The Cowboys let go of their long-time leader just three games into the season.
Oklahoma State hasn’t shown improvement since parting ways with its longtime head coach — and it’s fair to question whether the decision was a mistake.
After suffering a stunning home loss to Tulsa — their first to the Golden Hurricane this century and first in Stillwater in more than 70 years — OSU dismissed Mike Gundy just three games into his 21st season. The Cowboys were 1–2 at the time, and the performances were far below expectations.
Although Gundy’s job appeared to be in jeopardy following the 2024 campaign, Oklahoma State chose to retain him heading into 2025. But athletic director Chad Weiberg ultimately reversed course, firing Gundy only weeks into the new season.
Since then, the Cowboys have dropped consecutive games to Baylor and Arizona, and with the Big 12 schedule looming, it’s fair to wonder whether the move backfired.
Maybe firing Gundy wasn’t wrong — maybe the timing was. Either way, the decision appears shortsighted for now. Interim coach Doug Meacham has done what he can to steady the program, but the circumstances are far from ideal. Compounding the issue is a string of player departures following Gundy’s exit, leaving the Cowboys in disarray just a few weeks into the season.
Keeping Gundy might not have guaranteed better results, but his presence likely would’ve preserved some stability and slowed the exodus of players. Instead, OSU effectively wrote off this season before conference play even began.
The true verdict on this decision won’t be known until years from now, but cutting ties with Gundy so abruptly could have long-term repercussions. For now, the Cowboys are left trying to stop the bleeding and avoid yet another Big 12 loss — while hoping this move doesn’t define the program for years to come.
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