Sep 20, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders before the game against the Wyoming Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Deion Sanders Shares Honest Thoughts On Oklahoma State Firing Mike Gundy

Originally posted on Colorado Buffaloes on SI
By Jack Carlough | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 8:00 PM ET

A staple in the Big 12 Conference since 2005, Oklahoma State Cowboys coach Mike Gundy was relieved of his duties earlier this week amid a 1-2 start to his 21st season.

Many, including Colorado Buffaloes coach Deion Sanders, were left surprised by Oklahoma State's seemingly disrespectful midseason dismissal of Gundy. The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year has long been the Cowboys' winningest head coach in program history (170-90 record) and was seemingly destined to leave on his terms, or at least during an offseason.

However, Gundy's Cowboys limped to a 3-9 record last season and haven't shown much improvement this year, with Saturday's 19-12 loss to Tulsa being the last straw.

Deion Sanders Reacts To Mike Gundy's Firing

Sanders shared his thoughts on Oklahoma State firing Gundy earlier this week on the "Colorado Football Coaches Show."

"I feel bad for our coach from Oklahoma State," Sanders told jost Mark Johnson. "Mike Gundy is a winner, man. Wasn't he just in the championship a few years ago?"

Johnson then reminded "Coach Prime" that Gundy led OSU to 18 straight bowl games and nearly reached the College Football Playoff just two years ago. Still, Oklahoma State leadership pulled the plug on their most legendary head coach.

"You do that to Mike Gundy? To Mike Gundy?" Sanders said. "If anybody out there that knows him and he gets this message: Coach, I love you, I appreciate you, I respect you. You are a hero to me and I love everything about you. All the meetings that I attended, he sits at the head of the table. He's the Grand Poobah. He's the guy that gives us direction and correction. I love him."

In their lone meeting last year, Sanders led the Buffs to a 52-0 win over Gundy's Cowboys, capping off a winless conference slate for Oklahoma State. Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for five touchdowns that day and cornerbacks Travis Hunter and DJ McKinney each recorded an interception.

Gundy's future is now unclear, although he has expressed interest in returning to coaching.

"I don't know what he's gonna do from here on, but I would just love to pick his brain and learn from him because he's a winner," Sanders said.

Deion Sanders and Mike Gundy's Shared Authenticity

As mentioned by Johnson, Sanders and Gundy overlap in their commitment to authenticity. Both do things their own way and pay little attention to others' opinions.

"He's not apologetic," Sanders said. "You can't expect the man to win out like he's been winning when the game has changed and it takes finances now to win. It don't just take good coaching now. It takes good coaching and finances."

With offensive coordinator Doug Meacham taking over as Oklahoma State's interim head coach, the Cowboys will host Baylor on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. MT.

This article first appeared on Colorado Buffaloes on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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