STILLWATER, Okla. — Mike Gundy’s transformation from hero to villain is full.

The 19-12 loss to Tulsa on Friday evening wasn’t an origin story. What we noticed right here at The Home T. Boone Pickens Constructed was the final chapter of an period passed by when the Cowboys had been the nice guys and the Wild West’s contenders could not confidently crown themselves Huge 12 champions till surviving a shootout in Stillwater.

Probably the most colourful man within the Midwest, a treasure for faculty soccer the final three a long time, has light into obscurity — and the winningest coach in Oklahoma State historical past has nobody guilty however himself. If this wasn’t Gundy’s final name alongside Pistol Pete, it solely confirms the Cowboys have greater points to sort out inside their administration. Athletics director Chad Wieberg is on shaky floor, having labored with no contract since June 30 underneath a brand new college president. Wieberg stands out as the boss, however somebody above his head could must swing the axe this weekend.

It is by no means straightforward saying goodbye, however when a reality-TV marriage has lengthy since misplaced its spark, garnering consideration just for their verbal outbursts, the tip feels much less like heartbreak and extra like overdue reduction. Eleven straight losses to FBS opponents, the longest stretch at school historical past and at the moment the longest amongst energy groups, appeared eternally unfathomable underneath Gundy.

Friday evening’s recreation was staged as a blackout, so a lot of the 48,842 followers donned their black hats and spurs, appropriately dressed for a funeral slightly than a giant recreation. They got here for The Turnpike Traditional however ended up watching a burial. 

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This wasn’t a fluke. The Golden Hurricane’s first win in Stillwater since 1951 was received with brute pressure and wonderful recreation planning in opposition to a Cowboys program that has been out-scored 140-15 of their final three FBS video games. First-year coach Tre Lamb was additionally helped by a pair of former Oklahoma State gamers out for blood: Dominic Richardson powered his method to 146 speeding yards, icing the sport together with his legs within the fourth quarter, and Braylin Presley scored the sport’s first landing.

Two weeks after Gundy bemoaned Oregon’s $40 million roster, calling nonconference matchups in opposition to less-fortunate rosters unfair earlier than a 69-3 bludgeoning in Eugene, Tulsa strolled into Boone Pickens Stadium because the underdog, the undervalued program. Fact be instructed, the Cimarron Turnpike most likely pocketed extra quarters Friday than the Golden Hurricane has of their total NIL price range.

And but, Lamb roared onto the sector and out-coached the legend, and Tulsa’s Kings out-played the Cowboys.

How did Oklahoma State sink so low, so quick? Keep in mind, this program beat Oklahoma within the “remaining” Bedlam lower than two years in the past — however right here we’re, staring into the void with OSU winless in opposition to FBS groups since September 2024.

The consequence Friday evening was actually 5 years within the making. It was Gundy, not Oklahoma State, who averted the switch portal for practically 5 seasons. It was Gundy who saved loyal aides on his workers far too lengthy. It was Gundy who did not sensible as much as NIL and the facility of cash on the recruiting path till the financial institution vault closed. 

So, right here Oklahoma State stands, on the precipice of the long run, afraid to step into the unknown due to this system’s loyalty to a person who has completed feats no coach has — and should by no means once more — reached in Stillwater. 

Gundy is a legend, and never due to years of colourful rants or his penchant for the bizarre, however due to the wins, steered by an unbelievable, record-breaking offense that captured the nation’s consideration. For a decade, he made a university city of fifty,138 in northern Oklahoma the go-to vacation spot within the Huge 12. He received 10 or extra video games seven occasions and hoisted the Huge 12 Championship trophy in 2011.

The stretch of 18 straight successful seasons ended with a thud final season with a disastrous 3-9 file, a precursor to the mess on show Friday evening. A program with 41 new transfers, greater than the mixed complete lured to Stillwater within the earlier six years, was by no means going to come back collectively in a single day. Heck, Gundy instructed CBS Sports activities in July he could not match the brand new faces with names on the roster. 

A coach in his twenty first season should not be caught empty-handed within the offseason, scouring the nation for scraps within the switch portal. The very fact is, irrespective of the way you promote it, this Cowboys’ roster was cobbled collectively from a field of outcasts and small-school stars. No coach as skilled as Gundy ought to publicly admit that final January was the primary time he used NIL cash to lure transfers to campus.

Admire the person for telling the reality, shouldering the burden for ignoring the portal’s significance in earlier years, when he unfold a shallow pool of NIL cash ($7 million, he mentioned) amongst gamers at the moment on the roster slightly than soliciting newcomers he might later turn into Oklahoma State’s new crop of superstars. 

The rebuilding mission is just too little, too late.

And that is the issue: It would not matter if faculty athletics’ future seems so completely different. Gundy has held tightly to the job the final 5 years, avoiding potshots and indignant boosters lengthy sufficient to stay on the high and end seasons sturdy, together with wins in opposition to Oklahoma the final two occasions the Sooners got here to Stillwater.

Reasonably than be fired by an indignant Board of Regents in December, he sought one other lifeline. He renegotiated his near-untouchable contract, decreasing a $25 million buyout and giving up $1 million in annual wage to assist offset a small proportion of revenue-sharing funds to gamers. His computerized rollover clause was additionally eradicated. It wasn’t the primary time Gundy needed to combat behind the scenes for his livelihood, but it surely could be the final. The restructured deal final winter got here 5 years after he agreed to a $1 million discount following an inside assessment of this system.

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Gundy’s buyout is $15 million and stays unchanged for an additional three seasons. It would not matter if OSU makes its transfer at the moment or in November 2026; the fee is identical, however this system’s inventory could proceed to sink. 

It is fascinating that Gundy’s contract requires him to assist consider and establish his successor. A courtesy name could be all he receives.

Oklahoma State followers seemingly voted with their voices and attendance Friday. Many left the stadium with 7:49 remaining within the recreation. When the Cowboys fell behind 16-3 at halftime, a well-recognized refrain erupted from the grandstands: boos. Not even Oklahoma State’s in-house radio broadcast might maintain again their disdain at halftime.

“You may’t put a Band-Help on this and make it look any higher,” one announcer mentioned on the boradcast. “It is the worst sore we have seen in a very long time on Oklahoma State soccer. … That is about as dangerous a beatdown as I’ve seen in an extended, very long time for Oklahoma State soccer. I assumed we hit all-time low at Colorado (a 52-0 loss within the season finale in 2024). That is even worse.”

Oklahoma State is so intently tied to Mike Gundy that he is extra recognizable than Pistol Pete. He is chargeable for 10 of the college’s 11 10-win seasons — eight as head coach and two because the beginning quarterback. 

However that is the previous.

It was clear Friday evening that Gundy, who for thus lengthy did not embrace the current, could not see the long run.