Mike Gundy jokes about hairdo in EA Sports' College Football 26 game: 'That’s like permanent hair'

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is known as much for his unique hairstyle — including once rocking a full-fledged mullet — as his two-decade tenure as his alma mater’s coach. And now, thanks to EA Sports’ College Football 26, the longtime Cowboys leading man has a digital avatar with an even more iconic ‘do.

EA Sports released the second iteration of its renewed college football game to select subscribers on Monday, with the full release set for Thursday, and fans immediately found Gundy’s in-game avatar, revealing a large ’70s-style afro hairdo.

“I have not played the game, but I think it’s pretty cool somebody put me in a video game. Somebody showed me a picture just recently of it and they gave me a great hairdo,” Gundy joked during his Wednesday press conference on the second day of Big 12 Media Days in Frisco, Texas. “Like I have really good hair, but that’s like permanent hair for, like, ever. But I’m good with it. I wish my royalties off it were as much as the players, but should be fun.”

Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy on being in new CFB 26 video game: "It's pretty cool, someone put me in the video game. Someone showed me my hair. They gave me pretty good hair. That's permanent hair" pic.twitter.com/5Vw7HiNQrz

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 9, 2025

Athlon Sports assesses Mike Gundy’s hot seat temperature entering 2025

Mike Gundy has been a staple in Stillwater for the past two decades, but he enters the 2025 season with some questions to answer. Oklahoma State is coming off of its worst record in the 20 years since Gundy took over, going 3-9 and failing to win a single Big 12 game.

That resulted in the Cowboys restructuring Gundy’s contract and lowering his annual salary by $1 million this offseason. The coach’s deal runs through 2028 and OSU would owe him $15 million if it fired him any time in the next three seasons and $10 million if he is fired in the final year of his contract.

Gundy’s connection to the program runs deep. He is a former Cowboys quarterback and has never been the head coach of any other team in his career, turning down offers from other programs to remain at his alma mater. That coupled with the success he has enjoyed — he is the winningest coach in Oklahoma State history — would make it difficult to let him go. Athlon Sports gave a brief summary of its take on the situation in its recent College Football Preview magazine for the 2025 season.

“After a prolific playing career and leading the program to 169 victories as a head coach, Gundy is Oklahoma State football,” the article stated. “But after last year’s 3-9 record and reworked contract that included a pay cut, it’s clear that Gundy is under some pressure.”

Although Gundy remains, big changes still came in other areas of the coaching staff this offseason. For the first time in his career, Gundy fired both the offensive and defensive coordinators. He hired Todd Grantham to take over the defense and Doug Meacham to work with the offense.

Another requirement of Gundy’s restructured contract is that he is more involved in fundraising for the football team. The $1 million gained from reducing his salary will also be put toward revenue-sharing from the university to student-athletes.

— On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.