Mike Gundy addresses how NIL, transfer portal have changed his views on college football

Based on the past season or so now, one could make the case that the game has passed by Mike Gundy. That may be true but, considering those are the circumstances he’s still currently coaching in, he’s doing his best to deal with it like all the other coaches.

During his press conference on Monday, Gundy, now finding himself on a hot seat in Stillwater, was again asked about his opinions on the NCAA Transfer Portal and on NIL. He seemingly got a bit defensive at that point in having to address his thoughts on those changes to collegiate sports once more.

“Well, I didn’t address those specific issues. What I said was – he asked me a question about the stuff concerning me. I addressed the question concerning me, which I would like to,” said Gundy. “I think it’s fair that I address this because it is a fair question. We don’t live in a shell here. We get it. But I don’t think I have to continue to address this with the way I addressed it.”

Simply, Gundy says his opinions on the portal or on name, image, and likeness do not matter, likening it to an argument within a marriage, as they are now parts of his job in college football. That still being his role as head coach of the Cowboys, Gundy is giving those things all that he can with Oklahoma State.

“Now, this wasn’t something planned. If it was, I’d have brought a piece of paper in here. But, the point being is that college football, as we all know, has changed in a very, very dramatic fashion and it’s really not the old college football. This is a paid game, okay,” said Gundy. “So, whether I agree with it or not makes zero difference. It’s like being in an argument with your wife and you know you’re right? It makes zero difference. You’re wrong. You might as well just get over it, give in, and things are going to be much smoother. So, I mean, I’m just giving you that.”

“At some point in my life, I will address a lot of things. But, right now, my responsibility is our team and what I’ve been hired to do 21 years ago, and I am 100% all in on that and that’s what I will do based on the hand that we’ve all been dealt,” Gundy said.

Regardless of his thoughts on any of the new aspects of the sport, something isn’t right within the program for the ‘Pokes. That’s with Oklahoma State being 4-11 overall since the start of last season, including 1-11 in their last dozen going 0-9 in conference play in 2023 and having lost their last two this season by 66 points at Oregon and at home to Tulsaon Friday night last week. These changes have been in effect longer than just the last two years, but they are part of the problems when it comes to how Gundy’s tenure seems to be closing.

Like them or not, the transfer portal and name, image, and likeness aren’t going anywhere in college athletics. That leaves it to the coaches, namely the older ones like in this example, to decide whether they “give in” to them or not.