Matt Leinart gives his take on how good the Oklahoma State job is

Oklahoma State decided to move on from longtime head coach Mike Gundy earlier this week, after 21 seasons as the Cowboys’ leader. It might’ve been time, though, as the program didn’t win a Big 12 game in 2024, and they opened the 2025 season 1-2.

That included an embarrassing 69-3 loss to Oregon and a home loss to Tulsa, which was the final straw in Gundy’s time in Stillwater. Still, he’s the winningest coach in program history, and he’ll always demand respect within the program.

Gundy’s 170 wins are 108 more than Pat Jones, the second-winningest coach in program history (62 wins). However, it’s been a rough go lately as the Cowboys have won just four of their last 15 games played since the beginning of the 2024 season.

As Oklahoma State looks to find a coach who can replicate Gundy’s success, Matt Leinart joined Joel Klatt on the latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show. He gave his take on how good the Cowboys’ gig is at the moment.

“I mean, I don’t know. Years ago—again, Gundy was great, he had a lot of great years there,” Leinart stated. “But you could argue now, with the way the sport has shifted and maybe the lack of resources they have compared to other schools, it’s not as sexy of a job as it once was.

“I don’t know if it’s a great job anymore, Joel. Maybe it is for a younger coach trying to break into a Power Four team and build something, but I think it’s harder to recruit there now. They’ve had resources in the past, but I think they’ve lost some of that edge.

“That said, I’d just put it this way—it was probably time for a change, in my opinion. Nothing but respect for Coach Gundy, but it felt like the right moment to bring in a new heartbeat, a new voice for the team. Because they’ve struggled. They’ve struggled the last couple of years.”

It’s certainly a level-headed take from Leinart. At the moment, offensive coordinator Doug Meacham will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season, while athletics director Chad Weiberg will lead the search for a full-time replacement.

The hope will be to find the next Gundy, but it’s easier said than done for the Cowboys. Regardless, Oklahoma State will be hoping to return to the forefront of the Big 12, amid an ever-changing landscape in college football.

— On3’s Daniel Hager contributed to this article.