Oct 4, 2024; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Houston Cougars defensive back A.J. Haulcy (2) tackles TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Hauss Hejny (1) in the third quarter at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Reports: Oklahoma State to add former TCU QB Hauss Hejny

Former TCU quarterback Hauss Hejny has committed to join Oklahoma State out of the NCAA transfer portal, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.

Hejny will see a familiar face in new Cowboys offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, who previously was with the Horned Frogs in various roles. Meacham also served on Oklahoma State’s coaching staff from 2005-12.

Hejny did not attempt a pass while playing in four games this season. He carried the ball 15 times for 65 yards.

A four-star recruit out of Fort Worth (Texas) Aledo, Hejny will join redshirt junior Garret Rangel, redshirt sophomore Zane Flores and redshirt freshman Maealiuaki Smith as quarterbacks for the Cowboys next season.

The Cowboys were 3-9 (0-9 Big 12) in the 2024 season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2021; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Oklahoma State hires Todd Grantham to head defense

Oklahoma State has hired New Orleans Saints senior advisor and former defensive line coach Todd Grantham to fill its vacant defensive coordinator position, the Saints confirmed on Monday.

Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi informed reporters that Grantham would not finish out the regular season with New Orleans, instead departing the team on Tuesday to begin his new role as DC in Stillwater. Rizzi moved Grantham from his defensive line coach position to the senior advisor role after the club fired head coach Dennis Allen last month.

Grantham, 58, has a long career as a defensive assistant, beginning along the defensive line with Virginia Tech from 1990-95. After a stint as DL coach at Michigan State, Grantham moved up to the NFL, eventually landing a gig as defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2005-07).

He later held defensive coordinator titles at the collegiate level at Georgia (2010-13), Louisville (2014-16), Mississippi State (2017) and Florida (2018-21).

Last week, Oklahoma State dismissed defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo and offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and held a public bartering session with longtime head coach Mike Gundy, with the two sides ultimately coming to an agreement on his continued employment with the Cowboys.

Oklahoma State went 3-9, including 0-9 to finish last in the Big 12 in 2024. That was Gundy’s first losing season since his first season in 2005.

Gundy is the school’s all-time leader in coaching wins with 169.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy walks the sidelines the second quarter against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Reports: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy agrees to restructured deal

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy will be on the sidelines in 2025 after agreeing to a restructured deal with the school, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

The agreement comes one day after Gundy and the school’s board of regents were at a standoff. Reports on Friday suggested Gundy was asked to take a significant paycut.

Gundy received $7.75 million in base salary this season as Oklahoma State went 3-9, including 0-9 to finish last in the Big 12. The Cowboys were mauled 52-0 by Colorado in their season finale on Nov. 29.

Reports indicate the regents pitched to use the reduction in salary toward NIL allocations in terms of helping land players.

Gundy has a five-year contract that rolls over each year. His buyout is reportedly $25 million.

Earlier this week, offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo were dismissed.

Gundy just completed his 20th season as coach of the Cowboys and will miss out on a bowl game for the first time since going 4-7 in his first season (2005).

Gundy has eight 10-win seasons, including in 2011 when he went 12-1 and Oklahoma State beat Stanford 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl to finish No. 3 nationally. The Cowboys also finished No. 7 in a 12-2 campaign in 2021 after recording a 37-35 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

Gundy was a quarterback for Oklahoma State from 1986-89 and passed for 7,997 yards, 54 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. Among his teammates were Pro Football Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders.

–Field Level Media

Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy watches warm ups before the first half the college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Arizona State Sun Devils at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 2, 2024.

Reports: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy in stalemate with school

Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II exited the program on Friday and coach Mike Gundy could be next after the school reportedly asked him to take a restructured contract.

The request was made after Oklahoma State bottomed out with a 3-9 record this season and went winless in nine Big 12 games to finish last in the conference. The Cowboys were mauled 52-0 by Colorado in their season finale on Nov. 29.

Multiple reports suggest the Oklahoma State Board of Regents asked Gundy to take a significant pay cut but haven’t yet provided specifics to Gundy.

Reports indicate the regents want to use those funds toward NIL allocations in terms of helping land players. The regents would consider terminating Gundy’s contract if he fails to agree.

Gundy has a five-year contract that rolls over each year. His buyout is reportedly $25 million.

Earlier this week, offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo were dismissed.

Gundy just completed his 20th season as coach of the Cowboys and will miss out on a bowl game for the first time since going 4-7 in his first season (2005).

