Trimming the mullet: Mike Gundy out at OSU
The early details on how the Cowboys are going to replace their best ever head coach
Not one, not two, but three Power Four jobs have opened up before the calendar turns to October. Those that predicted a wild carousel season are certainly right at this point, as I can’t remember a season where this many coaches were fired solely for on-field performance this early in the season.
The third just opened today, as ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Oklahoma State parted ways with the Mike Gundy, the nation’s second most-tenured head coach. Gundy will receive a $15 million buyout from the school. Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham will take over as the interim head coach.
As we discussed in the joint UCLA and Virginia Tech article, these Coaching Shortlists are planned to be released for each coaching job as they open. It’s a way to take a look at the school, program, expectations and the five names I like best for the job.
And, before we get too into this, I want to remind anyone that these coaching names and predictions are simply speculation on my part. Unless otherwise stated, there is no inside information or sourcing leading me to these names. Just me putting two and two together.
With that out of the way, let’s get into this Oklahoma State job.
The Job
I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty of what led to the downfall of Oklahoma State under Mike Gundy. That’s for tomorrow in a much longer article that I have since updated to include Gundy’s firing.
Instead, let’s focus on the state of the Oklahoma State program as a whole. Call this a complimentary piece to the prior planned one for tomorrow.
For one, the Cowboys have been bad. Like, really bad. Currently, Oklahoma State sits at 1-3 with their only win coming in a lackluster showing against FCS UT-Martin. Their main offensive hope, quarterback Hauss Hejny, is out with a broken foot but still has eligibility remaining. They’ve been putrid without much to hang their hats on for any side of the ball.
Recruiting hasn’t been great the past few seasons under Gundy. The Cowboys rank 14th in the Big 12 and 70th overall for their 2026 recruiting class. 2025 wasn’t much better at 55th overall. It’s not the type of elite recruiting or roster management that we saw in years prior for Gundy’s team.
The good news is that Oklahoma State has the boosters and the juice to make a run. They’re easily the best job available at the moment, as Gundy’s $6.75 million annual salary - and that’s after the agreed upon $1 million pay cut - is more than the salaries for the former UCLA and Virginia Tech head coaches combined and Oklahoma State competes in a very winnable Big 12.
Still, there’s work to do to reignite the donor base to start shelling out cash for football. Gundy had let that go to the wayside in recent years, when it debatably needed to be done the most. It was enough of a problem that a clause was added to Gundy’s contract that the veteran head coach had to make a larger effort in fundraising and donor initiatives alongside athletic director Chad Weiberg.
Moving past the Gundy debacle, we see a program that is looking to take positive strides into the current era of college football. In today’s presser, Weiberg said as much in no uncertain terms. They want a modern coach. Someone that can take Oklahoma State back to where Gundy had them in the 2010s, or perhaps even further.
One thing to watch: Weiberg also has some uncertainty. He’s currently working without a contract, as his previous four-year pact expired in June. I’d assume the athletic director’s deal would be ironed out before any serious coaching dominoes fall, but if it lingers, that uncertainty could drive away some qualified candidates.
The Candidates
As we’ll do with all these coaching shortlists, here’s the five names I think are most likely:
Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons Offensive Coordinator: In many circles, Robinson is the early leading candidate. And it makes sense, he’s rocketing up NFL coaching cycles, going from an assistant quarterbacks coach with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay in 2019 to offensive coordinator for the Falcons this year. He’s also a former Oklahoma State quarterback, starting under center at Boone Pickens Stadium from 2007-2010. His ties to McVay and the program are enough to make him a serious candidate, but he has no collegiate coaching experience. That’s a concern.
Ben Arbuckle, Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator: Arbuckle figures to be one of the hottest names on the cycle this year if Oklahoma can keep up their great start. He’s got serious credentials, molding star quarterbacks like Cam Ward and John Mateer in his young career that already spans from Western Kentucky to Washington State to now rival Oklahoma. Bedlam may be dead on the field, but I’m sure Oklahoma State fans would relish prying their rivals’ golden boy away to lead the Pokes to glory. The only knock is that Arbuckle is very young at 30 and has no head coaching experience with few ties to the area aside from his current stint in Norman.
Jeff Traylor, UTSA Head Coach: Traylor’s shine has worn off after his torrid start at UTSA, but he knows the area and has a reputation as a strong recruiter with great ties to the Texas high school scene. He’s got a 42-22 record at a program that nobody could win at before and has a 31-8 record in conference play with the Roadrunners, albeit against Conference USA and American foes. It’s not the sexiest hire, especially not anymore, but Traylor is a gamer that could be a good bridge between the traditionalist Gundy and the modern era.
G.J. Kinne, Texas State Head Coach: From one side of the rivalry to another, Texas State’s Kinne also deserves a look. He’s piloted some seriously great offenses since arriving in San Marcos. Kinne’s been a portal fiend that has done very well, but he’s an inexperienced coach. He’s never been a part of a Power Four staff and, aside from two years at Texas State, his only head coaching experience came at FCS Incarnate Word.
Dana Holgorsen, Nebraska Offensive Coordinator: Before you roll your eyes, give it some thought. Holgorsen has the Air Raid credentials you see splattered across this list. He’s been a longtime head coach of varying success at West Virginia and Houston, both in the Big 12. If anyone knows what this job entails, it’s Holgorsen. He even has experience in Stillwater, serving as offensive coordinator under Gundy in 2010. I’d consider Holgorsen one of the top second-tier candidates if either Arbuckle or Robinson is a bust.
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