Understandably, Stillwater is VERY Empty Right Now

While the optics alone are enough to spark conversation, the message they send runs deeper. For a program that’s been viewed as one of the Big 12’s most stable, the empty stands are a visual reminder of just how far the energy has slipped in 2025.

The Cowboys are 1-4 heading into this weekend, a mark that is much closer to disaster than anything else. The Mike Gundy-less squad has dealt with inconsistency on both sides of the ball, and the roster turnover in the offseason left this year’s team looking like a rebuild in motion rather than a contender reloading. Add to that a sluggish home slate and a lack of marquee wins, and it becomes clear why the student section isn’t filling up the way it used to. Still, seeing it in real time, an eerily quiet Boone Pickens just moments before kickoff, hits differently.

Oklahoma State’s fan base has long prided itself on creating one of the toughest environments in the Big 12, especially when teams roll into Stillwater with something on the line. But the equation cuts both ways. When the product on the field dips, even loyal fans begin to waver. Weeknight games, lack of buzz, and rising ticket prices certainly contribute, but the core issue remains the same: energy follows results. Right now, the Cowboys simply haven’t generated enough of either.

The photo may only show one day, one game, one moment. But it speaks volumes. If Oklahoma State wants Boone Pickens Stadium to feel like a fortress again, the fix has to start with what happens on the field. Wins bring fans. And right now, that’s what Stillwater needs most.