why did mike gundy get fired

Mike Gundy was fired by Oklahoma State after 21 years as head football coach due to a combination of poor recent performance by the team and his inability or unwillingness to adapt to the new college sports landscape. The final trigger came after embarrassing losses early in the 2025 season, including a 19-12 home loss to Tulsa, which was Tulsa’s first win at Oklahoma State since 1951, and a humiliating 69-3 defeat to Oregon. The team had also finished the 2024 season with a 3-9 record and started 2025 poorly, losing 11 straight FBS games dating back to the start of Big 12 play in 2024. Gundy had publicly blamed issues on factors like Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules and the transfer portal, suggesting Oklahoma State couldn't compete financially with powerhouses that had more resources. He also gained criticism over past controversies, including wearing a politically charged OAN shirt during the 2020 George Floyd protests and making dismissive comments about critics. Despite high past successes, including 18 straight winning seasons, recent years had been marked by disappointing results and a failure to modernize the program under the changing college football environment. Oklahoma State's Athletic Director Chad Weiberg expressed gratitude for Gundy’s contributions but made clear the decision was about moving the program forward after a period of decline. The firing also opened a transfer portal window for current players to move. Gundy had resisted stepping aside, including contract negotiations that postponed the firing until now. Overall, the firing was due to sustained poor on-field performance, failure to adapt, and deteriorating relationships with the program and its stakeholders.