Gundy, NIL, and the QB Race Defining OSU's 2025 Outlook
Mike Gundy enters 2025 as one of college football's longest-tenured head coaches at a single program, and the pressure to prove the Cowboys can compete in the NIL and transfer portal era has never been higher. The quarterback competition is the most-watched position battle in Stillwater, with offensive coordinator continuity questions shaping whether OSU's spread attack can recapture its peak efficiency. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are leaning hard on their NIL collective and Boone Pickens Stadium renovations to close the roster-building gap against SEC-money programs. Perhaps most disruptive to the program's identity is the loss of the annual Bedlam game — OSU must now build new marquee moments to stay visible on the national stage and relevant in the College Football Playoff conversation.
Ride 'Em Cowboys: What Makes Stillwater Game Day Untouchable
On Saturdays in Stillwater, Boone Pickens Stadium turns into a sea of orange — and when the Cowboys find the end zone, a cannon fires and 55,000 fans roar in unison. The 'Ride 'Em Cowboys' rallying cry echoes from the Walk of Fame outside the gates all the way to the student section, and 'Go Pokes' is less a chant and more a way of life across the state. Oklahoma State's Homecoming is among the most storied in college football, drawing tens of thousands of alumni back to campus each fall for a tradition that predates most living fans. This is a fanbase rooted in agricultural pride, oil-country grit, and a chip-on-the-shoulder identity that makes every win over a blue-blood program feel deeply personal.
Bedlam Forever: Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma and the Wound That Won't Close
The Bedlam Series between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma is one of the most culturally loaded rivalries in college football — not just a game, but a battle for the soul of an entire state. Cowboys fans will never forget the 2011 upset that helped fuel a Big 12 title, and the 2021 Bedlam win in Norman remains one of the most euphoric moments in program history. The rivalry's absence from the annual schedule — a direct result of Oklahoma's SEC departure — has left a genuine void that OSU fans feel every November. Kansas State has stepped into the role of premier Big 12 rival, with physical, fourth-quarter wars that routinely carry conference title implications, but nothing replaces Bedlam.
Never Miss a Gundy Update or Portal Move — Scoutcast Has Cowboys Fans Covered
Oklahoma State fans know the pain of being talked past by national media — the 2011 BCS snub still stings — and keeping up with every NIL signing, portal addition, and depth chart shuffle requires more time than most fans have on a workday morning. Scoutcast delivers a personalized Cowboys audio briefing built specifically for your commute, your farm run, or your lunch break, so you're never the last one in the room to know about a quarterback change or a key recruiting flip. Whether you're tracking OSU's 2025 schedule strength or trying to understand where the Cowboys stand in the Big 12 title race, Scoutcast cuts through the noise and gives you the intel that actually matters to a Cowboys fan — not a generic college football recap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma State's 2025 schedule features Big 12 conference play as the centerpiece, with fans watching closely for marquee non-conference matchups that can replace the visibility once provided by the Bedlam game. Check Scoutcast daily for schedule updates and opponent breakdowns tailored to Cowboys fans.
Mike Gundy has amassed over 175 wins at Oklahoma State since taking over in 2005, making him one of the winningest coaches in program history and one of the longest-tenured head coaches at a single school in all of college football. His record includes a 2011 Big 12 title and multiple BCS and New Year's Six bowl appearances.
Oklahoma State's 2025 recruiting class focuses heavily on Oklahoma and Texas prospects, with the NIL collective playing a larger role in closing on top targets than in previous cycles. Transfer portal additions have supplemented the class, particularly along the offensive line and at skill positions where depth was thin.
Boone Pickens Stadium holds 55,509 fans and has undergone significant renovations funded in large part by T. Boone Pickens' historic donation to the program. Parking on campus is available in several lots surrounding the stadium, with tailgating heavily concentrated along Hester Street and the adjacent open lots — arrive early on Big 12 game days.
The Bedlam Series dates back to 1904 and is one of college football's premier in-state rivalries, with Oklahoma holding the all-time series lead but Oklahoma State delivering iconic upsets in 2011 and 2021. Oklahoma's move to the SEC has put the annual game on hiatus, making each scheduled Bedlam matchup feel even more significant to both fanbases.
Yes — Oklahoma State won the Big 12 Championship in 2011, finishing the regular season undefeated before losing the Fiesta Bowl to Stanford. The Cowboys have been perennial Big 12 contenders throughout the Gundy era, winning multiple conference games of consequence against Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas State.
Transfer portal activity moves fast for Oklahoma State, especially in the December and January windows when the Cowboys target offensive skill players and defensive line depth. Scoutcast's daily Cowboys briefing surfaces portal news specific to OSU so you don't have to sift through national feeds to find what matters to Pokes fans.