Gundy has eight 10-win seasons, including in 2011 when he went 12-1 and Oklahoma State beat Stanford 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl to finish No. 3 nationally. The Cowboys also finished No. 7 in a 12-2 campaign in 2021 after recording a 37-35 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

Gundy was a quarterback for Oklahoma State from 1986-89 and passed for 7,997 yards, 54 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. Among his teammates were Pro Football Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas and Barry Sanders.

Gordon declared for the NFL Draft on Friday while the chaos in Stillwater ensued.

Gordon struggled in 2024 after winning the Doak Walker Award as the best running back in the nation in 2023. He led the nation with 1,732 rushing yards and scored 22 touchdowns, 21 on the ground, while earning first-team All-American honors.

This season, Gordon rushed for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 29 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown. Overall, he had 2,920 rushing yards for the Cowboys, which ranks 12th in program history.

“It’s been an amazing run. From day one, I knew I was in the right place,” Gordon wrote on social media. “The love, support and family I’ve gained here will always be a part of me.

“Now, it’s time to take the next step in living out my dream … Thank you OSU, for everything. There’s only one Oklahoma and it ends with STATE!”

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes defensive back Travis Hunter (12) looks on during the first quarter against the Utah Utes at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

No. 25 Colorado needs win over OK State, help for title game

No. 25 Colorado needs to take care of business against visiting Oklahoma State on Friday in Boulder, Colo., and then hope for some help from other teams to get to the Big 12 Championship.

A 37-21 loss against suddenly red-hot Kansas last week at Arrowhead Stadium snapped Colorado’s four-game winning streak and left the Buffaloes in a four-way tie for first place.

However, the tiebreakers make Colorado (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) a long shot to make next week’s championship game in Arlington, Texas. The Buffaloes must win but they also need two of the three teams — BYU, Arizona State or Iowa State — to lose this weekend.

“Tough week, of course. We plan to respond accordingly to get our little swagger back and fix the things we let down last week,” Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders said. “It was a tremendous game. We still got a little bit hanging on, we are trying to flush it, trust me, we are trying to flush it tremendously.”

Oklahoma State (3-8, 0-8) limps to the finish line in the worst season it’s had under veteran coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys won’t go to a bowl game for the first time since 2005.

With Gundy on the sidelines, the Cowboys have beaten a ranked team for 19 straight years. They’ll have a final chance to do so as they try to snap an eight-game losing skid. Gundy has said he plans to return for his 21st season leading the Cowboys’ program next fall.

“This team, like the last one, is not playing indicative of their record,” Sanders said. “They are much better. They have a winning program and one of the most heralded coaches in the Big 12 that I have the utmost respect for.”

Maealiuaki Smith made his first career start last week for OSU in a 56-48 home loss to Texas Tech. The freshman threw for 326 yards, completed 72 percent of his passes, had two touchdowns and an interception, and was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week.

“Until (a quarterback) gets out there and plays a whole game,” Gundy said. “Until they feel like no one is looking over their shoulder, you never know how they are going to react. I thought he had poise and played with confidence.”

After a slow start to the season, Ollie Gordon II has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games. He had 156 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries last week and leads the Cowboys with 870 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

De’Zhaun Stribling has 50 catches for 872 yards and six scores. Brennan Presley has leads the team with 82 catches for 725 yards and a team-high seven receiving touchdowns.

For Colorado, Shedeur Sanders has 3,488 passing yards, connecting on 73.4 percent of his passes with 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Two-way star Travis Hunter has racked up 1,036 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Hunter has broken up nine passes, made three picks and forced a fumble on defense. Colorado’s defense leads the Big 12 with 34 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries.

–Field Level Media

Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire looks on against Colorado in a Big 12 game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

Texas Tech outscores Oklahoma State in wild offensive display

Behren Morton threw for four touchdowns and Tahj Brooks ran for three and caught another as Texas Tech prevailed in a wild game with Oklahoma State, winning 56-48 on Saturday at Stillwater, Okla.

With all the offense, it was a defensive play that perhaps made the biggest difference. Instead of Oklahoma State pulling even as had been the trend on the afternoon, Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez scooped a fumble and ran for a touchdown with 4:45 remaining for the first of his two key late-game plays.

Suddenly, the Red Raiders (7-4, 5-3 Big 12 Conference) held a two-possession lead. But Maealiuaki Smith connected with Rashod Owens for a 10-yard touchdown (the extra-point attempt failed) to close the gap to eight points with 2:35 left in regulation.

Morton finished 35-for-50 for 366 yards with an interception.

Ollie Gordon II rushed for three touchdowns and 156 yards for Oklahoma State (3-8, 0-8), which lost its eighth consecutive game.

Smith threw for two touchdowns and 326 yards with one interception for the Cowboys. Smith played in place of Alan Bowman, a former Texas Tech player who had led Oklahoma State in passing in every game this season.

