With the Cowboys missing the postseason for the first time in two decades, our slip into #PortalSZN will be quick and clean.

While there are potentially many more moves on the horizon, two players from Oklahoma State’s roster have announced their plans to transfer.

The day following OSU’s 52-0 finale loss to Colorado, the first postseason departure was announced when 247Sports’ McClain Baxley had a report that Da’Wain Lofton was going to enter the portal. Lofton appeared in four games this season after transferring from Virginia Tech. He amassed 140 yards on just six catches for the Cowboys.

The first outgoing Cowboy in the portal was Jason “Queso” Brooks, an interior O-lineman who started 11 games for the Cowboys. He announced his intention to transfer back in September.

The portal officially opens Dec. 9. Check back often as we’ll update the tables below as things progress in the portal.

Going

PLAYER	POSITION	NEW SCHOOL
Jason Brooks	OL
Da’Wain Lofton	WR

Coming

PLAYER	POSITION	OLD SCHOOL

Reported Portal Offers

PLAYER	POSITION	SCHOOL	COMMITED TO

---

Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

In beautiful southeastern Oklahoma, River’s Edge delivers stunning scenery and luxurious privacy. A 350-acre riverfront wilderness, perfect for rekindling passions and reconnecting families. A place where you can be close to the ones you love – and far from the ordinary.  To check them out head over to www.riversedgecottages.com or call 580-244-7296.

---

Scores

Football: Colorado 52, Oklahoma State 0

---

Three Thoughts

• In like a lamb (optimistic, pleasant), out like a lion (harsh, unruly) could be said about this Cowboy Football season – the Pokes finish without a conference win for the first time since 1994 (TulsaWorld)
– Top quotes from Mike Gundy’s press conference + Ten Thoughts from the loss in Boulder (PFB)

• Yesterday started off well with the Pokes landing the top junior college pass rusher – it would appear the solution to attempt to replace Collin Oliver is in place (PFB)

• A CBS Sports’ national writer took a shot at analyzing where the Pokes go from here pulling from “industry sources”:

What will happen, however, is an overhauling of Gundy’s staff — whether that’s his decision or one charged by athletics director Chad Weiberg doesn’t much matter.

Many of his assistants have been with him for years. Some, like Dunn the offensive coordinator, have been with Gundy for over a decade. But industry sources expect a significant staff overhaul. The Nardo hire at defensive coordinator — a controversial move at the time when Gundy nabbed a D-II coach from Gannon University — has been a failure. And Dunn, who took over the job in 2020, has yet to produce a top 50 offense in terms of yards per play.

[CBS Sports]

Two Quotes

• OSU’s struggles got a lot more attention after being on national TV yesterday: 

Oklahoma State won 10 games and made the Big 12 title game in 2023.

The Cowboys then returned 85% of production (2nd most in FBS), 21 starters (2nd most in P4) & the nation’s leading rusher.

The Pokes just went 3-9 & winless in the Big 12.

There will be a study on this season. pic.twitter.com/emv6Mz4kNz

— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) November 29, 2024

• Another week, another answer beating around the bush – Gundy continues to hold the cards close to his chest

I asked #OKState head coach Mike Gundy what changes — coaching, personnel, or player-wise — from now until spring practice do you want and need to see? pic.twitter.com/H37ZFGQq9R

— McClain (@McclainBaxley) November 29, 2024

One Question

• How many more games does OSU win this year with say, Jim Knowles calling the defense and Mike Yurcich calling the offense? Over or under 3.5 more games? 

---

Non-OSU Bullets

• For those looking to lose weight after the holiday – five fast food meals with less than 600 calories and lots of protein

• Fun story about an FCS coach catching the eye of FBS programs

Twitter threads are usually a dark place but this one on pictures of dads/uncles/grandpas sleeping after Thanksgiving is great:

It’s time for my favorite Thanksgiving twitter tradition! Tweet me your passed out uncles, cousins, dad etc. pic.twitter.com/RRvzpgAiuz

— Kenjac (@JackKennedy) November 28, 2024

---

Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

The worst season of the Mike Gundy era of Cowboy football has ended, and it wasn’t a pretty ending.

