In The Athletic’s latest ranking of the five current FBS head coaching vacancies, Oklahoma State landed at No. 3 — behind Arkansas and UCLA, but ahead of Virginia Tech and Stanford. The list, which evaluates each job based on resources, potential, roster situation, and path to success, offers a fair surface-level assessment. But for those familiar with the Cowboys' program, there’s a case to be made that Oklahoma State is being slightly undervalued.
Yes, things fell apart quickly under Mike Gundy, but this isn’t a bottomed-out rebuild. This is still a top-tier job in a restructured Big 12, with a recent track record of competing for championships, a clear recruiting pipeline, and the kind of stability most programs envy.
A Recent Winner with a Real Path to the Playoff
Under Gundy, Oklahoma State had one of the most consistent runs in college football. The Cowboys played in the Big 12 Championship Game in 2021 and 2023, won the Fiesta Bowl in 2021, and made 18 consecutive bowl appearances before last season. In the era of realignment chaos, that kind of consistency, especially in a non-blue blood program, is rare and valuable.
The Athletic rightly pointed out that OSU had a sub-.500 all-time record before Gundy, but that shouldn’t cloud the reality of what this program has become over the past two decades. OSU has built real infrastructure, developed a winning culture, and maintained relevance even without being in a major metro area or sitting on a talent-rich coast.
Now, in a Big 12 that no longer includes Texas and Oklahoma, the Cowboys are set up to compete near the top if they make the right hire. Programs like Arizona State and Texas Tech have shown how quickly you can rise in this new Big 12 and Oklahoma State already has a much stronger foundation than either of them had when beginning their rebuilds.
Third Best? Or a Sleeper No. 1?
Ranking Oklahoma State behind Arkansas is understandable. The SEC name carries weight, and there’s always going to be upside tied to that level of exposure and competition. But there’s also a brutal reality to the Razorbacks’ situation: it’s a hard place to win, period. The fanbase demands results, the division is stacked, and while The Athletic praised the recent investment in basketball, football still needs more institutional buy-in to keep pace.
UCLA at No. 2 is more questionable. The Bruins may play in a massive market and carry a historic brand, but their actual football commitment has long been underwhelming. The roster isn’t in a great spot, the move to the Big Ten places them in one of the toughest conferences in the country, and their NIL strategy and infrastructure trail many peer programs. It’s not an easy fix — and it’s not a job that sets up a new coach for early success.
In contrast, Oklahoma State already has pieces in place: a loyal fanbase, fertile recruiting territory in Texas, and a conference that offers a clear path to the College Football Playoff. The main thing missing is renewed institutional commitment — and that’s not an impossible ask.
How Virginia Tech and Stanford Compare
Virginia Tech, ranked fourth by The Athletic, is an appealing job in many ways. It plays in the ACC, which is relatively wide open, and Athletic Director Whit Babcock has publicly acknowledged the need to invest more heavily in football. But even with those plans, it’s still a rebuilding situation with a cloudy timeline. And while the job has history, it hasn’t produced consistent winning seasons in over a decade.
Stanford at No. 5 is understandable. Academic restrictions, lukewarm institutional support, and a rigid recruiting profile make it a tough sell in the modern NIL-driven world.
Between Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State, the edge still goes to the Cowboys. They’re more proven in recent years, they face fewer structural hurdles, and their path to success is far clearer.
What Needs to Happen Next
For Oklahoma State to be the job it should be, one thing is absolutely necessary: investment. The next coach needs more from the administration — in recruiting resources, NIL structure, staff salaries, and facility upgrades. The foundation is there, but it can’t rest on what Gundy built a decade ago.
The Athletic was right to mention that OSU’s leadership has been on somewhat shaky ground this year. That instability must be addressed if the next hire is going to have a real shot. But if the university steps up, this is easily a top-two job among those currently open.
Final Thoughts: Oklahoma State Deserves a Closer Look
Oklahoma State may have landed third in The Athletic’s rankings, but that doesn't tell the full story. It’s a job with a proven track record of success, a clear roadmap to the College Football Playoff, and a supportive fanbase that’s hungry to get back to winning.
If the right coach is brought in and backed appropriately, Oklahoma State could go from being viewed as a solid Power Five job to a consistent Playoff contender in a Big 12 that’s never been more winnable. That’s not just potential, that’s a reality waiting to be unlocked.