Oklahoma State fires Mike Gundy after embarrassing loss ends historic 21-year run

Oklahoma State fired head coach Mike Gundy on Tuesday, ending a 21-year run that helped define the Cowboys and marking a critical turnaround moment for a program that has staggered through a historically rough stretch. The decision comes after OSU began this season 1-2 and followed last year’s 3-9 finish, a skid that has produced 11 losses in the Cowboys’ last 12 games dating back to the 2024 season. In announcing the move, university officials cited a commitment to championship-level football and to competing for national success. OSU president Jim Hess praised Gundy for decades of service and said the university would honor his contributions as a player and coach as he moves forward.

The downturn culminated in a blowout loss to Oregon, 69-3, on Sept. 6, followed by a home defeat to Tulsa on Friday. The Cowboys were listed as 12-point favorites in the Tulsa game, and their lone win this season came against UT Martin, 27-7, a game in which they were favored by about 26.5 points. The program’s performance in recent seasons had already raised questions about the trajectory under Gundy, who had compiled a lengthy and sometimes controversial tenure at Stillwater. The firing comes as OSU searches for a path back toward consistent winning and conference contention.

Doug Meacham, the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator, will take over as interim head coach. Meacham previously served as the offensive coordinator at TCU, Houston and Kansas, and he played on Oklahoma State’s offensive line from 1983-87. He inherits a program that is attempting to reverse a recent trend of losses that has defied the expectations OSU set for itself in a conference that has undergone a recent realignment shakeout and a shifting national landscape. Meacham’s familiarity with the roster and the system could help stabilize the position as the school begins a broader search for a long-term replacement.

Gundy’s tenure at Oklahoma State produced a notable mix of sustained success and rare high-profile disappointments. He leaves as the Cowboys’ all-time wins leader with a 170–90 record, including 12 bowl victories and a Big 12 championship in 2011. His time in Stillwater also produced one of college football’s defining moments, a 2007 press conference in which he publicly defended a decision about a quarterback change with the line, Come after me. I’m a man. I’m 40. Those words became a touchstone for his tenure and a shorthand in conversations about his intensity and accountability. While those moments are part of OSU lore, they sit against a broader arc that saw the program weather cycles of strong recruiting, conference realignment pressures, and tough losses that ultimately contributed to the decision made this week.

The university described the move as a strategic step to refresh a program that had reached a low point during Gundy’s later years, even as it acknowledged the coach’s lasting impact on the school and its players. Hess’ statement emphasized a continuing commitment to building a championship-level program and competing for national success, while noting the need to place the student-athletes in the best possible position moving forward. The plan outlined by OSU is to conduct a comprehensive search for a permanent head coach, with Meacham anticipated to guide the team through the immediate schedule as the process unfolds.

In its broader context, the decision at Oklahoma State mirrors a wider trend in college football where programs with long-tenured leaders reassess after periods of uneven results, especially when the erosion of momentum coincides with a challenging slate of conference play and non-conference opponents. OSU has previously demonstrated it can compete with some of the sport’s top programs, but translating that potential into sustained success requires a speedy and strategic transition. The next steps will hinge on the program’s ability to attract a head coach who can both harness the roster’s talent and cultivate a culture of consistency that has eluded the Cowboys in recent seasons.

As Meacham assumes control, the immediate focus will be preserving player development, maintaining recruiting momentum, and stabilizing the locker room while the school conducts its search. The football world will be watching how OSU frames its future, how quickly the team can rebound from a season-start that has already included a historic underperformance, and which candidate emerges as the leading choice to guide Oklahoma State back toward national relevance. The program’s history of resilience suggests it will pursue a bold hire capable of rebuilding a culture and a competitive identity for a program that has long prided itself on toughness and perseverance.