Oklahoma State lost to Colorado 52-0 on Friday in Boulder. Here are five things Gundy said following the season-ending defeat. PFB wasn’t in Boulder, and thus, we have no video of the postgame news conference.

1. Assessing Dunn and Nardo

The Oklahoman‘s Scott Wright asked early on in Friday’s news conference how Gundy would assess the jobs that offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo did this season.

With OSU’s 3-9 record, it’s obvious it wasn’t the best year for either guy. Dunn is in his fifth year as OC after making the leap from a decorated career as the Cowboys’ receiver coach. Nardo is in Year 2 with the program after Gundy hired him from Division-II Gannon to bring the 3-3-5 to Stillwater.

“Well, I’ve got to go back and look at everything,” Gundy said. “I mean, it’s just not fair to be able to say it. There was times that I thought we had good game plans, and then there’s times that I’ve mentioned to you guys, I didn’t think our game plans were very good. I didn’t think our offensive game plan today was very good. I thought the defensive game plan was good. They just spent the entire day on the field, and eventually, if you’re out there the entire game, then you have to minimize the total number of snaps that they’re going to get when you keep putting them out there. I don’t know how many snaps they had (CU had 71 plays). … A lot, yeah, so they were 7-0 when they had more than 63 snaps in a game. And unfortunately, we gave them too many snaps today, and then you put them out there that much, it makes it difficult.”

2. On What Needs to Change

247Sports’ McClain Baxley asked postgame what changes Gundy needed to see for OSU’s program between now and when the Cowboys start practices up again in the spring, whether those changes be on the staff, personnel or otherwise.

Gundy didn’t mention any staff changes, but he did get into needing to find out who his team is earlier than they have been. Thinking back to the 2023 season, OSU opened the year with a three-quarterback system and wasn’t using Ollie Gordon as its featured back until the fourth game of the season. It sounds like he wants to avoid that get-to-know-you period creeping into August and September.

“Well, there will be about 30ish go out and about 30ish come in, you know we talked about that, by the time the portal takes place,” Gundy said. “Then there will be a transition of whoever goes out and whoever replaces them, we have to get back to work not only developing our bodies in strength and speed, but we have to get back to work in teaching concepts and football again. To put us in a position to have a really good spring and then find out who we are in the spring because we are probably going to have 30 new players.

“And then try to get to who we are quicker in August than what we have the last couple years. Now this year was different. We had so many returning guys on offense, but in my opinion, the new age of college football the challenge is once you get your new guys, determining who you are by the end of spring ball because that gives us the best chance to move forward in August to get prepared for the first game in next September. And that is one area we will need to make an adjustment because we haven’t had to do that in the past. We knew who our guys were coming back. And then a couple years ago, we went through spring, went through half August just trying to find out who we were going to put on the field. I think we are going to try and avoid that now.”

3. ‘I Need to Evaluate What I’ve Done and What I Could’ve Done Better’

Gundy was asked how long he lets this season have until he moves onto next year, and he said in his news conference that he already has, that one part of his brain was talking to reporters while the other has started working on next season.

The follow up to that from the Tulsa World‘s Tyler Waldrep was what was the first thing that needs to get done.

“I just wish I knew who was gonna be on my team after the portal because that would help me a little bit,” Gundy said. “But I’m not gonna know that until, what, Dec. 11th or 12th-ish. It opens the ninth I think. So by the 15th, in most cases, you’re probably gonna know who’s going out, then what you’ve got coming in. Then you can really work. I’ll be real honest with you — I’ve been real honest with you this year. You should be very appreciative of that. Most coaches that’ve had a year like this wouldn’t be honest with you.

“But I need to evaluate what I’ve done and what I could’ve done better. And what role I played with this season, to see where it starts with me. And then it obviously trickles down and goes to coaches and players and administrative guys and so on and so forth, so that’s what I’ll do. That’ll be where I can start.”

