5 Mike Gundy replacements Oklahoma State must have on its short list moving forward

For the first time in 22 years, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are looking for a new football coach.

According to multiple reports, Oklahoma State fired head coach Mike Gundy on Tuesday in the midst of his 21st season leading the Pokes. The move came just days after the Cowboys lost to Tulsa at home to start the season 1-2. Although Gundy is the winningest coach in OSU history, the Cowboys went 3-9 last season and failed to win a Big 12 game, and were already on an even worse trajectory this season.

Firing Gundy heading into Week 5 of the college football season gives OSU ample time to find his replacement, and there are already a few names that should be on the Cowboys' short list.

Ben Arbuckle, OC, Oklahoma

The Cowboys wouldn't have to go far to cross Bedlam lines and nab Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.

Arbuckle just turned 30 years old and hasn't even finished his first season the Sooners' OC, but he's already emerged as one of the hottest coaching candidates in college football. Even in a short time, Arbuckle has already proven he's a heck of a recruiter and a quarterback whisper after mentoring FBS single-season passing record holder Bailey Zappe, No. 1 overall 2025 NFL Draft pick Cam Ward and current Heisman Trophy favorite John Mateer.

It might be a risk to take a shot at Arbuckle this early in his career, but if the Cowboys don't, someone will.

GJ Kinne, HC, Texas State

Not only has GJ Kinne proven to be able to raise programs from the ashes at lower levels, but he also has deep ties to Oklahoma and Texas -- OSU's recruiting hotbeds.

Kinne, from Texas, played quarterback for Tulsa and had a brief stint in the NFL and CFL before his coaching career. He's now 31–13 as an offensive-minded head coach between Incarnate Word and Texas State.

Eric Morris, OC, North Texas

Eric Morris has experience in the Big 12 as Texas Tech's OC when Patrick Mahomes was the quarterback and has since transformed 4-0 North Texas into one of the best Group of Five teams in his third season as the Mean Green's head coach.

Zac Robinson, OC, Atlanta Falcons

Zac Robinson will likely be OSU's first call as a former Cowboy quarterback, just like Gundy was. All of Robinson's coaching experience so far has been at the NFL level and he's currently in hot water as the Falcons' OC, but the Cowboys could want to go the same route they did last time considering it worked for about 20 years.

However, other than his playing time in Stillwater, there's nothing else that would have Robinson on OSU's radar to turn the program around, so this would mean the Cowboys just want one of them.

Dabo Swinney, HC, Clemson

This is obviously the long shot, but Dabo Swinney just publicly made it clear that he's willing to go elsewhere as Clemson fans are clamoring for his job after starting the season 1-3.

Swinney already asserted himself as one of the best coaches in college football at a program similar to OSU as far as resources and conferences go. He had the Tigers as ACC champs and in the College Football Playoff just a year ago, so he obviously still has it.

If the Cowboys are serious about being relevant, then they have to at least take one big swing.

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