Mike Gundy shares what history with Texas does for Oklahoma State in championship game

Mike Gundy isn’t really sure what Oklahoma State’s recent run of success against Texas will mean or do for his players as they approach a Big 12 Championship Game against the Longhorns on Saturday. But he is certain it’s better than a run of losing.

After going 0-5 against Texas to start his stint with the Cowboys, Gundy has gone 9-4 against Texas since 2010. And while the direct impact past years have on this installment of the matchup might be minimal, Gundy probably rests easier knowing his teams have gotten it done against Texas.

“It’s hard to determine what goes on in so many of their minds. I would rather go into this game with some success over the history than go into this game and have been 0-for-16 against them. Unless you just want to play the odds and think eventually you’re going to win,” Gundy said.

He explained that since the adoption of the transfer portal and one-time transfers with no penalty — in essence, free agency — there tends to not be a lot of institutional memory within teams. One years squad doesn’t necessarily have the players from last years team anymore.

And with that in mind, Gundy is conscious that playing up wins of years past might not land as clean with this roster.

“I’m going to tell them it’s about the process. It’s been that way every week. If they get distracted much on anything at all and outside circumstances and lessen their chance to prepare, [that’s going] to be an issue more than what we’ve done over the past. So, these are new teams. And particularly with the portal, now, next years team won’t really be this years team, because there will be so many changes, I’m guessing. And this years team doesn’t tie in a lot to the teams that we’ve had two and three and four and five and 10 years ago. So, I want them to prepare. I cannot answer that question for them, but I think it would help to give them some confidence,” Gundy said.

Gundy earned some Big 12 honors this week

Gundy was named the Chuck Neinas Big 12 Coach of the Year, on Wednesday. It marks the second time in the past three seasons that Gundy has won the award, as well as the third time in his career.

Gundy directed the Cowboys to a 9-3 (7-2 Big 12) record and second-place finish, earning them a chance to play in the conference title game against Texas. Given the way the year started, it’s remarkable that OSU managed the turnaround that it did.

The Cowboys began the season 2-2, including an embarrassing 33-7 loss to South Alabama. They then fell to Iowa State in the Big 12 opener, and many questioned whether they could make a bowl game, let alone the conference championship.

Since that loss to the Cyclones, Oklahoma State went on to win seven of the next eight games as running back Ollie Gordon emerged as a breakout star. Gordon finished the season as the FBS’ rushing leader with 1,580 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was named the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, joining Gundy as an award winner.

Gundy joins names such as former Kansas State coach Bill Snyder and former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops as three-time winners of the Big 12 Coach of the Year Award. Gundy owns a 165-78 overall record in 19 seasons as the Oklahoma State coach, ranking him sixth among active FBS coaches. He has led the Cowboys to a bowl game in 18 consecutive seasons.