4. On Why the Offense Didn’t Perform to Expectations

OSU essentially brought back an entire offense that went 10-4 in 2023 to win only three games in 2024.

It’s honestly sort of inexplicable what happened. Here is what Gundy said about why the offense just couldn’t figure things out in 2024.

“We got sporadic quarterback play,” Gundy said. “I’m not just blaming (Alan) Bowman, but you guys watch all of our games, right? There were two or three games where he was fantastic. There were two or three games that were very average at best. In my opinion, high school, college, NFL, maybe even lower than high school, if you get sporadic quarterback play, it makes for a very average season. If you get really good quarterback play, you have a good season. If you get great quarterback play, you usually have a great season. Unfortunately that just comes with the job.

“Then, we didn’t tie everything else into it. There were times we couldn’t put it all together. You hear coaches talk about, ‘We need to play a game where offense, defense and special teams put it all together.’ We were up and down in all three phases all year long. We could never pull that slot machine and have them hit at the same time. We did it a couple times, maybe Tulsa. But either way, I’m just telling you the truth. We couldn’t connect very often. Offensively we played pretty good last week, but defensively we couldn’t slow them down.”

5. ’20 Years’

This is the first time since Gundy’s first year OSU has lost more games than it has won — which is pretty remarkable.

Gundy was asked after the game if the process changes going into an offseason after a losing season as opposed to a winning season.

“It’s a different challenge, but we won’t change … that’s a great question,” Gundy said. “Two things that are different is, one, you’ll have a lot in and a lot out with the portal and all the stuff going on. So that’s a little different. It’s been two years now that we’re kind of going through that. But as far as what we’ll do in the offseason to build for spring ball and then build for the summer and then for next September will be very similar.”

The Stillwater News Press‘ Marcus Trevino asked a follow up to that, asking what gives Gundy the confidence that will still work.

“Twenty years,” Gundy responded.

---

Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

Click to set custom HTML

Click to set custom HTML

The Cowboys’ historical season is over.

Oklahoma State lost its season finale to No. 25 Colorado 52-0 on Friday in Boulder to finish the season at 3-9 and winless in Big 12 play. The deficit is the worst ever in Mike Gundy’s 20-year career. The loss was also OSU’s ninth in a row, as the Cowboys will carry what’s tied as the longest losing streak in program history into 2025.

The 2024 season at least started well at 3-0, but this game was bad from the start. Making his second career start and first on the road, freshman quarterback Maealiuaki Smith threw an interception on the third play of the game to Heisman Trophy favorite Travis Hunter, who also caught three touchdowns as a receiver.

Colorado quickly converted the turnover into a touchdown to prompt a 21-0 start to the game in the first quarter. The Buffaloes scored a touchdown on their first three drives before OSU’s defense shut down Shedeur Sanders & Co. for six straight possessions, including getting three sacks in a row after Colorado got to a first-and-goal and still failed to get any points. The Pokes shut out CU for the second quarter.

Colorado’s scoring drought ended only three plays into the second half when Sanders hit LaJohntay Wester for a 69-yard touchdown put the Buffs ahead 28-0. Wester finished with 11 receptions for 175 yards and a pair of TDs.

OSU’s self-destruction only continued in the second half when Gordon’s shoulder knocked the ball out of Smith’s hands to cause a fumble that Colorado recovered on the Cowboys’ opening second-half possession. That turnover ultimately resulted in another touchdown for Colorado.

After failing to score on 13 straight drives, Smith was replaced by seven-year senior Alan Bowman in the fourth quarter. The switch happened after Smith threw his second interception, which former Cowboy D.J. McKinney caught and returned for a 13-yard score. Offensive drives led by Smith included eight punts, two interceptions, two fumbles and a turnover on downs. Smith obviously wasn’t the only issue, though, as the Cowboys still never put points on the board with Bowman leading the way for three drives.

