Oklahoma State’s season hit rock bottom after a 69-3 loss to Oregon, which was one of the worst defeats in program history. With mounting pressure from fans and donors following last year’s 3-9 record, athletic director Chad Weiberg faces a crucial decision about coach Mike Gundy’s future despite the massive $15 million buyout.
Mike Gundy’s Support Crumbles Among Oklahoma State Faithful
CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah recently assessed the situation surrounding Oklahoma State. He tweeted, “I talked to a lot of Oklahoma State people … they are done with this … this was rock bottom for them.”
Speaking on CBS Sports, Jeyarajah provided some real insight into the program’s current crisis. “You don’t see that as a coach, and by the way, the thing about the comments this week, I think it’s very funny that Dan Lanning might have managed to reframe it as Mike Gundy is disrespecting Phil Knight when obviously I think that actually Mike Gundy was just crying for help,” he said.
He noted the growing frustration within the program: “But like for your own fans and donors, Mike Gundy essentially just went out and made the case that we’re not playing major college football. Like, who was that? That was an insane thing to say. That’s a ridiculous thing to say.”
Jeyarajah continued his assessment: “I talked to a lot of Oklahoma State people, you know, fans and people on the program, and they are done with this, man. This was a rock bottom for them. Like three and nine was obviously bad, but this was rock bottom.”
Indeed, the monetary consequences of a coaching change represent a big challenge to the University of Oklahoma State. The coach’s agreement, restructured in January 2025, features a quite notable $15 million buyout if he’s fired without cause. This sum of money could have a very adverse effect on the sports department’s budget.
The buyout structure was part of a deal that already reduced Gundy’s annual salary by $1 million to $6.75 million while adding requirements for increased fundraising involvement. The Cowboys are now stuck between paying this massive sum and enduring continued poor performance.
Read More: Fact Check: A Look Into Mike Gundy’s $40M Claim That Had Oregon HC Dan Lanning Riled Up
Oklahoma State has lost 10 consecutive FBS games, marking the longest such streak in program history. The 69-3 defeat to Oregon on September 6, 2025, wasn’t just embarrassing but also highlighted how far the program has fallen from its Big 12 championship days.
With fan patience exhausted and donor support wavering, Weiberg must decide whether the program can afford to keep Gundy or afford to let him go. Either choice carries massive risks for Oklahoma State’s future.
