EUGENE, Ore. – Following Oklahoma State’s lopsided 69-3 defeat to No. 6 Oregon, Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy shouldered full responsibility for the team’s struggles. Speaking in his postgame press conference, Gundy admitted that his staff overcomplicated game plans on offense, defense, and special teams, leaving players unable to execute effectively.
Gundy Accepts Blame
Gundy didn’t mince words when evaluating the loss, calling it a coaching failure.
“I told the team that I didn’t do a good job of getting our players put in a position, and we were too complicated in all three phases,” he said. “Tried to do too much on defense, tried to do too much on offense, and we ended up not being able to execute and be any good at anything. And that’s my fault.”
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The Cowboys fell behind early and never recovered, struggling against Oregon’s explosive playmakers and defensive speed.
Struggles Against Oregon’s Speed
Oregon’s athleticism proved overwhelming for Oklahoma State’s defense, which surrendered several quick-strike touchdowns in the first half. When asked about the Ducks’ speed, Gundy acknowledged that it was difficult to prepare for.
“They’ve got skill, guys,” Gundy said. “There’s times defensively we were out of place, and there’s times they just ran away from us.”
Despite preparation, he admitted the Cowboys could not replicate Oregon’s tempo and athleticism in practice.
Resetting During the Bye Week
Oklahoma State now enters a bye week before returning to action against Tulsa. Gundy said the break comes at the right time for a team in need of simplification and refocus.
“We’ve got an open week, so we get a chance to get four good days of practice in next week. Then we gotta get back into a game routine and get ready to play Tulsa,” he said.
He downplayed concerns about the early bye week placement. “Some people say this one’s too early, but we practice for four weeks in the summer. So the timing of it’s fine. After game two, game three, somewhere in there. It’ll be good for us now to get back to basic football and reprogram these guys.”
Evaluating Quarterback Zane Flores
Freshman quarterback Zane Flores made his second career start against Oregon, gaining valuable—if difficult—experience. Gundy emphasized the importance of live reps for a young player.
“Well, every time he plays, it’s going to benefit him. I mean, there’s no substitute for repetition and live reps, none, zero,” Gundy said. “He’ll be better in the next game just because he’s played in this game. And he’ll see some things in the timing of it, particularly at that position. You just kind of get more reps and get used to it. And that’s what he’ll have to do.”
Flores finished with limited success against Oregon’s aggressive defense but showed flashes that Gundy believes will translate into improvement in upcoming games.
Message to Fans
Gundy also addressed Oklahoma State fans, asking for patience as the Cowboys regroup from the blowout.
“My message to the fans is to stay with us. I mean, that’s what we do. It’s in our alma mater. It’s loyal and true,” Gundy said.
“The one thing I can say is I understand they get frustrated. Fans get frustrated. People get frustrated. I don’t get frustrated, but I don’t like it. So there’s different ways to handle adversity. I understand. It’s just part of competitive athletics.”
Gundy assured fans that the team will bounce back with renewed energy after the bye week. “The one thing I can say is they’ll work hard. And two weeks from now, they’re going to come out and play hard, that part I’m fairly sure. And we would love for them to come out and support their team. We’ll try to do our part, but there’s no doubt that that group in there is disappointed in what happened today.”
Looking Ahead
The Cowboys’ 69-3 defeat marked one of the most lopsided losses of Gundy’s tenure and highlighted the gap between Oklahoma State and a top-10 opponent like Oregon. Still, Gundy believes the bye week offers a chance to reset, simplify, and build confidence before facing Tulsa.
For now, Gundy’s focus is on returning to “basic football” and helping a young team—particularly Flores—learn from the humbling experience.
With two weeks to regroup, the Cowboys will aim to show significant improvement when they return to action in Stillwater.