After Owens’ late touchdown, Texas Tech tried to keep possession to run out the clock. Morton had a 12-yard run on third-and-11. Still, the Red Raiders ended up punting, but Oklahoma State’s last-ditch effort was doomed by Rodriguez interception at the 50 with 7 seconds remaining.

Caleb Douglas, Jalin Conyers, Mason Tharp and Brooks made TD receptions for the Red Raiders. Brooks also gained 133 rushing yards on 28 carries, and Douglas accumulated 105 receiving yards on five catches.

Oklahoma State’s De’Zhaun Stribling (133 yards) and Owens (124) were tops in receiving yards.

Texas Tech never trailed, but the score was tied at 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42.

Brooks put the Red Raiders up 49-42 on his 1-yard touchdown run with 6:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. That was his third touchdown run in a 15-minute span.

The feisty nature of the game resulted in unsportsmanlike conduct penalties against both teams in the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Jalin Conyers (12) rushes for a touchdown against the Colorado Buffalos in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

OK State targets first Big 12 win with defensive weakling Texas Tech on deck

Late November games with low-level stakes aren’t a familiar concept to Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

And in a season that began with the Red Raiders and Cowboys plotting a big impact in the new-look Big 12 Conference, they’re both surprised to be here.

But that’s the backdrop when they meet after notable missteps by the Red Raiders. The season has been unraveling for most of the last two months for the Cowboys.

Neither team is in contention for the conference championship game with two weeks to go.

Texas Tech (6-4, 4-3) has dropped three of its last four league games after a promising start. Oklahoma State (3-7, 0-7) is pushing to the finish of its worst season since coach Mike Gundy’s debut in 2005.

“I’m as frustrated as anybody else,” said Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire, who has guided his team to a third straight bowl-eligible season in his third season. “It’s frustrating to me the opportunities that we’ve let get away because we haven’t been good enough on game day.”

Gundy can certainly relate.

The Cowboys finish with a losing record for just the second time in his 20-year tenure and an 18-year bowl game streak won’t make it to 19.

Ranked in the preseason Top 25, Oklahoma State began the season 3-0 with a solid victory against Arkansas but a wave of injuries has yielded seven losses in a row – four by 21 points or more.

The Cowboys lost defensive starters Collin Olliver, Nick Martin and Cameron Epps to season-ending injuries. They head into Saturday ranked last in the Big 12 in total defense, allowing just a tick under 500 yards a game, and next-to-last in scoring defense with foes averaging 31.9 points.

Texas Tech is the only team that has given up more points: 35.1 per game.

The Red Raiders have been effective with the ball in their hands. They rank second in the league with 441 yards per contest and are the Big 12’s highest-scoring offense at 35.5 points a game.

So the challenge is daunting for the Cowboys, who hit mid-November playing out the string for the first time since Gundy took over.

But Gundy expects his team’s effort to be at the same level the program has expected since he grabbed the reins at his alma mater and built one of the most consistent programs in the Big 12.

“It’s competition, same thing that I would say each week, and that when these guys walk on campus, they should be committed to themselves and to the team and then to whoever helped get them here and their family, or whoever raised them and put a lot into them,” Gundy said. “The most important thing that they can do is continue to train and work and stay together and compete, which they have.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images

RB Cam Skattebo amasses 274 yards, 3 TDs as Sun Devils run away from Oklahoma State

Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo scored three touchdowns while rushing for 153 yards on 23 carries and tallying 121 receiving yards on four catches in a 42-21 victory Saturday over Oklahoma State at Stillwater, Okla.

The game was delayed 2 hours, 39 minutes because of lightning in the area after Arizona State took a 21-14 lead into halftime.

Skattebo became the first Arizona State player to have at least 100 yards in rushing and receiving in a game since Demario Richard against New Mexico in 2015 (104 yards rushing and 151 receiving).

Oklahoma State (3-6, 0-6 Big 12) has lost six consecutive games for the first time since the 2000 season.

The teams traded touchdowns in the first half with Arizona State (6-2, 3-2) scoring last on a Skattebo 1-yard rush with 20 seconds remaining.

The Sun Devils opened the scoring on a 22-yard pass from Sam Leavitt to Jordan Tyson that capped their first possession. Leavitt returned to the field after missing the Oct. 19 loss at Cincinnati because of a cracked-rib injury suffered against Utah on Oct. 11.

He completed 20 of 29 pass attempts for 304 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against Oklahoma State.

Leavitt connected with Skattebo on a 50-yard pass with 9:18 left in the second quarter to put Arizona State ahead 14-7. But running back Ollie Gordon II, an NFL prospect who finished with 25 yards on 11 rushes, tied the game at 14 on a 2-yard run with 5:26 left in the half.

