why was mike gundy fired

Mike Gundy was fired as head coach of Oklahoma State football due to a significant decline in the team's performance. The Cowboys had a dismal record of 4-11 since the beginning of 2024, including a historic 69-3 loss to Oregon and a loss to Tulsa, marking their first loss to Tulsa since 1998. The 2024 season ended with a 3-9 record and an 0-9 slate in the Big 12, the team's worst performance in years. The team was also enduring an 11-game losing streak against FBS opponents. Oklahoma State had high expectations for the program, which were not being met under Gundy's leadership. Despite renegotiating his contract and accepting a $15 million buyout, the athletic director cited the need for moving the program forward in the long term as the reason for the decision. Gundy had been the coach for over 20 years and was the winningest coach in program history, but the recent poor results and inability to adapt to changes in college football led to his dismissal.