College football is evolving faster than ever, and the programs that adapt are the ones staying relevant. The days of relying solely on homegrown development and four-year players are disappearing. The rise of the transfer portal, paired with the power of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals, has created a new landscape. This is one where a single offseason, unlike ever seen before, can completely transform a program’s trajectory. Just ask Texas Tech.
A year ago, Texas Tech was a solid, respectable Big 12 team. They won eight games, but no one was calling them College Football Playoff material. Fast forward to the 2025 season, and now they're in the national conversation. This is not because they had an unexpected breakout, but because they strategically spent their way into the picture. Texas Tech invested heavily in the transfer portal, landing difference-makers on both sides of the ball. They didn’t just chase depth — they went after impact.
At the core of their transformation was one simple idea: money talks.
That’s the message Oklahoma State should be paying close attention to. Like Clemson, OSU has long taken pride in its developmental model. Building from within, investing in culture, and turning under-recruited players into stars. And to be clear, that still matters. Development isn’t dead. But ignoring the modern tools now available, especially NIL and portal leverage, is a dangerous game in today’s arms race of college football to compete on a weekly/seasonal basis.
Right now, Oklahoma State looks like a program clinging to the past. They’re not just losing ground to top-tier teams — they’re getting passed by peers who simply want it more and are willing to do what it takes in the current system. Clemson is in the same boat. Both programs have dipped their toes into NIL, but neither has fully embraced its potential. Instead, they preach loyalty and culture while teams around them are stacking talent overnight.
The model for Oklahoma State should be similar to how NFL teams manage rosters. Smart franchises build through the draft and player development, yes — but they also use free agency to plug holes, add veteran leadership, or even land game-changers. It’s a blend. That’s what OSU needs to do: stick to its roots, but complement the foundation with the right portal moves and NIL investments. No need to abandon the identity — just evolve it.
There’s simply no excuse for a Power Five program like Oklahoma State to be this thin on talent, especially when the blueprint for a quick turnaround is right in front of them. The transfer portal can flip a roster in one offseason. NIL can seal the deal with playmakers. The combination of the two, executed well, is how teams go from irrelevant to contenders in a matter of months. The Cowboys have the resources. They just need the will.
It’s not about abandoning long-term development. It’s about accelerating it. You can still grow from within while filling in key gaps with proven talent. In fact, bringing in top-level transfers often raises the standard in the locker room by creating a culture where everyone is expected to contribute at a high level, right away. More competition for the roster the better. Iron sharpens iron.
Oklahoma State fans know what this program is capable of. Mike Gundy has built a consistent winner over the years, but consistency alone doesn’t win the Big 12 anymore — especially with teams like Utah, Arizona, and Kansas State surging, and now Texas Tech raising the bar. If the Cowboys want to stay relevant in a reloaded Big 12, the message is clear:
Adapt or fade.
There’s still time for Oklahoma State to lean into the future. The question is whether they’re willing to. Because if they don't, they’ll watch the College Football Playoff from the couch wondering how their rivals managed to leapfrog them so fast when the answer is clear as day in front of them.