Overall, OSU’s offense had 10 first downs while averaging 2.3 yards a play, including 2.3 yards per rush. In most likely his final college football game, last season’s Doak Walker winner Ollie Gordon ran the ball four times for 10 yards.

Although it’s been a while since the Pokes had anything but pride to play for, Colorado, at 9-3, still has a chance to make the Big 12 Championship Game after the win if fate goes the Buffaloes’ way on Saturday.

---

Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

The Cowboy football season ends Friday.

Without a bowl game to extend things, Oklahoma State plays its season finale on Friday in Boulder as the Pokes play Colorado for the first time since the 2016 Alamo Bowl. It’s the first time the two teams have played in Boulder since 2008. We’ll have live updates on the game here. IF you’re like to watch along, it’s televised on ABC.

Pregame Notes

OSU is without defensive tackle Collin Clay after Clay suffered an injury against Texas Tech last weekend.

The Cowboys are wearing black helmets, white jerseys and black pants in Boulder.

OSU started Friday with a W by adding top junior college edge rusher Chandavian Bradley to the recruiting class.

---

First Quarter

The Cowboys started with the ball, and it did not go well. After back-to-back negative plays, Maealiuaki Smith threw an interception on third down. Who else? Travis Hunter made the play, setting up the Buffaloes with great field position.

Touchdown Colorado (7-0, Buffs): After starting on OSU’s 24-yard line, the Buffaloes scored in just three plays with Micah Welch paying the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown run.

OSU’s offense goes three-and-out on its second drive. The Cowboy offense has ran six plays in two drives — four have gone for a loss, one was an interception and the other was a 12-yard completion to Brennan Presley.

Touchdown Colorado (14-0, Buffs): Colorado scores on a drive that included a comedy of errors for the OSU defense. It started with OSU getting called for a defensive holding on 3rd-and-26 that gave CU a first down. Then OSU sacked Travis Hunter on a trick play for a loss of 16 yards, but that was negated because OSU has 12 men on the field. Then Justin Wright was flagged for unnecessary roughness after getting Shedeur Sanders out of bounds. Sanders eventually threw a 10-yard TD pass to LaJohntay Wester.

Well, you know it’s a bad day for the Pokes when even Brennan Presley is struggling. He catches a pass but fumbles. Colorado recovers.

Touchdown Colorado (21-0, Buffs): Sanders to Hunter for an 11-yard touchdown. It’s a slaughter in Boulder. Still 2:09 left in the first quarter.

OSU makes it to the 50-yard line but is forced to punt.

End of 1: Colorado 21, Oklahoma State 0

---

Second Quarter

For the first time Friday, a CU drive didn’t end in a touchdown. The Cowboys almost got in their own way again with an offside on 4th-and-6, but then CU turned around and had a false start on 4th-and-1 before electing to punt the ball away.

OSU goes three-and-out.

OSU’s defense, though, forces the CU offense off the field after just three plays.

OSU three-and-out.

CU three-and-out. True freshman safety David Kabongo sacked Sanders on the drive.

OSU went three-and-out again.

Colorado goes for it on downs and come up empty. CU hit on a big play, completing a 39-yard pass to Isaiah Hardge to get to the OSU 10-yard line. But then OSU recorded three straight sacks — from Justin Kirkland, Kendal Daniels and Iman Oates — that pushed CU out of field-goal range. So, the Buffaloes went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 34 and came up empty.

It ended up being a stinker of a quarter for both offenses. No points scored. CU had 84 yards of offense, OSU had 14. The Cowboys at the half have just 30 total yards.

HALF: Colorado 21, Oklahoma State 0

---

Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

Oklahoma State’s final uniform combo of 2024 is here.

The Cowboys will wear a Black-White-Black combo for their season finale against Colorado on Friday. It will be an odd uniform matchup with the Buffaloes seemingly doing the opposite with a White-Black-White pairing.

Finale fit

⚫️⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/5Ohcj0bnXC

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) November 29, 2024

OSU’s uniform is topped with a black helmet with an orange facemask and “Cursive Cowboys” logo. The white jerseys have black lettering, compared to the other option with orange lettering.

