NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Nobody was better positioned to take advantage of a new-look Big 12 than Oklahoma State.
The Cowboys returned the fourth-most production in the country coming off a season in which they surprised many in reaching the Big 12 championship game. They were old. Their starting offensive line had an average age of 24! They had a Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Ollie Gordon — who was the highest-ranked player in this summer’s College Football 25 — and a defense that projected to be much better in Year 2 under defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo, especially with 10 starters back.
Things started out well with wins over South Dakota State and Arkansas in spots Mike Gundy’s teams had sometimes struggled in. An old an experienced team entered Big 12 play at 3-0.
Then came the baffling collapse.
Oklahoma State lost its final nine games of the 2024 season, including an embarrassing 52-0 defeat at Colorado on Friday — the largest margin of defeat since the maverick Gundy took the sidelines of his alma mater in 2005.
What the heck happened and what does this mean for the future of the 57-year-old Gundy? Let’s dive in:
What went wrong
Well, the defense couldn’t stop anybody. It’s not sordid or salacious but it’s where we have to start.
Maybe returning production doesn’t always mean good production? At least that’s my takeaway from Oklahoma State’s struggles. The Cowboys finished the 2023 season ranked 123rd nationally in yards allowed per play. Then almost all those starters came back with only two reinforcements (CB Kobe Hylton and edge Obi Ezeigbo) from the transfer portal.
Sometimes more experience helps a unit get better. Not so much this time.
Oklahoma State came into this week ranked 131st nationally in yards…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/mike-gundys-oklahoma-state-program-hits-rock-bottom-which-means-hed-better-get-comfortable-with-change/
Author : Chris Hummer
Publish date : 2024-11-29 21:55:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
