Cover 3 College Football Podcast

🚨Oklahoma State Fires Mike Gundy – Instant Reaction

Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: Chip Patterson and Bud Elliott

Episode Overview

This emergency “Cover 3” episode delivers immediate reactions and in-depth analysis after Oklahoma State fires longtime head football coach Mike Gundy. Chip Patterson and Bud Elliott dig into the timing and rationale for the decision, evaluate Gundy’s legacy, speculate on what comes next for the program, and break down possible coaching candidates. They also compare the attractiveness of the Oklahoma State job to other openings and potential openings around the college football landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The End of the Gundy Era (03:00–07:00)

• Recent Program Decline:
  • OSU lost 11 straight against FBS teams, allowing 41.3 points per game in that span.
    “It is the worst 12-game stretch for Oklahoma State football since 1935 and 1936.” — Chip (03:05)
  • Only win in last 12 was vs. UT Martin.
• Not About Surprise, But Timing:
  • Surprise is not that Gundy was fired, but that it happened now, midseason.
  • “Surprise is about the timing, right, Bud?” — Chip (04:15)
• The Unraveling:
  • A "dead cat bounce" in 2023 masked decline.
  • Offseason changes (staff, paycut) pointed to an end.

2. Why Now? The Timing Question (07:00–11:00)

• Delayed Firing:
  • “If you lose at home to Tulsa, it’s, you know, it’s pretty bad.” — Bud (05:09)
  • Why wait days after the loss? Possible reasons explored:
    • Rounding up buyout money from boosters.
    • Not wanting to force players to redshirt if they jump ship (NCAA rules trigger after 5 games).
    • Locker room possibly quitting on Gundy.
• Next Steps for 2025 Season:
  • Who leads OSU now, how to salvage the current season, avoid further embarrassment.

3. Mike Gundy’s Legacy (10:30–15:00)

• Sustained Success:
  • “Eighteen straight bowl seasons, I mean…the program had never seen this.” — Bud (10:46)
  • 21 years as head coach, multiple 10-win seasons, Big 12 titles, iconic “I’m a man, I’m 40” press conference anniversary.
• Critique:
  • “Games passed him by a little…maybe he has a reset, maybe he’s a guy who needs to drop down to a G5…” — Bud (10:56)
  • Unwillingness to adapt to NIL, transfer portal, revenue share.
• Final Assessment:
  • “This is a sensible decision to try to move forward…if you’re not willing to meet the players in the middle as the sport is changing, then it is going to be impossible for the results to meet the standard you have set.” – Chip (13:05)

4. The Coaching Search: Who's Next? (17:00–44:00)

The Candidate Name Game (17:09–40:00)

• Prominent Names Discussed:

  • Alex Golesh (USF): “He was a GA at Oklahoma State, did good work at Iowa State, Tennessee. Makes a lot of sense.” — Bud (17:55)
  • Eric Morris (North Texas)
  • Zach Robinson (Falcons OC, former OK State QB)
  • Will Stein (Oregon, Texas roots)
  • Collin Klein (Texas A&M, former K-State QB)
  • G.J. Kinne (Texas State)
  • Sean Lewis (San Diego State)
  • Shannon Dawson (Miami OC)
  • Jeff Traylor (UTSA)
  • Dan Mullen (UNLV)

• Notable Quotes:

  • “I think you have a lot of potentially really good options here.” — Bud (17:09)
  • “Would Oklahoma State fans get excited about Jimbo Fisher?” — Chip (27:40)
  • “If Oklahoma State comes calling, Jeff Traylor’s agent’s like, ‘Yes, we would like to take that interview.’” — Chip (40:00)

Coordinator vs Sitting HC Debate

• Not necessary to be a sitting HC, but must have P4 experience. (22:37)
• “If it’s not [a sitting HC], it needs to be a coordinator who has been in the P4.” — Bud

Lateral Moves/Redeem Yourself Jobs

• Is OSU a place for a coach to reset or step down to restart? (26:31–28:40)
• “Is Oklahoma State a reset-the-clock job for somebody lateral move or maybe slight step down?” — Chip (26:31)
• Dana Holgorsen and Billy Napier scenarios considered.

5. Comparing OSU to Other Jobs (19:44–25:45)

• Arkansas vs Oklahoma State:
  • Bud says he’d prefer OSU: “I think you can win at Oklahoma State. I don’t think you win at Arkansas.” (19:44)
  • Arguments: resources, donor base, conference strength.
• Baylor, Kentucky, Wisconsin Comparisons:
  • OSU seen as mid-tier Big 12 with opportunity for a ceiling run.
  • Wisconsin considered a better job primarily due to Big Ten positioning (41:36).
  • “Is Oklahoma State a better job than Wisconsin?” — Chip (41:36)
  • “No.” — Bud

6. The Big 12 & College Football Context (29:00–37:00)

• Conference viewed as “wide open.”
• Rev share era may create more haves and have-nots.
• Speculation about how jobs will be compared in the future.
• “The O in Oklahoma State stands for opportunity.” — Chip (37:59)

7. The Interim Situation & What’s Next

• Doug Meacham (ex-TCU OC) tapping in as interim head coach.
• “Doug Meacham taking over as the interim is the interim head coach for Oklahoma State football again. Oklahoma State fired Mike Gundy on a Tuesday playing Baylor on a Saturday.” — Chip (45:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is about accountability. Accountability is exactly what Oklahoma State is asking… Mike Gundy brought a level of sustained success that was really unheard of.” — Chip (02:00)
• “The writing was on the wall… But I think this is a program that, that should have some hope.” — Bud (04:15)
• “Every year after his first year he went to a bowl until last year. That’s a hell of a run, man.” — Bud (10:54)
• “If you’re not willing to adjust to meet your players in the middle as college football changes, you will not meet the standards you set.” — Chip (13:11)
• “The O in Oklahoma State stands for opportunity.” — Chip (37:59)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:00 – Analysis of program’s historic collapse, recent performance stats
• 04:15 – Masking of program decline, dead cat bounce season discussed
• 07:45 – Theories on unexpected timing of firing, roster management, redshirt talk
• 10:25 – Gundy’s legacy, what he meant for OSU
• 13:10 – Candid criticism of Gundy’s resistance to college football’s new era
• 17:09 – The “name game”: candidate breakdown
• 19:44 – Comparing OSU to Arkansas and other jobs
• 26:14 – Is OSU a “reset” job for a coach needing a new start?
• 37:59 – “O for opportunity” & why coaches should want the OSU job
• 41:36 – Comparing Oklahoma State to Wisconsin and other P4 jobs
• 45:03 – Doug Meacham announced as interim coach

Final Thoughts

• The firing was necessary for OSU’s long-term program health, and the search for a modern, adaptable head coach begins immediately.
• Oklahoma State—while not an elite program—is seen as an appealing opportunity in a shifting Big 12, and can be a major proving ground for either rising stars or established names seeking redemption.

This summary captures the fast-paced, informed style of Cover 3, highlighting sharp insights, off-the-cuff humor, and inside-the-industry speculation, making it accessible for those who missed the episode but want all the key takeaways.