Since 2011, the Cowboys are 7-5 when donning a BWB combo. The last time was a loss to TCU in 2022. The last Cowboy victory in this combo was a victory over Texas in 2021.

---

Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

Whenever you’re talking about junior college transfer defenders on Oklahoma State’s roster next season, you’re going to have to specify which Bradley you’re talking about.

Oklahoma State on Friday morning landed a commitment from Chandavian Bradley out of Hutchinson Community College. His commitment comes just a few days after East Mississippi Community College edge rusher Rashod Bradley pledged to the Pokes.

I’m a Cowboy!! #GoPokes @CowboyFB @CoachPRandolph @DJLinton2 @CoachGundy @BlueDragonsFB pic.twitter.com/W7kPsK6nfm

— CB (@chandavian23) November 29, 2024

247Sports considers Chandavian Bradley the No. 13 player in all of junior college football and the top edge rusher of the division. OSU secured him over offers from Kansas, NC State, South Carolina, Memphis and others.

Listed at 6-foot-4, 242 pounds, Bradley started his career at Tennessee. He was a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, listed as the No. 166 player in 247Sports’ rankings for the class. He initially chose the Volunteers over offers from OSU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, USC, Michigan, Miami, LSU, Florida State and others.

With Hutchinson this season, Bradley has 23 total tackles, six tackles for loss and a sack.

Bradley becomes the 17th commitment of OSU’s 2025 class, which has seen a lot of movement over the past few days. Along with adding Rashod Bradley, the Cowboys landed Utah offensive line prospect Simona Fuailetolo. OSU also lost IMG Academy defensive line commit Alexander McPherson this week, as he committed to Colorado on Thursday. And OSU might not be done adjusting its class ahead of the early signing period opening Wednesday, as former Tulsa cornerback commit Draden Fullbright recently announced an OSU offer.

OSU’s 17-man class ranks 55th in 247Sports national rankings. The Big 12 recruiting battle is tight, as BYU ranks 52nd, Arizona ranks 53rd, Iowa State ranks 54th, OSU ranks 55th and Utah ranks 56th. All that is to say that most of the conference is about on the same playing field in the recruiting rankings.

OSU’s 2025 Commits

Position	Name
OL	Jaylan Beckley
DE/OLB	Chandavian Bradley
DL	Rashod Bradley
WR	Royal Capell
RB	DJ Dugar
ATH	Kobi Foreman
OL	Simona Fuailetolo
OL	Ryker Haff
LB	Kyle Keya
WR	Matrail Lopez
QB	Jett Niu
WR	Jaden Perez
WR	Kameron Powell
DL	Michael Riles
TE	Jordan Vyborny
S	Ayden Webb
LB	Carl’Veon Young

---

Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

It sadly seems fitting that the Cowboys’ season finale wouldn’t kick off with at least one more defender being on the injury report.

Collin Clay will miss Oklahoma State’s season finale against Colorado on Friday, according to Dave Hunziker, after Clay suffered an injury in OSU’s game against Texas Tech last weekend. Clay joins the list of injured defenders that includes stars Collin Oliver and Nick Martin.

A 6-foot-4, 330-pound super senior defensive tackle, Clay has dealt with injuries throughout his OSU career. After starting his career at Arkansas, Clay transferred to OSU ahead of the 2020 season but didn’t play in 2020 or 2021 because of various injuries. He finally got rolling in 2022. Since that 2022 season, Clay has played in 37 of OSU’s 38 games. He’s started 19 times in that stretch, including all 11 of OSU’s games in 2024 entering Friday.

In three seasons as a Cowboy, Clay recorded 47 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

Without Clay, expect a heavy dose of Justin Kirkland on the inside of OSU’s defensive line. Iman Oates and Xavier Ross have also been getting a lot of run this season on the outside and the inside of the D-line. Aden Kelley played six snaps against the Red Raiders last week, as well.

OSU and the Buffaloes kick at 11 a.m. (Central) Friday from Folsom Field.

---

Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.