STILLWATER, Okla. -- Former Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy made his television debut on TNT Sports on Saturday, addressing his firing more than a year after the school dismissed him.
On the same day the resurgent Cowboys defeated UCF 42-28 to improve to 4-1 on the season, Gundy broke his silence after a messy 2025 divorce from a program he played for and coached. He spoke highly of the school he spent parts of five decades at, and he seemed quite encouraged by the work of new coach Eric Morris and the No. 18 Cowboys.
"We've been very fortunate to be there a long time," said Gundy, a former Cowboys quarterback. "I came there in 1986 as a player. Oklahoma State was good enough to give me a scholarship to play football, and I finished there with a degree. They were nice enough to make me a coach there, and then, eventually as a head coach."
Gundy spent 35 years with the Cowboys. Four as a quarterback, 10 as an assistant and 20-plus as head coach. As the leader of the program, he authored just two losing seasons -- his first and his last. In between, Gundy delivered 18 consecutive winning seasons.
"They are the fondest memories of my life," Gundy said of his time at Oklahoma State. "Great people, great organization, and Stillwater, Oklahoma is a beautiful place."
But in September 2025, following 11 straight losses to FBS opponents, the school finally made a move that seemed unthinkable for decades, letting Gundy go. And in the offseason, the school hired Morris away from North Texas.
"I have memories of a lifetime," Gundy said. "And so I'm very, very thankful for Oklahoma State, and I'm excited about what they're doing now. I am sporting my orange here. I am excited about Oklahoma State right now, and what they're doing."
He's not alone. On Saturday, a celebratory home crowd watch quarterback Drew Mestemaker throw for 304 yards and two touchdowns as the Cowboys pulled away from the Knights, a program that defeated Oklahoma State in two of the previous three seasons.
Mestemaker added a rushing touchdown and 2-point conversion for Oklahoma State (2-0 Big 12 Conference), which outscored the Knights 21-7 after halftime. Sam Keltner kicked two field goals to give the Cowboys a 27-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Keyone Jenkins threw for 265 yards and four touchdowns and was driving the Knights (3-3, 1-2) toward a possible go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter. But his backward pass was knocked down by Oklahoma State's Christian Bodnar and returned for a touchdown by Evan Jackson. Mestemaker's conversion run gave the Cowboys a 35-21 cushion with 10:32 left.
Jenkins was nearly perfect in the first half, completing 15 of 18 passes for 118 yards and three scores. His 3-yard pass to Tyren Hornes with 13 seconds left before halftime drew the Knights even at 21-21.
Mestemaker was efficient as well, connecting on 12 of 16 throws for 165 yards and a score in the first half.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
