Oklahoma State fires Mike Gundy after 21 seasons amid a brutal skid — $15M buyout, fan unrest and the search for a successor. Full recap, timeline & analysis.

Quick snapshot — Mike Gundy Fire

Oklahoma State University has fired longtime head coach Mike Gundy after 21 seasons leading the Cowboys, ending a run that made him the program’s winningest coach — the move follows a 1–2 start to 2025 and a brutal 11-game losing stretch dating back to last season; Gundy is reportedly owed a roughly $15 million buyout.

Why this matters

Mike Gundy isn’t just another FBS coach. He’s been the face of Oklahoma State football for more than two decades — a former OSU quarterback turned assistant and then a fixture atop the program who delivered 18 straight winning seasons and became an identifiable voice in college football culture. His firing is major for several reasons:

• Program identity: Gundy helped build Oklahoma State into a consistent top-25 program and a Big 12 contender in multiple seasons. His departure signals a reset in Stillwater.
• Financial ripple: The reported $15M buyout is material for an athletic department budget and complicates the timing and options for an immediate high-profile hire.
• Timing and optics: The decision came quickly after a 19–12 home loss to Tulsa and a disastrous 69–3 season-opening loss to Oregon, which amplified calls from fans and media for change. (CBSSports.com)
• Conference landscape: As Big 12 realignment and college football’s shifting economics continue, OSU’s leadership has signaled it wants a fresh direction to compete at the highest level.

Those elements together make the move more than a coaching change — it’s a statement about the program’s trajectory and priorities.

The confirmed facts (what we know right now)

1. Mike Gundy has been fired as Oklahoma State’s head football coach after 21 seasons. He departs as the school’s winningest coach with a 170-90 career record.
2. Timing: The firing was reported on September 23, 2025, days after a home loss to Tulsa and amid a wider 11-game losing run dating back to 2024. (Reuters)
3. Buyout / contract: Multiple outlets report Gundy is owed about $15 million under the terms of his recent contract, a figure that shaped debate about the school’s options and the fiscal impact of a split.
4. Program record & legacy: Gundy oversaw 18 consecutive bowl appearances and eight 10-win seasons, key points the school included in statements praising his contributions.
5. Next steps: Oklahoma State will begin a national search for a successor while handling immediate concerns (staff continuity, recruiting, upcoming Big 12 schedule).

(Those are the load-bearing facts — sources listed in the “Authoritative sources” section below.)

Timeline: how we got here

2013–2024: The heyday and sustained success
Gundy’s era included multiple seasons where OSU finished among the Big 12’s top teams and won marquee bowl games. From the mid-2000s through the 2010s, Gundy’s offense and aggressive recruiting kept the Cowboys relevant nationally.

2024: the slide begins
The turning point began last season when Oklahoma State went 3–9 in 2024 — a dramatic fall after years of consistency. That record snapped the team’s streak of winning seasons and bowl appearances, and it raised questions about roster construction, coaching staff effectiveness, and recruiting results.

2025: offseason churn and a brutal start
OSU entered 2025 with a heavily remodeled roster, including many transfer additions (more than 60 new players reported in some outlets). Expectations varied, but the season imploded early: a 69–3 blowout loss to Oregon and a shocking 19–12 home loss to Tulsa fueled fan unrest and national skepticism. Within weeks, chants for “Fire Gundy” echoed in Boone Pickens Stadium and pressure mounted at the administration level. Gundy publicly insisted he wanted to stay and fix the program, but the board and AD moved swiftly.

Sep 23, 2025: the firing
Reports on Sept. 23, 2025, confirmed the university and Gundy had parted ways. Local and national outlets ran the story within hours; OSU released a statement honoring Gundy’s contributions while announcing an immediate leadership change.

 

What Gundy leaves behind — wins, records and signature moments

• All-time wins leader at OSU: Gundy’s 170 wins make him the program’s winningest coach.
• Streak of consistency: 18 consecutive winning seasons and bowl appearances established a baseline of success most programs would envy.
• Recruiting & identity: Gundy was known for identifying portal talent, running efficient spread offense packages, and turning limited recruiting budgets into competitive teams. Media pieces often credited his durability and personality.

But the final seasons — particularly the 3–9 2024 campaign — overshadowed prior accomplishments and created a sense that the program had plateaued under his leadership.

Financials: the buyout question

One of the most immediate practical concerns for OSU is the financial cost of firing a long-tenured coach. Reports indicate Gundy’s contract included a buyout in the neighborhood of $15 million if terminated before the end of the revised agreement (timing and exact terms vary by report). That figure matters for several reasons:

• Athletic department budgeting: Covering a multi-million-dollar payout constrains how quickly OSU can move to hire an expensive replacement or invest heavily in facilities.
• Negotiation leverage: The buyout might have been lowered in a recent renegotiation — some local reports suggest the buyout terms were adjusted in a new deal that reduced annual salary and changed responsibilities; those clauses affect the final tab.
• Public optics: Fans and donors often scrutinize large buyouts, especially when tied to a beloved figure; the administration must balance fiscal stewardship with competitive urgency.