The Sun Devils punted to end their first possession of the second half after the lengthy delay but
put together a touchdown drive their next possession, culminating with a 7-yard run by Kyson Brown with 5:19 left in the third quarter.

Arizona State pulled away to a 42-14 lead after Leavitt connected with Skattebo for another touchdown, then Brown scored on a 1-yard run less than four minutes later in the fourth quarter.

Brown’s touchdown occurred five plays after Oklahoma State failed to get a first down on a fourth-and-5 situation at its own 30.

Oklahoma State’s Alan Bowman, sacked four times, threw for 175 yards while completing 17 of 30 pass attempts. He had a touchdown pass and interception.

–Field Level Media

Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs for a touchdown against the Utah Utes in the fourth quarter at Mountain America Stadium.

Fortunes reversed, Oklahoma State hosts Arizona State, looks for first Big 12 win

Two teams predicted to be at different ends of the Big 12 standings before the season started will face each other Saturday night at Stillwater, Okla., with Arizona State visiting Oklahoma State.

Arizona State (5-2, 2-2) was picked to finish last in its first season in the Big 12 in the preseason media poll. Instead, Oklahoma State (3-5, 0-5) sits in last place after it was picked to finish third behind Utah and Kansas State.

“They have good players, and they’re in a very marketable geographical location in the country for portals, which they’ve hit that market hard,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy reasoned about Arizona State’s success. “They’ve had success in that area, and they’ve done a good job.”

One of the transfers, in his second season with the Sun Devils, is former Sacramento State running back Cam Skattebo, who is third in the Big 12 in rushing with 848 yards on 150 carries with 10 touchdowns.

Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State’s touted running back, is ninth at 568 yards on 135 carries with eight touchdowns.

Skattebo also ranks seventh nationally in missed tackles forced with 49, according to Pro Football Focus.

“He’s their energy,” Gundy said. “If you want to slow them down, you better tackle him.”

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said quarterback Sam Leavitt should return from an injury to his ribs suffered in the Sun Devils’ win over then-No. 16 Utah on Oct. 11.

He missed the Sun Devils’ most recent game, a 24-14 loss at Cincinnati, on Oct. 19.

Leavitt, a transfer from Michigan State, has completed 90 of 152 passes for 1,166 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions.

“He’s cleared to play,” Dillingham said. “He wants to play. He’s excited about playing. He’s been putting in a lot of work to play, so we’ll see how that transpires.”

Gordon, a preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year selection, rejected rumors Monday that he will shut down the rest of his junior season to concentrate on the NFL draft.

“My momma always taught me that you finish what you start,” Gordon said. “Who would I be to give up on my team because our season is not going how we want it to go?”

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA;  Baylor Bears running back Dawson Pendergrass (35) runs the ball against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Images

Baylor eclipses ’23 win total, keeps Oklahoma State reeling

Sawyer Robertson threw three touchdown passes and Dawson Pendergrass ran for 142 yards and a touchdown to lead host Baylor to a 38-28 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday in Waco, Texas.

Baylor (4-4, 2-4 Big 12 Conference) surpassed its win total from last season and scored back-to-back wins in conference play.

Oklahoma State (3-5, 0-5) continued its disappointing start, losing its sixth consecutive conference game dating to last season.

Robertson was shaken up with 3:54 left in the second quarter after being taken to the ground hard after a throw by a Cowboys defender. But he returned just before halftime at which point the game was tied at 17.

Robertson put together a strong second half, accounting for four touchdowns in the game.

Robertson, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 222 yards and an interception, broke loose and ran for a 41-yard touchdown with 8:55 left in the game to give the Bears their largest lead at 31-20.

But Oklahoma State responded with a drive capped by an Ollie Gordon 3-yard touchdown run. Brennan Presley made an acrobatic catch falling in the end zone to complete a two-point conversion and cut Baylor’s lead to 31-28 with 4:51 left.

The Bears made it a two-score lead again when Pendergrass broke loose from a pack of defenders and ran for a 55-yard touchdown with 3:06 remaining. Even more impressive was Pendergrass doing all his damage on only six carries.

Oklahoma State advanced into Baylor territory on its final drive, but Alan Bowman was intercepted by LeVar Thornton Jr. with 1:22 left to seal the outcome.

Baylor amassed 565 total yards but was particularly impressive on the ground with 343 yards and three rushers totaling 73 or more yards.

Oklahoma State put up its own gaudy numbers, totaling 433 yards, but most came through the air. Bowman completed 28 of 42 passes for 359 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Presley caught 15 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. Gordon paced the Cowboys on the ground with 77 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.

–Field Level Media