Mike Gundy thought he looked fine. EA Sports had other ideas. When Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy first saw his character in EA Sports College Football 26, something didn’t look right, and fans quickly noticed. The digital version of the well-known coach bore little resemblance to the real thing, sparking immediate backlash across social media.
Now, after online pushback and some viral reactions, EA Sports has officially updated Gundy’s in-game appearance. The change came quickly, but it has already got the internet buzzing. And Gundy himself? He has something to say about it, too.
Why Did EA Sports Change Mike Gundy’s Character After Fan Criticism?
Gundy’s character in EA Sports College Football 26 has been changed after fans complained that the original version didn’t look like him at all.
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A comparison photo shared by the X account “CFB Kings” showed the original model next to the updated one. The new version features Gundy’s signature hairstyle and more realistic facial features.
EA updated Mike Gundy in CFB26 👀 pic.twitter.com/COsqB2LYpU
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) July 10, 2025
The update came just days after fans flooded social media, pointing out how off the character model looked. One person joked, “Mugshot?” because the old version didn’t look great.
Mugshot?
— Kevin Damoah (@damoah_kevin) July 10, 2025
Another fan said, “I liked Afro Gundy,” talking about the silly big hairstyle from the first version.
I liked Afro Gundy
— â„hris†opher (@D00MED_USER) July 10, 2025
Even though the updated look was closer to real life, some people still weren’t impressed. One fan said, “Still off, but not comically off,” meaning it was better, but still a little weird. Most fans had fun with the changes and shared lots of laughs online.
Still off but not comically off
— The Traveling Poke (@PokeTraveling) July 10, 2025
How Did Mike Gundy React to His Updated Character?
On Wednesday, “CFB Kings” also posted a video showing Gundy’s live reaction to seeing the update. Laughing, Gundy said, “That’s awesome. It looks like it froze. Wait until my high school buddies see that. They will be lightening me up,” as he looked at the new version of himself. The video was taken during a promotional event and quickly went viral across college football forums and social media platforms.
Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy reacts to his CFB26 character 😂
(H/T @MarshallScottOK) pic.twitter.com/HUWi5bm3AG
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) July 9, 2025
The change shows how much accuracy matters to game makers and fans. EA Sports is scanning more players and coaches to make them look more realistic. They want the game to feel just like real college football. Before the change, Gundy’s character looked more like a random sideline guy than a well-known head coach with a big personality.
EA Sports had already promised to update likenesses before the game’s release date, but Gundy’s case was one of the first to receive widespread attention. The fix shows the developers are listening to feedback and taking steps to address concerns quickly.
Gundy’s reaction may set the tone for other coaches’ response if their in-game look doesn’t match reality. It also raises expectations for how EA Sports handles accuracy and feedback moving forward. If more updates like this happen, the game could become one of the most realistic portrayals of college football to date.
not Auburn HC, OK State HC.