Oklahoma State Football

After going winless in conference games this season, Oklahoma State and head coach Mike Gundy have reportedly agreed to extend their partnership.

According to The Action Network's Brett McMurphy, Gundy and Oklahoma State agreed "in principle to a restructured contract" on Saturday.

Breaking: Mike Gundy will remain at Oklahoma State, after Gundy & school agree in principle to a restructured contract, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ. The Board of Regents met Friday, discussing Gundy’s employment. Gundy’s 18 consecutive winning seasons - 9th longest in CFB…

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 7, 2024

ESPN's Chris Low reported earlier Saturday there was "growing optimism" that Gundy and Oklahoma State would come to terms on a new contract.

ESPN's Pete Thamel first reported the two sides were in a "standoff" and had meetings on Friday. The school reportedly asked Gundy to take a "significant pay cut" that would also reduce his buyout, which is currently around $25 million.

Even though the two sides seemed inclined to get something done, Thamel did point out that Oklahoma State had discussed firing Gundy for cause if he didn't agree to a new deal.

Gundy signed a perpetual five-year contract with the university in October 2021. The deal extends by a season every year on Jan. 1, so he is currently signed through 2028.

Oklahoma State announced in March 2022 a change to Gundy's deal that increased his annual compensation by $1 million, as well as gave him an annual retention bonus of $1 million every year for five years.

Gundy has generated controversy multiple times throughout the 2024 season for some of his public comments. He said during Big 12 media days in July that he's probably driven a vehicle under the influence of alcohol "1,000 times" in his life to excuse star running back Ollie Gordon II's arrest on suspicion of DUI.

In the wake of a 42-21 loss to Arizona State on Nov. 2 that dropped the Cowboys' record in Big 12 play to 0-6, Gundy said at a press conference that people who were critical of his coaching "are the same ones that can't pay their own bills."

Gundy did issue public apologies after both incidents.

After starting this season 3-0 in non-conference games, Oklahoma State lost its last nine games against Big 12 opponents. It's the first time the program has gone winless in conference play since 1993 when it finished 0-7 in the Big 8.

The three wins and .250 winning percentage for the Cowboys are both the worst single-season marks of the Gundy era. He was named head coach in 2005 after Les Miles was hired by LSU to replace Nick Saban.

Gundy, who played quarterback at Oklahoma State from 1986 to '89, has a 169-88 record as head coach at his alma mater. The Cowboys have won at least 10 games eight times since 2010.

Oklahoma State and football head coach Mike Gundy are reportedly in a "standoff" over a dispute regarding a restructured contract, to the point where the university has discussed firing him for cause if he doesn't agree to a new deal, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Gundy has "nearly" $25 million remaining on his existing deal, Thamel reported.

They have discussed firing him for cause if he doesn’t agree to the new contract. He's owed nearly $25 million on his current contract.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 6, 2024

Pete Nakos of On3 and John Holcomb of KOTV provided more information:

A source tells @On3sports that Oklahoma State offered Mike Gundy a reduced contract that would come with assurances he would go all-in on NIL.

The dollars saved on his contract would be put towards NIL/revenue sharing. If Gundy does not agree, Oklahoma State will terminate his… https://t.co/bgLRMARTB2

— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) December 6, 2024

Multiple sources tell us that Mike Gundy has been offered a restructured contract for less money, that also would restrict his autonomy when it comes to hiring coordinators. The sources also say Gundy has a 5p deadline today to make a decision.

— John Holcomb (@holcombOKBLITZ) December 6, 2024

The 57-year-old Gundy just finished his 20th season as the head coach for his alma mater, where he played as the starting quarterback in the late 1980s. This year's squad went 3-9 overall and 0-9 in Big 12 play.

Austin Curtright of The Oklahoman provided the terms of the current deal and also noted that he's owed $25,359,375 if fired.

"Gundy is currently on a 5-year rollover contract, which extends by a season every Jan. 1. He earned $7.75 million in 2024," Curtright wrote. "Gundy's contract is set to lengthen by another season on Jan. 1, 2025, along with his annual $125,000 raise."

The 2024 season was Gundy's worst leading the Cowboys. It was also just the second time Oklahoma State had a losing overall record under Gundy and the first since 2005, his first year at the helm.

