The firing of longtime Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy has sent shockwaves through the college football world and the OSU locker room. Almost immediately, a wave of players began entering the transfer portal, many of whom were regulars in the Cowboys’ week-to-week game plan. On the surface, this looks like a massive setback. Key contributors are walking out the door. Stability is disrupted. And to top it off, there’s no clear successor in place just yet.
But dig a little deeper, and there’s a case to be made that this reset—though painful—is not just necessary, but potentially beneficial for the long-term health of the program.