When Oklahoma State University announced Eric Morris as its next head football coach on November 25, 2025, it didn’t just replace a coach—it ended an era. The 40-year-old offensive mastermind, who led the University of North Texas Mean Green to a 10-1 regular season in 2025, was chosen to rescue a program that had sunk to its lowest point in decades: a 1-10 record, no FBS wins, and a fanbase in despair. The man he’s replacing, Mike Gundy, had been the face of Stillwater football for 19 seasons. Now, the Cowboys are betting everything on a coach who’s never led a Power Four program—but has turned two small schools into national talking points.
The Fall of a Dynasty
For nearly two decades, Mike Gundy was Oklahoma State’s identity. He inherited a program in 2005 that had gone 2-9 the year before. He built it into a Big 12 contender, with seven top-10 finishes, four New Year’s Six bowl appearances, and over 150 wins. He was the guy who turned a rural town into a football destination. But by 2025, the magic had faded. The offense became predictable. Recruiting stalled. And when the Cowboys lost their 10th game of the season to Kansas State, it wasn’t just a loss—it was a symbol. They became one of only two Power Four teams (alongside Boston College) without a single win against FBS competition. Fans didn’t just want change. They demanded it.Why Eric Morris? The Offense Genius
The search wasn’t about tradition. It was about survival. Oklahoma State didn’t need another Gundy clone. They needed someone who could rebuild from the ground up—and Eric Morris fits that mold perfectly. His reputation? An offensive wizard. A quarterback whisperer. A guy who turns overlooked recruits into NFL prospects. At University of the Incarnate Word in 2018, he took a 2-9 FCS team and made them a top-15 national contender. At Washington State in 2020, he orchestrated one of the most explosive offenses in the Pac-12. And now, at North Texas, he’s led a Group of Five program to the brink of the College Football Playoff.YouTube analyst Scott Fisher, who’s followed Morris since his Incarnate Word days, put it bluntly: “Morris has been a popular name in the coaching candidate world as schools like Arkansas and UCLA have also been looking into him. This one makes a lot of sense—Oklahoma is right near Texas where he has all of his ties.”
His 2025 North Texas team averaged 41.3 points per game. The offense didn’t just score—it exploded. Quarterback Blake Decker threw for 3,872 yards and 34 touchdowns. Three receivers eclipsed 1,000 yards. It was the kind of attack Oklahoma State hasn’t seen since 2011. And with the Cowboys’ offense ranking dead last in the Big 12 in yards per play (4.1), Morris’s arrival isn’t just welcome—it’s urgent.
The NIL and Transfer Portal Imperative
Gundy’s tenure wasn’t just about X’s and O’s. It was about culture. And culture, as it turns out, was broken. Under Gundy, Oklahoma State lagged behind peers in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) space. While schools like Alabama, Texas, and even Kansas had built thriving NIL collectives, Oklahoma State’s efforts were scattered, underfunded, and poorly organized. The transfer portal? They lost 18 players in 2024 and 2025, many to schools with better NIL deals and more aggressive recruiting.Morris, by contrast, has thrived in this new landscape. At North Texas, he signed 11 transfers from Power Four schools in the last two cycles. He’s got relationships with agents, boosters, and recruiting coordinators across Texas. He knows how to make the system work. And according to multiple sources cited by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Oklahoma State’s athletic director sees Morris as the only coach who can fix this.
A Timeline That Tests Patience
Here’s the twist: Morris won’t be on the sideline in Stillwater until January. He’s contractually bound to finish the 2025 season with North Texas. That means he’ll coach the Mean Green in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game on December 6, 2025—and possibly in a College Football Playoff semifinal if North Texas finishes as the top Group of Five team. The latest projections have them ranked No. 12 nationally. If they win out, they could play in the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 2026.That’s a long wait for Oklahoma State fans who’ve endured a year of embarrassment. But the administration is betting that patience will pay off. “We’re not hiring a coach for next season,” one source told Zenitz. “We’re hiring a coach for the next decade.”
The Bigger Picture: A Power Four Reset
Oklahoma State’s decision signals a seismic shift in how Power Four programs are approaching rebuilds. No longer are they just looking for seasoned coordinators from big schools. They’re turning to innovators—coaches who’ve proven they can win with less, who understand the new rules, and who know how to build a program in the modern era. Morris isn’t just a coach. He’s a symbol of that new reality.And the stakes? They couldn’t be higher. If Morris fails, Oklahoma State could become another cautionary tale—a once-proud program that couldn’t adapt. If he succeeds? He could be the architect of a new dynasty in the heart of the Big 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Oklahoma State fire Mike Gundy after 19 seasons?
Despite his legacy, Mike Gundy’s team collapsed in 2025 with a 1-10 record—the worst in program history. Oklahoma State lost every FBS game, ranked last in the Big 12 in offense, and fell behind rivals in NIL and transfer portal recruiting. The athletic department concluded that continuity wasn’t working; a cultural reset was needed.
What makes Eric Morris different from other coaching candidates?
Morris has a proven track record of turning low-profile programs into offensive powerhouses—first at Incarnate Word, then at North Texas. He excels in NIL recruitment, has strong Texas ties, and understands the transfer portal better than most Power Four coaches. His 2025 North Texas team scored 41 points per game, a stark contrast to Oklahoma State’s 18.4.
When will Eric Morris officially start at Oklahoma State?
Morris will remain at North Texas through their postseason run, which could extend to mid-January 2026 if they reach the College Football Playoff. His formal introduction at Oklahoma State is expected within 48 hours of North Texas’s final game, with full coaching duties beginning in February 2026.
How will Morris impact recruiting in Texas?
Morris has deep roots in Texas high school football and has already recruited heavily from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. His success at North Texas gives him instant credibility with Texas recruits. Oklahoma State hopes he can lure top 2026 prospects away from rivals like TCU and Baylor by offering a modern, high-octane system and strong NIL support.
Is North Texas a good fit for Morris, or is this a step up?
It’s a step up. North Texas is a Group of Five school with a 47,000-student enrollment. Oklahoma State is a Power Four program with 22,000 students, a massive alumni base, and Big 12 TV revenue. The resources, exposure, and expectations are exponentially higher—making this Morris’s first true Power Four job.
What happens if North Texas makes the College Football Playoff?
Morris will coach North Texas in the semifinal, likely on January 1 or 2, 2026. Oklahoma State will delay his official start until after the game. He’ll be allowed to begin virtual meetings with players and staff in December, but he won’t coach practices or attend in-person until after the season ends.
