Lindy’s Predicts a Rough Ride for Oklahoma State Cowboys After 3–9 Disaster

The Oklahoma State Cowboys football team has nowhere to go but up after its worst season under coach Mike Gundy.

The Cowboys won their first three games of 2024 and then proceeded to lose every Big 12 game to finish 3-9 overall and 0-9 in the conference. A program that some thought could win the Big 12 a year ago ended up finishing dead last.  

Gundy isn’t out the door. But, to say the least, there has been a lot of change in Stillwater so much so that there is just one returning starter on each side of the ball.

Lindy’s Sports recently published its preview for the Big 12, including the Cowboys. Heartland College Sports will weigh in with our previews later this summer. 

The magazine picked Oklahoma State to finish 16th in the Big 12. Here are three thoughts on the preview.

Related: Mike Gundy Says What Everyone Should be Saying About the NCAA

THE QB DILEMMA

The dilemma is simple. The two potential starters — Zane Flores and Hauss Hejny — hadn’t thrown a single collegiate pass. Lindy’s made the point that Flores has yet to play in a game and Hejny played in three games. Yet, new offensive coordinator Doug Meachem was so enamored with the pair that it caused the incumbent part-time starter from a year ago, Garret Rangel, to transfer out.

That’s a big gamble for a program that was 30th in FBS in passing yards with 262.3 per game. But that’s because OSU was behind in most league games and, at times, treated running back Ollie Gordon III like he was radioactive.

Gundy envisions this year as a fresh start. It turns into a disaster if Flores or Hejny don’t work out as hoped, because there is no All-Big 12 running back to lean on this year.

THAT DEFENSE … UGH

For the past few years Gundy and the Cowboys have fielded a serviceable defense. There were times one could accuse the Cowboys of ignoring the unit entirely. Not the past few seasons.

But last year’s unit was atrocious for a variety of reasons, a lack of talent and key injuries being foremost among them. The Cowboys were 132nd in total defense, giving up 500.6 yards per game. OSU was ranked 125th in points allowed per game and minus-8 in turnover ratio.

That are numbers a defense can’t be upside down on.

Todd Grantham has been brought in as defensive coordinator to fix the mess. He’s as accomplished as there is in the business. But he has just one returning starter to work with in defensive tackle Iman Oates.

Grantham is installing a 4-3 set that he hopes can put more pressure on the quarterback and stop the run. Anything would be better than a season ago.

THE NEXT RECEIVING STAR

Lindy’s highlighted wide receiver Terrill Davis as the top newcomer for the program. The transfer had an enormous year in 2024 — 109 catches, 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns. That should play well for whoever the quarterback turns out to be.

One problem — he did that at Division II Central Oklahoma. He transferred in April, so he didn’t go through spring workouts with the Cowboys. He’ll be coming in fresh in August.

Can a Division II wide receiver make the jump to FBS? That should be fascinating to watch because on numbers alone he could give the offense a huge boost.