Mike Gundy has officially landed on the hot seat, at least according to oddsmakers. The longtime Oklahoma State head coach is now the betting favorite to be the first college football coach fired this season, with Bookies.com giving him +350 odds to lose his job.
That puts Gundy ahead of several other embattled coaches, including Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry at +450, Florida’s Billy Napier at +500, and Virginia’s Tony Elliott also at +500. While all four are under pressure, it is Gundy who now tops the list as the most likely to be let go first.
The ranking is symbolic of just how far things have fallen in Stillwater. Gundy has been a fixture at Oklahoma State for over two decades and is the program’s all-time wins leader. He has produced double-digit win seasons, Big 12 title runs, and national relevance. But recent performances have put his future in doubt.
The Cowboys are coming off a humiliating 69–3 loss to Oregon, a game that appeared to confirm the fears of a fanbase already reeling from last year’s 3–9 finish. That 2024 season ended with a 0–9 mark in Big 12 play and was the worst of Gundy’s career. What was once seen as a blip now looks more like a trend.
According to Bookies.com analyst Adam Thompson, the market has responded to the momentum shift. “Mike Gundy may be a man. But his Pokes are playing like little,” the piece reads. While tongue-in-cheek, it reflects the real sentiment behind the numbers. Betting markets do not react to legacy; they react to performance.
This is unfamiliar territory for Gundy, who has long been regarded as one of the most stable figures in the sport. But if Oklahoma State continues to spiral, the weight of that legacy may not be enough to keep him around.
The Cowboys have a bye in Week 3, giving the program a brief chance to regroup. But with pressure mounting and the odds moving against him, Gundy will need results quickly if he wants to avoid becoming the headline no coach wants to see.
In Stillwater, patience is wearing thin. And for the first time in a long time, Mike Gundy’s future at Oklahoma State feels uncertain.
