Oklahoma State football has found its way onto the viral radar this week — but not for anything happening on the field.
A recent TikTok clip featuring several players has sparked a wave of secondhand embarrassment across social media, and it’s not the first time the Cowboys have dipped into this territory.
It’s no secret that today’s college athletes live in a digital-first world. NIL, personal branding, and content creation are all part of the game now. But there’s a difference between building a presence and turning heads for all the wrong reasons. Oklahoma State’s latest TikTok appearance is, unfortunately, just painfully cringey.
While some schools have leaned into social media as a way to showcase personality and culture, there’s a fine line between fun and cringe. The Cowboys’ recent posts seem to blur that line in a way that hasn’t exactly resonated with the public. If anything, it’s invited the kind of attention you don’t want heading into the season.
None of this is to say that players shouldn’t express themselves. In fact, personality can go a long way in today’s college football landscape. However, when the content feels more like a distraction than anything else, it can become a little out of hand.
It’s unclear whether the coaching staff is aware of how these clips are being received, but it might be worth a conversation. Not every piece of content needs to go viral, especially when it’s for the wrong reasons.
