It needed to be done, but it was never going to be easy. After a 1-2 start to the season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys decided to move on from one of their own in the one-of-a-kind Mike Gundy. The former Cowboys quarterback became the greatest head coach in program history over the last two decades. He won Big 12 titles and had the Pokes in and around the top 25 of the sport all the time.
Unfortunately, it hit the fan for him in the worst way possible over the last two years. After losing the Big 12 Championship Game to Texas in 2023, Oklahoma State was never the same under Gundy. The Pokes went 3-9 last year, including 0-9 in the Big Ten. While there was some chance at a bounce back in 2025, losing at home to in-state rival Tulsa was the straw that broke the camel's back for ole Gundy.
ESPN's Pete Thamel was all over the surprising Week 5 termination of Gundy on Tuesday afternoon.
Sources: Oklahoma State has fired Mike Gundy.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 23, 2025
While this was always bound to happen, at least the college football world paid the man his respect...
The college football world recognizes Mike Gundy for being an all-timer
Although he was not everyone's favorite, Gundy was an irreplaceable personality for the Cowboys.
Oklahoma State, Gundy part ways https://t.co/T2hVZdxEJX pic.twitter.com/1mIPb6RHZN
— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) September 23, 2025
Mike Gundy out at Oklahoma State
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) September 23, 2025
Heck of a run…BADLY want him on TV
Coach Mike Gundy,
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 23, 2025
Coached on Thursday,
Lost on Friday,
A man on Saturday,
Forty on Sunday,
Under contract on Monday,
Fired on Tuesday.
This is the end
Of Coach Mike Gundy.
Oklahoma State has fired Mike Gundy…
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 23, 2025
End of an era
pic.twitter.com/9UiRvRxZiq
It was time for Mike Gundy to go. There’s no doubt about that. However, he had an ability to put together magical seasons out of nowhere. He was the perfect coach in the perfect spot for almost two decades. It’s rare to see things end well, though.
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) September 23, 2025
Thank you, Coach. For everything.
— Reagan Harris (OSU Mart) (@OKSTMart) September 23, 2025
I grew up on Mike Gundy football. Some of my best memories are Oklahoma State football’s rise to fame.
This program wouldn’t be anywhere close to what it is without him.
Forever a Cowboy. Forever a legend. Build the statue. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/44s7IG7W4k
I know things have gone sideways for Mike Gundy, and there's some stubbornness there that's led to the OSU program falling behind.
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) September 23, 2025
But firing the most successful coach in program history after 21 years on a random Tuesday ahead of Week 4 is pretty brutal.
Mike Gundy, College Football legend 🫡
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) September 23, 2025
Career résumé:
• 170-90 record
• 12 bowl wins
• Made a bowl game in 18 consecutive seasons from 2006-2023
• 8 different 10-win seasons
• 2 different 12-win seasons
• 10 ranked finishes
• 5 Top 15 finishes
• OK State was ranked in… pic.twitter.com/TXrF5Zn7M3
Whether he was sporting a mullet that belonged in the 1980s, telling a reporter he was at one point in time 40, lifting up his shirt to prove a point, going to bat for his players, or simply winning a ton of games in Big 12 play, college football is never going to be the same without Gundy roaming the sideline in Stillwater. Love him or hate him, Gundy was part of the reason why this sport is so great.
His legacy is a bit complicated, but Gundy is proof that you can make your alma mater respectable.
Mike Gundy should have been given until the end of the college season
For all that he accomplished in Stillwater as a player and coach, Gundy deserved more than to be canned this late into the week. Oklahoma State lost to Tulsa on Friday night, so if this was the path Oklahoma State was going to go in, they needed to move on from him on Sunday. Even if it was was the plan all along, what changed, another wild press conference? It is who the man has always been!
Entering the weekend, sources had told @On3sports that Gundy would be given the chance to coach the rest of the 2025 season out of respect for what he built in Stillwater.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) September 23, 2025
That clearly changed in the final 24 hours of his tenure. https://t.co/1ART0UQSwr https://t.co/XZbZFLQJiz
The reason why Oklahoma State should have let him coach out the year is because it would make the job even that more appealing. Gundy may not have wanted to be a lame duck, but he deserved far more respect than this. So instead of being a viable candidate for someone like Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, they may roll out the red carpet for Zac Robinson. Y'all can take him, please...
In the end, Gundy made college football interesting for a very long time. The odd soundbites may have been cringeworthy in the moment, but Gundy always kept it loose, for better or wrose. Truth be told, Oklahoma State sadly devolved into what Cowboys football has often been without Gundy being involved. At least they did not fire the man on his birthday. That would have been so heartbreaking...
Congratulations on an amazing career, Coach! You changed the game for everyone who watched it.