Mike Gundy, the legendary Oklahoma State coach who was abruptly fired last season, is officially making his return to college football, but not on the sidelines. The former coach is set to appear as a studio analyst for HBO/TNT’s broadcast of the Arizona-West Virginia game in Week 6 this Saturday, October 6. It’s a move that’s got everyone talking, especially given how quiet he’s been since his departure from Stillwater.
Gundy Jumps Into the Booth Alongside Some Legends
Gundy won’t be flying solo in his new gig. He’ll be joining a stacked broadcast team that includes NFL icons Champ Bailey and Takeo Spikes, with Jordan Cornette hosting the studio show. This is a pretty big deal, considering Gundy reportedly passed on other TV opportunities this season. On3 reported he even turned down a weekend studio analyst spot with ESPN and a game analyst role with Fox. The word is he wanted to stay out of the weekly grind and focus on family time, which makes this one-off or limited appearance even more intriguing. We all remember Gundy from the 2025 national championship game’s coaches film room broadcast between Indiana and Miami, but he’s largely been out of the public eye since his firing.
From Nearly a National Title to “Dismal” and Then Out
Gundy’s coaching career at Oklahoma State spanned parts of 21 seasons before he was let go during the 2025 season. He was the winningest coach in Cowboys history and, at the time of his firing, the second-longest tenured coach in FBS. This guy knows college football inside and out, having nearly led his program to a national championship appearance in 2011. That year, they finished No. 3 in the US LBM Coaches Poll with an impressive 12-1 record, capping it off with a Fiesta Bowl win over Stanford. He even came “inches away” from a Big 12 championship win in 2023. But then came 2025, where he led Oklahoma State to a “dismal 4-11 record” before getting fired just days after a 19-12 upset loss to Tulsa. It was a rough end for a storied tenure, making his sudden return to the broadcast booth all the more fascinating.
It’s still up in the air if this TV spot is just a one-time thing or if we’ll see more of Gundy in this role. But let’s be real, the man’s known for his big personality, and that kind of energy could definitely be a huge hit with fans on the airwaves. Tune in this Saturday to catch him back in action, talking college football and maybe even dropping some signature Gundy wisdom.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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