Mike Gundy: We don't have brands like Texas, Notre Dame but we make strides where it counts

Two major brands are moving out of the Big 12 in the near future. Oklahoma and Texas will be packing their bags and taking their programs to the SEC by the 2025 season at the latest, meaning the Big 12 is without a “traditional” college football brand. While it might worry some, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is not too bothered.

Gundy admitted Oklahoma State does not “have the kind of logo” as some other schools in college football, stating Texas and Notre Dame specifically. However, he said the Cowboys are working on it but also claimed none of it matters. Gundy thinks when games actually occur on the field, his team will be ready to go up against anyone.

“That’s never going to change,” Gundy said via ESPN. “They’re always going to talk about brands, and there are always going to be teams that get ranked in the preseason polls just because people think they’re surely going to be a Top 25 team. But those polls don’t mean anything. Nothing counts until the end of the season, and our brand is growing … on the field and off the field.

“We don’t have the kind of logo that Texas does or Notre Dame does, but we’re making strides where it counts.”

Mike Gundy believes Oklahoma State brand is taking step forward

A huge brand boost was just inches away from Oklahoma State this season. Coming up just short of the end zone against Baylor in the Big 12 Championship, the Cowboys would have found themselves in the College Football Playoff with a win. Even so, a Fiesta Bowl win against the aforementioned Notre Dame was still a major step forward for Gundy and his program.

Oklahoma State has appeared in the AP poll at least once over the past 14 years. Although Gundy might not care about polls, it’s still an impressive streak for the Cowboys.

Even with the two powerful brands leaving, Gundy is not worried about the future of the Big 12. Four new programs will be entering by the 2023 season, whether or not Oklahoma and Texas remain. UCF has been the biggest Group of Five program brand over the past few years, while Cincinnati was in the College Football Playoff last season.

Add in a huge market such as BYU and Houston giving the state of Texas another representative, and Gundy believes the conference is in good hands.