrote Dez Bryant, OSU’s 2008 consensus All-American on X. Bryant was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round in 2010 and played for 7 seasons, making 3 Pro Bowl selections. Getting Bryant’s endorsement is a huge deal for both the program and Robinson, since Dez Bryant isn’t just OSU’s legend; he was also a teammate of Robinson from 2007 to 2009. That kind of connection could surely give a push to the program to pursue Zac Robinson, who has been phenomenal so far in the NFL as OC.

Zac Robinson joined the Cowboys in 2005 and played until 2009 under Mike Gundy, getting picked up by the Patriots in the seventh round. Despite his short NFL stint as a player, the transition to coaching brought major acclaim for him. Robinson joined the Los Angeles Rams in 2019 as an assistant QB coach and rose through the ranks, becoming the team’s QB coach and pass game coordinator. The now-Falcons’ OC’s contributions also played a pivotal role in the Rams’ 2022 Super Bowl victory as he oversaw a top-5 passing offense in 2021 and 2023. But can he succeed in college football?

Robinson, 38, is a relatively young coach in terms of experience and hasn’t coached a single CFB game. That inexperience is touted as a major hurdle in Robinson’s hiring. That said, Robinson’s past links with the program and connection with Mike Gundy make him an ideal candidate for the job. Moreover, a clause in Mike Gundy’s contract is also predicted to favor Robinson.

“He (Zac Robinson) is a soft transition out of the Mike Gundy era, if you will, given his ties there. And I mean, it’s in Mike Gundy’s contract. He gets to consult on the next hire, so maybe he consults Zac Robinson’s party,” said CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer in a recent video. That clause can surely change things for Robinson, since Mike Gundy has spoken highly of Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant, crediting the duo’s chemistry under him and touting them to be the program’s undisputed legends. That said, even if the hiring gets approved by OSU, will Zac Robinson be able to hop on the Cowboys’ horse on time?

Timings clash for both Oklahoma State and Zac Robinson, despite Dez Bryant’s backing

Timing has been touted to be a major issue for the program and Zac Robinson. The NFL’s season runs longer than college football, with the regular season ending in January. On the contrary, college football’s regular season ends in December, with coaches immediately focusing on sealing their commitments from recruits. Of course, the national signing day still falls in February, but December has been historically crucial for the team. Zac Robinson, tied to the Falcons’ contract till 2027, may not be allowed to join before the season ends. But the job rumors are extremely high, and that could come with a different model for Robinson.

“I can confirm Zac Robinson is the clear-cut, No. 1 target. 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,” said Pistol Guys’ host Carson Cunningham. While Chris Hummer, too, signaled insider reports pointing to the same. “Holistically, yes, I tend to agree. Zac Robinson is a name that’s gonna have a ton of backing there from the booster class.” In such a scenario of rumors churning heavily, we could see a hybrid scenario as highlighted by Ian Rappoport.

According to Rappoport, OSU can go with a hybrid model for December, where Robinson would stay at the Falcons and instead his assistants would take care of recruiting and other duties for the time being. It worked for the former New England Patriots OC, Charlie Weis, when he joined Notre Dame. So, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to assume the same for Zac Robinson. All in all, Zac Robinson’s name has emerged on top in Stillwater, and it will get more backing with time for sure.