Generally speaking, Gundy has enjoyed much success as Oklahoma State's head coach. Half of his 20 seasons have resulted in Top 25 Associated Press poll finishes. The Cowboys have also gone 169-88 (102-72 in Big 12) with Gundy leading the way.

His peak was in 2011, when Oklahoma State went 12-1, won the Big 12, earned a Fiesta Bowl victory and finished third in the polls. The Cowboys also found great success in 2021, when they went 12-2, went to the Big 12 Championship Game, won the Fiesta Bowl again and finished seventh in the polls.

It's been an uneven ride in Stillwater ever since. Oklahoma State dropped to 7-6 in 2022 and lost the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. But the Cowboys improved in 2023, winning 10 games and finishing 16th in the polls.

The bottom fell out on Oklahoma State in 2024, a year that ended an 18-year bowl game streak. The Cowboys began the year with three wins against Division I-FCS South Dakota State, a 6-6 Arkansas team in double overtime and a 3-9 Tulsa squad. Oklahoma State then went winless in conference play for the first time since 1994.

The defense in particular struggled. Oklahoma State allowed 35.6 points per game, the ninth-most in the 134-team Division I-FBS. The season ended with an ugly 52-0 road loss to Colorado.

It was a stunningly bad season for a team that finished third in the preseason Big 12 poll and was as high as 13th in the AP poll earlier this year.

And now Gundy's two-decade tenure as Oklahoma State's head coach appears to be on the brink.

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 225

HAND:

ARM:

WINGSPAN:

40-YARD DASH:

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL:

BROAD:

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POSITIVES

— He displays good build-up speed to generate sizeable gains once he breaks the second level of the defense.

— Will lower the shoulder with a powerful running style and punish defenders.

— At his best with attacking the line of scrimmage downhill, creating more decisive reps.

— Solid agility and functionality in space as a pass catcher.

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NEGATIVES

— Creativity as a runner when initial rushing lanes are filled/closed.

— Is not an explosive enough athlete to win footrace and outrun defensive pursuit angles consistently.

— Productivity took a massive dip from 2023 to 2024, flaws in profile have been highlighted as a result.

— Lacks short area burst and explosiveness to pop through running lanes against stacked fronts.

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NOTES

— Born Jan. 15, 2004

— 4-Star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Honorable Mention All-Big 12

— 2023: Doak Walker Award Winner; Unanimous All-American; Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year; First Team All-Big 12

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OVERALL

Ollie Gordon is a big, strong, and physical downhill running back who thrives when blocking is executed properly.

He blends NFL size and strength well to fit into a gap-scheme rushing offense. When Gordon can attack decisively downhill with good blocking, he will create issues for the second and third-level defenders. At full speed, he finishes runs and will set the tone early in games if given the chance. Gordon displays good balance to absorb contact and stay on his feet. He is a patient runner with good vision and allows blocks to form before springing into the open field. Gordon generates big plays in the run game when given room to operate, allowing him to build speed. When he reaches top speed, he eats up grass with his long stride.

Gordon is a functional receiver out of the backfield with solid hands. He is a reliable check-down option in the flats and underneath. Once the football is in his hands, he gears up to top speed and runs with a violent intent. Defensive backs have business decisions to make, with Gordon bearing down on them. He is a functional and sturdy pass protector. Gordon stands tall in the pocket, finds the immediate threat to the quarterback, and stonewalls them.

Despite his buildup speed, Gordon is not an explosive athlete when forced to move laterally. He thrives working downhill, but attacking the perimeter has mixed results. Gordon is not an effective stop-and-start runner, once his feet come to a stop, he struggles to get going and generate forward momentum. He is a high-hipped mover with limited change of direction ability. Gordon's short area burst/acceleration is average at best. He will not explode through running lanes and takes time to gear up to top speed. He can be caught from behind before reaching his last gear. He lacks the creativity as a runner to make something out of nothing. If the offensive line cannot create runways for him, Gordon's effectiveness plummets.

Overall, Ollie Gordon III is a strong downhill runner. When given running lanes, he is an effective runner. Gordon projects as a gap scheme offensive fit and backup running back. Under the right circumstances, Gordon offers a potential starter.

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GRADE: 6.7 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 151

POSITION RANK: RB16

PRO COMPARISON: Braelon Allen

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy issued an apology on Wednesday for his criticism of fans complaining about the Cowboys' 3-6 start to the season.

