A historic collapse: How the 2024 Oklahoma State Cowboys season fell apart
In short: Expectations were sky-high for the Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2024, anchored by a Heisman-contending running back and a recent championship appearance. Yet, the team suffered a catastrophic reversal, enduring their first losing season in nearly two decades and failing to secure a single conference win throughout the entire year.
Entering the 2024 season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys carried significant momentum under head coach Mike Gundy, who was then in his 20th year leading the program. Following an appearance in the Big 12 Championship game the previous year, the team was widely expected to compete at a high level. With Ollie Gordon II positioned as a Heisman candidate, the Cowboys initially validated these hopes by starting the season with a 3–0 record, climbing as high as #13 in the AP poll.
The trajectory shifted abruptly following consecutive losses, which saw the team tumble out of the rankings entirely. The downward spiral proved relentless; after a defeat against TCU on November 9, the Cowboys officially clinched their first losing season since 2005. This result brought a definitive end to an impressive eighteen-season bowl streak. By the time the schedule concluded, the team had lost their final 9 games, finishing the year without a single victory in conference play. This performance marked the program's worst showing since 1991, a year in which the team failed to win any games at all.
The fallout from this historic decline was swift. In a reflection of the team's struggles, Oklahoma State became the only school in the Big 12 to have zero players selected for the all-conference teams. The organizational response followed shortly after the season's conclusion, with the university announcing on December 4 that both offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn and defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo had been fired. The collapse serves as a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn in collegiate athletics, even for programs with deep-rooted traditions of success at Boone Pickens Stadium.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2024 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
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