For the first time since his debut campaign at Oklahoma State in 2005, Mike Gundy led the Cowboys to a losing record last season. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, college football expert Phil Steele previewed the Cowboys, starting with their offense. Offense “Last year everyone was back including RB Ollie Gordon and they had 43 […]
For the first time since his debut campaign at Oklahoma State in 2005, Mike Gundy led the Cowboys to a losing record last season. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, college football expert Phil Steele previewed the Cowboys, starting with their offense.
Offense
“Last year everyone was back including RB Ollie Gordon and they had 43 ppg in non conf. play but just 22 ppg in B12 play and came up well short of my computers forecast with just 27 ppg,” Steele wrote. “This year they lose 8 starters including their star RB Gordon and top 3 QB’s but Mike Gundy will have an improved offense in 2025.”
Along with teams like Florida State and Kansas, Oklahoma State was one of the most under-performing teams in the country last season. In the preseason media poll, the Cowboys were picked to finish third in the Big 12.
Instead, they didn’t win a single game in conference play, finishing with an abysmal 0-9 record. In response to his team’s woes, Gundy overhauled his roster and staff this offseason.
Oklahoma State hasn’t named its next starting QB yet, but it’s reportedly between Zane Flores andHauss Hejny. Alas, the program does know who will be calling the plays: new offensive coordinator Doug Meacham.
Meacham was a wide receivers coach at TCU last season, and will look to jumpstart a Cowboys offense that ranked 80th in college football last season. Of course, Oklahoma State’s offense isn’t the only side of the ball that will have plenty of fresh faces on it this fall.
Defense
“Last year they were expected to improve but instead allowed 501 ypg and 36 ppg their worst mark in the history of the magazine!” Steele wrote. “Only 3 starters return from last year’s defense but Gundy hit the transter portal hard I will count last year for what it was and that is an aberration. They can only be a much improved defense this year.”
As Steele mentioned, Oklahoma State beefed up its defense this offseason, via the NCAA Transfer Portal. In fact, the Cowboys reeled in the No. 30 class in On3’s 2025 Team Transfer Portal Rankings.
OSU hired veteran coach Todd Grantham to serve as its defensive coordinator this year. Grantham brings a wealth of experience with him to Stillwater, with prior stops at Florida, Alabama and numerous NFL teams.
2025 Forecast
Nonetheless, Grantham doesn’t have an easy task in front of him. With so many new pieces, the Cowboys are attempting to solve a puzzle under a strict time constraint. Steele believes Oklahoma State can solve this puzzle.
“Last year was the first time in 19 years that coach Gundy won less than 3 Big 12 games in a year so he will get the ship righted,” Steele wrote. “Gundy hit the portal extremely hard especially post spring and have added 36 players through the portal.
“They have a new offensive and defensive coordinator and basically a new team but the head man has a great track record. I do not think they will be a Big 12 contender this year but they will be a much improved team after last year’s unexpectedly bad season. This may be one of the toughest teams in the country to forecast this year with so many new additions to the roster.”
Category: General Sports
