STILLWATER — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has had enough of the distractions that go along with this new era of college football.
There’s so much to navigate now with the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals, and Gundy has drawn the line.
“I told the players there’s no negotiating now,” he said. “Portal’s over. All negotiation’s history. Now we’re playing football. Just coaching and playing football.”
Gundy has turned the focus to the Aug. 31 opener at home against South Dakota State.
“The business side of what we do now is, we have to have those conversations with them,” he said. “Tell your agent to quit calling us and asking for more money. It’s non-negotiable now. Start again in December.”
Gundy should be excited about football. Led by running back Ollie Gordon II, the Cowboys enter the season ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25.
Gordon won the Doak Walker Award last season as the nation’s best running back, and he is the Big 12’s preseason offensive player of the year. He could have left, but he chose to stick around and play for a team with a significant amount of returning talent.
Oklahoma State should be a contender for the Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
“You can tell the team is really hungry,” Gordon said on media day. “We have a lot of returners back and we can’t be complacent. I feel like we haven’t shown any part of being complacent. We’ve all been practicing like we haven’t been here before and it’s been a really great thing.”
Cowboys to wear QR codes on helmets to assist NIL fundraising
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State will wear QR codes on its helmets this season linking to the general team fund to increase the program’s name, image and likeness money pool.
The rollout will be in the season opener at home against defending FCS champion South Dakota State on August 31. The school believes it is the first time that a college football team will wear QR codes during regular-season games.
The initiative is part of the “Saddle Up Campaign” organized by Pokes With A Purpose.
“This is a revolutionary step forward to help keep Oklahoma State football ahead of the game,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “It gives a chance for everyday fans across the world to have a real impact when it comes to supporting the NIL efforts for Cowboy football. I’m thrilled about this opportunity for our players.”
The QR codes will be 1.5-square-inch decals that feature each player’s name and number. They aren’t expected to be visible from the stands, but they are expected to be noticeable on close shots during broadcasts and postgame photos posted to social media.
The codes also will be on each player’s bag tag. The players carry the bags during “The Walk” — the pregame walk before home games at Boone Pickens Stadium — and for travel.
Oklahoma State enters the season ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25.
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