The Mike Gundy era at Oklahoma State is officially over and with it ends two decades of relative stability, consistency, and a deeply rooted identity. For any program, replacing a coach of Gundy’s tenure is a tall task. But in today’s version of college football, hitting the reset button doesn’t mean waiting five years for results. In fact, a fast turnaround is more possible now than ever before. That is in large part due to emergence of NIL, the transfer portal, and a new age of program-building.
Just look at what Arizona State did.
Two years ago, the Sun Devils were considered a non-factor in the national conversation. They made a bold hire with Kenny Dillingham, a young and relatively inexperienced coach whose selection raised eyebrows. But what he lacked in head coaching background, he made up for with vision, passion, and an unapologetic approach to rebuilding. He didn’t try to mimic the past, he created a new culture and he did it fast.
Dillingham understood that in the portal era, you don't need five years of recruiting classes to reshape a roster. You need a plan. He brought in players who fit his system and his mentality, not just highly ranked names or empty transfers. He targeted competitors, grinders, guys with something to prove. Two of those players, Cam Skattebo and Sam Leavitt, became the heart of the team’s turnaround. They didn’t just fill holes; they changed the energy in the locker room. That’s the formula.
Now, Oklahoma State finds itself in a similar position. No one is expecting the Cowboys to suddenly become a national powerhouse overnight. But in this era of college football, you no longer need to wait three seasons just to break .500. With the right hire, OSU can be back to competing in the Big 12, and nationally, faster than anyone thinks.
The key is identifying a leader who fits today’s game. Someone who’s not only a strong football mind, but a relationship-builder, recruiter, and motivator. The portal gives coaches the ability to remake a roster in a single offseason. NIL gives them the tools to keep elite talent from slipping away. What used to take years can now happen in months but the stars have to align and the culture has to be right.
Oklahoma State doesn’t need to find a clone of Gundy. They need someone bold enough to make Stillwater a destination again. Someone who builds a program players want to be part of, not just for development, but to win now. It’s not about spending big just to make headlines. It’s about bringing in the right pieces — just like Arizona State did.
Look at the results: Arizona State’s rise didn’t just change their outlook, this disrupted the entire preseason Big 12 narrative. They proved that any program, with the right leadership and approach, can skip the long rebuild and go straight into contention. That should serve as a wake-up call for Oklahoma State. If ASU can do it, in arguably a more crowded and uncertain landscape, why can’t the Cowboys? Getting ahead of the curve on who the next coach is, will do wonders for this team looking to get out of the Big 12 basement.
The tools are there. The fanbase is loyal. The facilities are solid. The Big 12 is wide open. All Oklahoma State needs now is the right coach with the right mindset — someone ready to act fast, think big, and build something new without being bound by the past.
It won’t be easy. It never is. But in this new era of college football, quick success is no longer a dream. Oklahoma State is just one good hire away from making it reality.