Mike Gundy’s firing was expected, but not this soon. The mullet-wielding long-term HC officially saw his 21-year reign end not with a bang, but with a flat 12-19 loss to Tulsa. The same team that hadn’t beaten Oklahoma State at home since 1951. That streak snapped, and so did patience. It didn’t matter if he played for the Cowboys in college. Nor could his nine AP Top-20 finishes, a Fiesta Bowl win, and his winningest program record save him. A winless Big 12 slate in 2024, capped by a 52-0 meltdown at Colorado, already stoked the fire. But was this really about the HC? Or was it about something much bigger brewing in Stillwater? 

On Yahoo! Sports’ YouTube show on September 25, Andy Staples captured the moment perfectly. “From talking to agents and to some coaches, I think you’d be surprised at how many people want this job. They feel like they can win this,” he said. Co-host Ross Dellenger doubled down. “Especially in that league, right? It’s just kind of like anybody’s sort of championship every year,” he said.

“It feels just the way the parody of that league is. Now, Texas Tech may be changing that because of the way they sort of spend and what they’re doing with the players they do get.” National voices are now hinting at a program on the brink of either revival or collapse. And that’s where AD Chad Weiberg enters the scene.

When Chad Weiberg released his statement, it was loaded with buzzwords, as Ross Dellenger pointed out. “Investment, critical, pivotal, unwavering commitment in support was used, I think, four times,” he said. “So it’s pretty clear this is the Whit Babcock type of ‘we need money.’ Please support our roster by giving us money so we can not just pay coaches anymore, but also invest.”

To casual fans, it reads like PR. To those listening closely, it was a not-so-subtle plea aimed squarely at donors. In an era where rev-share is becoming a reality, athletic departments aren’t just paying coaches and staff. They’re also funding rosters directly. The AD’s word choice made it clear that Oklahoma State can’t just compete with grit anymore; it has to compete with cash. 

But the elephant in the room is Chad Weiberg himself. He’d been operating without a contract since June. Now, magically, he’s lined up for a new four-year deal worth $750,000 annually. Fire the school’s greatest coach on Tuesday, and lock in your payday by Friday. And while some will argue the timing is just business, others see it as transactional loyalty. But new contracts and carefully worded statements won’t mask the reality. What’s happening inside that locker room tells an even harsher story.

Mike Gundy moves on from Oklahoma State 

Following the firing of Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State is potentially losing a roster. By rule, the firing opens a 30-day transfer portal window, and already the dam is leaking. Four-star RB Kaydin Jones, an in-state prize from Jenks, decommitted within hours. If one player bolts, others often follow. This is the domino effect programs fear. The Cowboys are already on an 11-of-12 losing skid, the worst among Power 4 schools. Recruiting momentum is fragile, and NIL uncertainty only compounds it. Losing their HC also means losing the continuity that once kept players rooted in Stillwater.

The fan reaction added another layer of heartbreak. After his firing, screenshots of Mike Gundy’s X profile circulated. A resume of trophies that read “21-Yr Head Coach | 3x Big12 Coach of the Year | 2011 National Coach of the Year | 6th All-Time in Bowl Wins | Former OSU QB & Winningest Coach in School History.” For fans who grew up with Gundy as the constant, it hit harder than the press release. “This feels like a breakup 😭,” one fan wrote. And honestly, they’re right. This was a marriage ending. Two decades of loyalty reduced to a digital bio.

When Oklahoma and Texas bolted, Mike Gundy thought OSU could be the Big 12’s kingpin. Instead, the league is wide open. As Chad Weiberg summed it up, “This is a pivotal moment, the stakes have never been higher and we need everyone on board.” And he’s right. Without big checks from boosters, NIL backing from donors, and full alignment, Oklahoma State risks falling behind in a league that feels up for grabs.