Gundy calls new-look Big 12 a ‘home run’
STILLWATER — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy walked away from his press conference following Saturday's 28-23 win over Tulsa shocked the new Big 12 wasn't a topic.
He even called it a home run, swinging an imaginary bat.
On Monday, he reiterated his stance. The new Big 12 — with the addition of BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF — is good for the Cowboys and the conference.
“Overall, we hit a home run,” Gundy said. “I would say the remaining eight teams feel like we hit a home run. We financially secured ourselves until media rights start juggling around in four or five years.
“And we have a destination point now. We know who we are.”
The new conference might be a few years away, but Gundy has become perhaps the most vocally supportive coach in the conference welcoming the new members.
His reasoning is simple: the TV markets, the revenue and the recruiting.
Gundy also realizes some of those factors could change in 2025 when a new TV contract would begin.
But for now there is stability. “The way it turned out couldn't be any better, in my opinion, for the Big 12, for Power 5 Conference standing and we all know the budget becomes a big issue,” Gundy said. “We're in a solid and sound budget situation for years to come until it all starts to turnover again.”
Brown, Rodriguez win conference honors
Brown and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez earned a few Big 12 honors following Saturday's game. Brown was named the Special Teams Player of the Week following his kick return score.
Rodriguez was named co-Defensive Player of the Week after finishing with 13 total tackles, including eight solo stops.
He had tackles on five of the first eight plays.
Rodriguez leads all FBS players with 14 tackles per game and 8.5 solo tackles per game.
K-State kickoff, broadcast set
The Cowboys' Big 12 opener will be under the lights.
OSU and Kansas State will kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, with the game being broadcast on ESPN+, the conference announced Monday morning.
It's OSU's second game to be offered exclusively on the streaming service.