Expect the athletic department to release detailed financials (or at least a summary) in the coming days or months as part of transparency with donors and the public.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

Reaction roundup — fans, media, players and pundits

Fans: Emotions were mixed. Some fans celebrated the end of a slide and demanded change; others mourned the loss of a coach who’d become the program’s identity for decades. Chants of “Fire Gundy” at recent games showed the depth of fan frustration before the decision. (New York Post)

Media: National outlets (ESPN, CBS Sports, Reuters) framed the firing as the end of a major era and highlighted both legacy wins and recent failures. Local sportswriters dissected the roster construction failures, coaching staff continuity issues, and recruiting misses that contributed to the collapse.

Players & staff: Early reports indicated shock among some players and staff, though transitions often have been planned in part behind closed doors. Recruiting commits and transfer portal targets will be watching the coaching search closely; staff retention (especially coordinators) will be a priority to minimize recruiting losses.

Pundits & former coaches: Commentators praised Gundy’s historical contributions but also questioned whether the program needed a fresh voice amid the Big 12’s rising competitiveness and the new financial landscape of college athletics.

What this means for recruiting and the portal

We’re in the thick of modern college football where roster turnover is high. The immediate recruiting impacts include:

• Committed recruits: High-school commits who chose OSU for Gundy’s program may reconsider if the next hire doesn’t fit their plans. Early signing periods or immediate decommitments are possible. (heartlandcollegesports.com)
• Transfer portal: Players in the portal who picked OSU for Gundy’s staff might pivot; conversely, OSU could now pursue different portal targets under a new coach with a new scheme.
• Staff hires: Interim staff management and the permanent head coach search will be judged by how quickly the program can reassure recruits and retain top assistant coaches.

The administration will likely prioritize a rapid but thoughtful search to minimize recruiting fallout.

The search: who’s in the mix for the job?

Right now the job is officially open and the athletic department has options hanging in the balance. Typical targets for a program in OSU’s place include:

• High-profile FBS head coaches: Coaches with proven success in power conferences — expensive but immediate impact hires.
• Rising coordinators: Offensive or defensive coordinators from successful Power Five programs who want a step up and can innovate with the portal and recruiting.
• Return hires / alumni: Alumni coaches or OSU assistants who know the culture could be considered for continuity, but the AD may prefer fresh perspectives after recent struggles.

Local reports hint the school has been preparing contingency plans and may favor a candidate with both recruiting chops and modern offensive/defensive schematics suitable for current Big 12 play. Budget constraints from the buyout may temper how much they spend.

Mike Gundy getting fired from Oklahoma State just sounds weird!

— Su’a Kristopher Cravens (@SuaKCravens) December 7, 2024

 

Playoff & schedule context: immediate impact on the 2025 season

OSU faces a crucial Big 12 schedule, and the decision’s timing (right before conference play vs after) matters:

• Short-term: The team must quickly settle on an interim leader to steady players and maintain recruiting contact. Staff continuity is crucial this week as the Cowboys prepare for their Saturday opener against Baylor.
• Long-term: If the program hopes to rebound in 2026, the new hire must begin immediate recruiting efforts and make offseason schematic changes.

Practically, an interim coach will oversee the rest of 2025 while the AD conducts a national search.

Legal and contractual considerations

• Contract language: The exact payout depends on clauses like termination for cause, mitigation (if Gundy gets a new job), and timing. Reports point to a roughly $15M number; the athletic department will likely confirm details.
• Mitigation: If Gundy is hired elsewhere quickly, OSU may reduce the net payout, depending on the contract’s terms. Conversely, if no mitigation happens, the full figure stands.
• Implications for future hires: Universities often revise buyout structures to limit fiscal exposure; expect OSU to craft future contracts with stricter termination clauses.

A balanced take: Gundy’s legacy vs the need for change

Gundy’s tenure is a study in duality:

• Legacy: He elevated OSU from obscurity to national relevance, delivered multiple 10-win seasons, and became a community fixture. Those achievements won him national respect and local legend status. (Reuters)
• Decline: College football is a “what have you done lately” business, and a 3–9 season followed by an 11-game losing stretch and embarrassing losses (including blowouts) eroded confidence across stakeholders. Fans, boosters and the administration concluded a reset was necessary.

Change isn’t inherently a repudiation of past accomplishments — it’s a strategic pivot intended to keep OSU competitive in an environment where investment, recruiting and adaptability dominate.

What to watch next (immediate checklist)

1. Official OSU statement & press conference: Look for athletic director remarks and any explanation of the buyout and next steps. (ESPN.com)
2. Interim coach announcement: Who will manage the team through the rest of 2025? Expect an assistant to step up temporarily. (heartlandcollegesports.com)
3. Staff retention: Will coordinators and quality assistants remain or bolt for other opportunities?
4. Recruiting effects: Any decommitments or portal exits will signal longer-term damage. (Saturday Blitz)
5. Search timeline: Will OSU pursue an immediate high-profile hire, or opt for a methodical search? Watch AD communications and donor briefings.