When Oklahoma State Cowboys fired legendary head coach Mike Gundy on November 18, 2025, it wasn’t just a personnel change—it was a seismic signal that the Stillwater program was betting everything on the future of offensive football and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) dominance. The move, which also ousted defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, stunned a fanbase that had grown used to Gundy’s 19-year tenure. In his place, the Cowboys hired Eric Morris, the rising star who turned North Texas into one of the most explosive offenses in FBS. The twist? They didn’t just want a coach. They wanted a recruiter, a salesman, and a culture-changer—all in one.
Why Oklahoma State Pulled the Plug on Gundy
Gundy’s legacy in Stillwater is undeniable: 170 wins, six conference titles, and a reputation as one of college football’s most loyal leaders. But loyalty doesn’t pay for elite recruits anymore. The Cowboys ranked 87th in NIL spending in 2025, according to Opendorse data, while rivals like Texas and Oklahoma were spending north of $12 million. The offense, once a strength, had stagnated. In 2024, Oklahoma State ranked 52nd in yards per play. In 2025, they fell to 68th. And when they lost to Kansas State 41-38 in a game where they managed just 14 points in the second half, the board had seen enough.
Enter Morris. At North Texas, he engineered a unit that averaged 44.3 points per game and ranked 10th nationally in offensive efficiency. His quarterbacks threw for over 3,500 yards each season. His receivers had NFL futures. And crucially, he’d built a recruiting pipeline that landed 11 four-star recruits in the 2025 class—something Oklahoma State hadn’t done since 2018.
LSU’s $50 Million Mistake
While Oklahoma State made a bold upgrade, LSU Tigers made a costly mistake. After a 38-10 thrashing by Texas A&M on November 9, Brian Kelly was fired—just two years into a six-year, $45 million contract. The buyout? More than $50 million. Yes, you read that right. The school will pay Kelly more to leave than they originally agreed to pay him to stay.
Why? Because Kelly’s offense was stuck in 2019. LSU averaged just 24.1 points per game in 2025, worse than in any of his three seasons at Notre Dame. His offensive coordinator, Joe Sloan, was let go too. In their place, interim head coach Frank Wilson, a 25-year LSU veteran, took over. Former Florida State OC Alex Atkins was brought in to fix the broken passing game. The question isn’t whether LSU can win again—it’s whether they can afford to wait.
UCLA’s Fast-Track Failure
Three games into his second season, DeShaun Foster was fired by UCLA Bruins after an 0-3 start. No coach in the Power 4 has been canned this early since 2018. The problem? Foster was never on anyone’s radar. Athletic director Martin Jarmond, who took over in May 2020, promoted Foster after Chip Kelly bolted for Ohio State in 2024—a move that left UCLA scrambling. Foster had zero head coaching experience. His offense ranked 112th in the FBS in scoring. His defense gave up 37.8 points per game.
Now, Tim Skipper, a longtime assistant with UCLA ties, is running the team. Former quarterback Jerry Neuheisel—a former starter under Karl Dorrell—was named offensive coordinator. It’s a band-aid. But in the Pac-12’s final season before realignment, UCLA can’t afford to wait for a proper search. The Bruins need to win one game. Any game.
The Bigger Picture: Who’s Next?
According to ESPN’s October 15 report, seven Power 4 schools were actively searching for head coaches by mid-season: Stanford, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Penn State, and Florida. But the list is growing.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel warned that Auburn, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Florida State could follow. At Florida, athletic director Scott Stricklin—who has a contract through October 2030—is on his third head coach search since 2018. He’s under pressure. The Gators haven’t won a SEC title since 2006.
Meanwhile, Hunter Yurachek at Arkansas is under scrutiny. He hired Chad Morris in 2019 with minimal input—and it ended in disaster. Now, he’s being asked to find a coach who can compete with Alabama and LSU. The bar is higher than ever.
The Recruiting Game
Coaching hires aren’t just about X’s and O’s anymore. They’re about recruiting. The 247Sports Composite rankings show that top coaches now earn points based on the weighted value of recruits—each four-star prospect worth more than two three-stars. Morris, for example, landed 14 recruits rated 85+ in 2025. That’s the kind of talent that turns a 7-6 team into a 10-win contender.
At Oklahoma State, Morris’s ability to flip Texas high school stars—players who once committed to TCU or Baylor—is seen as the key to breaking into the Big 12’s elite. The Cowboys aren’t just hiring a coach. They’re hiring a magnet.
What’s Next?
The carousel won’t stop until January. With the College Football Playoff selections looming on December 1, programs with losing records will rush to lock in coaches before the early signing period in December. Expect at least three more firings before New Year’s Day. And with NIL rules continuing to evolve, the next head coach won’t just need to call plays. They’ll need to build a brand, manage donors, and sell tickets—all while keeping the NCAA off their back.
The 2025 season didn’t just change coaches. It changed the rules of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Oklahoma State fire Mike Gundy after 19 years?
Despite his legacy, Gundy’s offense had declined significantly in 2025, ranking 68th nationally in yards per play. With Oklahoma State falling to 87th in NIL spending, the administration believed a younger, more dynamic offensive mind like Eric Morris could revitalize recruiting and on-field performance. The decision was less about loyalty and more about survival in the modern FBS landscape.
How much is LSU paying Brian Kelly to leave?
LSU owes Brian Kelly a buyout of more than $50 million, even though his original contract was worth $45 million over six years. The inflated payout stems from performance bonuses and guaranteed salary clauses, making it one of the largest buyouts in college football history. It reflects how risky and expensive coaching hires have become when they don’t meet expectations.
Who’s the most likely next coach at Florida?
While no official candidate has emerged, names like former Alabama OC Bill O’Brien and ex-Texas coach Tom Herman are being whispered as top contenders. With AD Scott Stricklin under pressure to deliver a winner before his 2030 contract ends, Florida is expected to prioritize someone with SEC experience and a proven recruiting track record in the Southeast.
How are NIL deals influencing coaching hires?
NIL has become the #1 factor in coaching decisions. Coaches who can attract donors, broker deals with local businesses, and connect with recruits on social media are now valued more than those with defensive expertise. Eric Morris’s success at North Texas wasn’t just about offense—it was about building a brand that made players want to come to Denton. That’s now the standard.
Why was DeShaun Foster fired so quickly at UCLA?
Foster had zero head coaching experience and was promoted after Chip Kelly’s abrupt departure to Ohio State. His 0-3 start in 2025, including losses to FCS team UC Davis and a 38-point defeat to Oregon, exposed a lack of preparation. Athletic director Martin Jarmond, already criticized for past missteps, had no choice but to act before the season spiraled further.
Which schools are likely to make coaching changes before the end of 2025?
Beyond the seven already searching, Auburn, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Florida State are prime candidates. Auburn’s offense ranked 101st in scoring, Kentucky has lost seven straight to Tennessee, Wisconsin’s recruiting has stalled, and Florida State’s 5-6 record leaves them vulnerable. All four are under pressure from boosters and alumni to make a change before the December signing period.
