Much like throughout most of his (almost) 21 seasons leading the Oklahoma State Cowboys, Mike Gundy could hand his Bedlam rival another win as he suffers.
Oklahoma State fired Gundy, who was 4-15 against the Oklahoma Sooners, on Tuesday, just days after the Cowboys lost to Tulsa at home. As the Golden Hurricane are on the top of the world with first-year coach Tre Lamb and the Sooners are also thriving at 4-0, both of the major in-state college football programs could immediately benefit from Gundy's firing, even if the Cowboys aren't on the Sooners' schedule anymore.
Oklahoma State's transfer window opens and decommitments already started
Gundy's firing means the transfer window for OSU players immediately opens for 30 days. Changes in leadership will also prompt OSU commits, particularly from the Sooner State, to start backing out of their pledges, re-opening the door for OU and TU to keep those prospects home.
The Sooners struggled with landing in-state recruits during the 2026 cycle and didn't even have an Oklahoma product committed until wide receiver Xavier Okwufulueze, from Rejoice Christian in Owasso, just this month. Of the top 30 in-state prospects, Okwufulueze is currently the only one headed to Norman, while the Cowboys had seven before Gundy's firing.
The first local recruit already jumped ship just moments after the news of Gundy broke. Jenks High School running back and OU legacy Kaydin "KD" Jones was the first to decommit from OSU's 2026 class. Jones is the No. 6 overall prospect in Oklahoma, according to 247Sports, and became the highest-rated uncommitted recruit in the state.
— kaydin “batman” jones (@kaydinjoness) September 23, 2025
Jones' dad, Kejuan, played running back for the Sooners, and OU was at the top of Jones' list before he ultimately chose the Cowboys. But even after his pledge, Jones still took an official visit to OU this summer. Jones has also exploded as a senior with 470 rushing yards and 10 total TDs in just three games already.
Other in-state OSU commits that OU pursued include No. 1 Oklahoma prospect Tajh Overton, a defensive lineman, and Braeden Presley, who is the No. 9 prospect as a safety. Both chose the Cowboys after including OU as a finalist.
The Sooners have 19 commits from the 2026 class so far, and while their turnaround this season has already gotten their 2027 group off to a great start, the demise of OU's Bedlam rival could bolster its next signing class.
Read more about OU football recruiting