"I apologize to those who my comments during Monday's media call offended," Gundy wrote in a post shared on X. "My intent was not to offend any of our fans who have supported us and this program through the years."

pic.twitter.com/54gbKIaTF9

— Mike Gundy (@CoachGundy) November 6, 2024

Gundy called fans criticizing Oklahoma State a "failure" in his conference call on Monday.

"Unfortunately in life, most people are weak, and as soon as things start to not go as good as what they thought, they fall apart and they panic, and then they want to point the finger and blame other people," Gundy said on Monday. "You see it happen in everyday life. People do it all the time. That's why I refuse to watch the TV and watch the news, because I get tired of people complaining and b---hing about this and that, versus just doing something about it and trying to figure out a way to make it better.

"Well, that's what happens in college athletics... it's just on the bigger stage where people can voice their opinion, and in most cases, the people that are negative and voicing their opinion are the same ones that can't pay their own bills. They're not taking care of themselves. They're not taking care of their own family. They're not taking care of their own job. But they have an obligation to speak out and complain about others because it makes them feel better. But then, in the end, when they go to bed at night, they're the same failure that they were before they said anything negative about anybody else."

“In most cases, the people who are negative and voicing their opinions are the same ones that can’t pay their own bills. They’re not taking care of themselves, they’re not taking care of their own family.”

Mike Gundy goes on a rant about negativity around the program #OKState pic.twitter.com/GS6iy56RhY

— TJ Eckert (@TJEckertKJRH) November 4, 2024

The Cowboys suffered their sixth straight loss last Saturday against visiting Arizona State. Oklahoma State has yet to claim a win against a Big 12 opponent.

This marks the first time the Cowboys have gone 0-6 in conference play since Gundy took over the program in 2005, and the first time Oklahoma State has marked six straight losses since 2000.

The Cowboys went 4-7 in 2005 during Gundy's first season as head coach. Since 2006, Oklahoma State has marked a winning record in 18 straight seasons, winning at least seven games and appearing in a bowl game every year.

The consecutive bowl games and winning records are not the only streaks at risk. Oklahoma State is at risk of going without a win in conference play for the first time since 1994, when the program was a member of the Big Eight.

Gundy played quarterback for Oklahoma State from 1986 to 1989, where he led the Cowboys to two bowl wins. He began his coaching career as a staffer at Oklahoma State in 1990 and also worked with Baylor and Maryland before taking the Cowboys head coaching job in 2005.

In 2021, Gundy agreed to a "perpetual five-year contract" with Oklahoma State. His annual salary was increased to $7.5 million with $125,000 annual escalators in 2022.

Left on the Cowboys' schedule this season is a road game against TCU on Saturday, followed by the last home game of the year against Texas Tech and a season finale matchup at No. 21 Colorado. Oklahoma State will look for big performances from wideout Brennan Presley, who could set a program record for career receptions this year, and safety Trey Rucker, who has been key to the Cowboys defense, as they look to win out.

The Texas Longhorns are no longer in the Big 12, but Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is still encountering steer-related issues.

Gundy said he preferred to do his usual media call with reporters Monday on Zoom rather than in person because he got "head-butted" by one of his cattle.

.@CowboyFB head coach Mike Gundy did his weekly press conference today over zoom, instead of in person at BPS. Sounds like there was a good reason. #OKState pic.twitter.com/2euvYBr0FQ

— Scott Pfeil (@scottpfeil) October 14, 2024

"I've got a bad eye that I didn't think would be particularly enjoyable for people when they were looking at my pretty face in a live interview," he told reporters. "But more importantly, it's full of blood and I get dizzy, so it's not easy to be upright and be in a normal function. But other than that, I'm doing great."

The Cowboys were off for Week 7, giving Gundy a little downtime before they're back in action Saturday on the road against BYU. He'll presumably be in better shape to assume his usual coaching duties on the sideline.

The 57-year-old has maintained a sizable ranch outside of Stillwater, Oklahoma, adding to his general mystique. He put the estate of up for sale and it can be yours for a cool $8 million.

Gundy explained in April he's looking to sell the property because it's too much to handle for just he and his wife now with their children having moved out.

This weekend's misadventures are probably making him a little more motivated to downsize.

Two veteran college quarterbacks are set to face off during Saturday's game between No. 12 Utah and No. 14 Oklahoma State.

