Mike Gundy considers difference in Oklahoma State team this season
Mike Gundy has a very talented Oklahoma State team in 2024 and there is a stark difference compared to last year’s team.
With more experience and familiarity with each other, the Cowboys are better off this Fall, according to Gundy. There’s a clear direction at Oklahoma State and it’s to finally get to the College Football Playoff.
Gundy and the Cowboys are certainly one of the favorites in this year’s Big 12.
“A year ago we had 28 new players come in, and then ultimately before we started the season we had 38 new players as we added 10 more,” Gundy said at Big 12 Media Days. “So there were a lot of areas that we had to decide what was best for our team and how to get to that point.
“A number of those players were at semester, transfers that we felt like were good enough to help us based on the portal, unlike what you would have with high school players. There was a little bit of uncertainty in what direction to go in order to be fair to all the players involved.”
Since there were fewer transfers this year, Oklahoma State has a comfortability with its roster. That gave Gundy plenty of confidence.
“This year, we have fewer portal transfers at semester, more returning starters,” Gundy said. “So coaches have a better direction in how to get there. Now it’s just a matter of us kind of getting out of the way and allowing the maturity and leadership we have of our team to take over.”
Mike Gundy confident in Oklahoma State in 2024
Oklahoma State is one of the favorites but was picked No. 3 in the preseason poll in the Big 12. Gundy knows about it, but it certainly didn’t come to the forefront of his attention.
“I really haven’t paid much attention to preseason polls,” Gundy said. “They’ve always said the good news is we get to play all the games. I’m really excited about our conference. I’ve said that for the last few years, as we’ve continued to add teams. From day one I’ve always said that I think we have the best commissioner in all of the conferences. We have a guy that’s innovative, smart, not afraid to take a chance. He’s bullish on moving forward and doing whatever it takes to put the Big 12 where it needs to be for us to crown national champions in football. I have confidence in him.
“With that being said, I believe that this conference is going to play better over the next four to five years than it has in the last 12 to 15, for the most part, other than the last year we were intact.”
Either way, Gundy seems like he has a renewed excitement.
“So I’m excited about the group,” Gundy said. “Could there be more conference realignment in the future? Very well could happen based on all the changes we’ve had in the last 18 to 20 months that none of us could have predicted. So I think everything’s a moving target, but I really like where we’re at, and I’m excited about this conference.”