Longtime Oklahoma State Cowboys football head coach Mike Gundy was let go Tuesday afternoon after a 1-2 start, which included a 72-3 loss to the Oregon Ducks and a 19-12 loss against Tulsa.
The Cowboys' last "good" season was in 2023 when Gundy led Oklahoma to a 10-4 record, 7-2 in the Big 12, and a bowl game victory over Texas A&M. In 2024, the Cowboys finished 3-9, going 0-9 in the Big 12, and are looking well on their way to finish at the bottom again this year.
While only being 18 months removed from a 10-4 season, why did Oklahoma State move on from a guy who is 170-90 in 21 seasons as their head coach? The obvious answer is the NIL era. We have seen several coaches in College Football or Basketball move on from the NCAA because of the changing state of the game. Nick Saban left Alabama, Al Golden left Notre Dame, Bruce Pearl left Auburn, and now Oklahoma State is forcing Gundy to leave.
Oklahoma State believes that Gundy can't adapt to the ever-changing landscape of college football and decided it is a good time to rebuild the program. Their athletic department already made it known that they will be hiring a General Manager for the program before they conduct any Head Coaching interviews, and for good reason.
The Cincinnati Bearcats should be inclined to do the same. With the way college football has changed in the past 5 years, teams need to reevaluate their coaching situations. Coaches who have had success in the past may not be fit to coach in what seems to be a completely different sport. Scott Satterfield had success at Appalachian State and a little bit at Louisville but college football is different now and the Bearcats need to start over before it is too late.
With Gundy being fired there isn't anyone with a truly "safe job". One bad year in the portal and your program can be set off course for years, something the Bearcats know well.
How hot is Satterfield's seat?
Will the Athletic Department fire him before his contract is up in 2028?