Seventh-year senior Cam Rising is expected to play for Utah, while seventh-year senior Alan Bowman will get the start for Oklahoma State.

This quarterback battle will be an older matchup than Sunday's contest between the Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson and Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams.

Fun fact: The combined age of the starting QBs in Saturday's Utah-Oklahoma State game is 49.

By comparison, the combined age of the starting QBs in Sunday's Colts-Bears game is 44. pic.twitter.com/cO7hLZh9Rx

— College Sports Only 🏈 🏀 ⚾️ (@CollegeSportsO) September 16, 2024

Saturday's between the Utes and Cowboys will kick off at 4 p.m. ET.

Rising missed the Utes' win over Utah State after suffering a hand injury while playing Baylor the week before.

The quarterback departed the game in the second quarter after crashing into water coolers on the sideline while attempting to make a tackle after a throw.

The injury necessitated stitches on the ring finger of Rising's throwing hand, per The Action Network's Brett McMurphy.

Cam Rising was slow to get up after this collision with the water coolers on the sideline 😬 pic.twitter.com/drn8EeAdoE

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 7, 2024

Rising was "dressed and warmed up" for the Utah State game but did not see playing time during the win, ESPN's Pete Thamel noted.

Utah wide receiver Dorian Singer told reporters on Monday that Rising would be ready to start against Oklahoma State.

Rising announced last November that he would be returning for a seventh college football season, and his sixth with Utah, after sitting out the 2023 campaign with a torn MCL and ACL.

In two starts so far this season Rising, 25, has gone 18-of-20 for 346 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Bowman, 24, was granted his seventh year of eligibility by the NCAA in January as recompense for his 2019 campaign being lost to injury at Texas Tech. He has started his second campaign with Oklahoma State with 967 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions on 75-of-112 passing.

Rising, who is leading Utah through the team's first season in the conference, and Bowman, who finished last season with the Cowboys as conference runner-up, are now both looking to lead their teams to the top of the Big 12 beginning with the start of conference play this Saturday.

Oklahoma State has announced that the NCAA has blocked it from putting QR codes on the football team's helmets linking to the general team fund for all players on the roster.

Oklahoma State beat writer McClain Baxley of 247Sports relayed the school's release on the matter.

BREAKING: No QR codes for Oklahoma State today, per release. The NCAA is blocking them from using it. pic.twitter.com/JhvR9FK8PA

— McClain (@McclainBaxley) August 31, 2024

"Oklahoma State interprets the QR code stickers as institutional decals permitted under NCAA bylaws," the release reads in part.

"The NCAA interprets the QR code stickers as advertising and/or commercial marks, which are not permitted."

The news dropped right before Oklahoma State was set to begin its season at home against South Dakota State, the reigning Division I-FCS champions.

Oklahoma State previously announced its intention to sport the QR codes on Aug. 20.

"This is a revolutionary step forward to help keep Oklahoma State football ahead of the game," head coach Mike Gundy said. "It gives a chance for everyday fans across the world to have a real impact when it comes to supporting the NIL efforts for Cowboy football. I'm thrilled about this opportunity for our players."

Per a team press release, the stickers would have been placed on the back of helmets, and they would have had players' names and numbers on them as well.

The stickers would not have been overly visible from the stands, but fans could have accessed the QR codes via broadcast shots or postgame photos as well.

Although the QR codes won't appear on helmets, previous plans to have them on each player's bag during "The Walk" on game days and on the road during the season have stayed in place.

QR codes are also in place on signs throughout Boone Pickens Stadium. Per the release, they will now be located in "much larger and more prominent locations" in the stadium, and that includes the 6,160-square foot video board.

Oklahoma State announced last week that it intends to use QR codes on helmets this season to allow fans to contribute to the team's general name, image and likeness fund, but LSU head coach Brian Kelly doesn't agree with the addition.

Per Ryan Aber of The Oklahoman, Kelly told reporters during an SEC teleconference that Oklahoma State's idea for the QR codes "just doesn't feel collegiate for me."

Kelly explained that he understands NIL rules aren't going anywhere, but he believes things related to NIL should be kept apart from typical gameplay.

"For us, we can keep NIL off the field," Kelly said. "I think we can generate the things that we need here at LSU separate from the game-day atmosphere, the collegiate kind of feel that you have. This is just my personal feeling, putting a QR code on your helmet just doesn't feel collegiate for me. As much as we can continue to keep this game when the band and college-aged kids playing the game, [we should]. I get it, right? NIL is here to stay and that's great, but I think we can be separate from that and still, at the end of the game, go to work on NIL."

Oklahoma State is hoping the addition of QR codes for the general NIL fund can help benefit the players who don't have the benefit of multiple lucrative deals like some of their peers.

"This is a revolutionary step forward to help keep Oklahoma State football ahead of the game," head coach Mike Gundy said when the QR codes were announced. "It gives a chance for everyday fans across the world to have a real impact when it comes to supporting the NIL efforts for Cowboy football. I'm thrilled about this opportunity for our players."

Despite Kelly's gripe, Oklahoma State's venture shows the university's commitment to adapting to the ever-changing landscape of college sports. If the players benefit from it, there won't be much for Kelly or other coaches to complain about.

Oklahoma State football players' helmets will feature a QR code linking to a "general team fund" for student-athletes during the 2024 season, the program announced Tuesday.

The initiative is "believed to mark the first time that a college football team will wear QR codes in regular-season games to promote players' earning potential," according to the school.

The future is here!

Scan QR codes all season long to donate! Donate at https://t.co/zC0QPmFd4y

🔗: https://t.co/RTTmUvztbY pic.twitter.com/ZiIbaweexG

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) August 20, 2024

The QR codes will take up 1.5 square inches of the helmet. The codes are expected to be scannable in "close shots during broadcasts, as well as postgame photos posted to social media," according to OSU.

It will also be visible throughout the season on players' bag tags, on coasters and signage throughout Boone Pickens Stadium, and on the team equipment truck, according to Oklahoma State.

OSU also plans to promote a link to the fund on all official social media channels.

The program's announcement came after head coach Mike Gundy said he was happy to turn his attention away from the NIL negotiations necessary to draw players to Stillwater through the NCAA transfer portal.

"The good news is, the next five months we can just play football," he said earlier this month, per ESPN. "There's no negotiating now. The portal's over. All the negotiation's history. Now we're playing football.

"The business side of what we do now—we have to have those conversations with [the players]. 'Tell your agent to quit calling us and asking for more money. It's non-negotiable now. It'll start again in December. So now we're able to direct ourselves just in football, and that part is fun."

In Oklahoma State's press release, Gundy called the helmet QR codes "a revolutionary step forward to help keep Oklahoma State football ahead of the game."

"I'm thrilled about this opportunity for our players," Gundy said in the statement.

The QR code will direct potential donors to Pokes with a Purpose, the nonprofit collective launched in June 2022 to organize NIL opportunities for OSU athletes.

Direct revenue sharing with athletes could begin as soon as the 2025-26 school year, which is likely to change how collectives function in the NIL landscape. There is a possibility that at that point the organizations could become officially part of school's athletics departments, Eric Olson previously reported for the Associated Press.

For now, OSU is part of a wave of college programs working to promote third-party collectives ahead of the 2024-25 season. Schools have found other ways to direct funding toward collectives, like Alabama, Ohio State, and Nebraska selling tickets to open practices or player autograph sessions to benefit NIL funds.

Oklahoma State's QR codes are set to make their debut on Aug. 31 when the team kicks off the 2024 season at home against South Dakota State.

Mike Gundy is making his opinion heard.

The Oklahoma State head coach spoke about the presence of NIL and the negotiating power from the players at Big 12 Media Day on Monday and said he and the Cowboys staff are instructing players to avoid in-season conversations.

"The business side of what we do now is, we have to have those conversations with them," Gundy told reporters. "Tell your agent to quit calling us and asking for more money. It's non-negotiable now. Start again in December."

He continued by saying that it's just about performance on the field at this point.

"I told the players there's no negotiating now," Gundy said. "Portal's over. All negotiation's history. Now we're playing football. Just coaching and playing football."

Oklahoma State has high hopes for 2024. The team went 10-4 in 2023 and won the Texas Bowl over former conference rival Texas A&M. More importantly, the team reached the Big 12 Championship game, losing to Texas 49-21.

With Texas and Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 prior to the 2024 season, the Cowboys should be among the favorites to become the conference's representative in the College Football Playoff. With this goal in mind, Gundy's words show how the program is simply focused on what is directly in front of it.

The Cowboys open the 2024 season Aug. 31 against South Dakota State.