Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy delivers stern message about players' focus as season kickoff nears
Oklahoma State opens the season Aug. 31
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mike Gundy will soon begin his 20th season coaching the Oklahoma State football team.
The advent of name, image and likeness (NIL) and the transfer portal has drastically shifted the college football landscape. While the changes have introduced numerous benefits for the players, they also come with some drawbacks.
Gundy is making it clear he is not fond of the distractions NIL can bring, particularly as it relates to athletes negotiating potential deals. Instead, he wants the players to focus on the game as the season looms.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys reacts on the sideline in the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies during the TaxAct Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium Dec. 27, 2023, in Houston. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)
"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."
RANKING THE TOP 5 COLLEGE FOOTBALL QUARTERBACKS IN 2024
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cowboys host South Dakota State Aug. 31 to open the regular season. Gundy said the program is not willing to pick back up conversations with players' reps until later in the year.
Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys coaches from the sideline in the second half against the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium Sept. 23, 2023, in Ames, Iowa. (David Purdy/Getty Images)
"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 the season. Led by running back Ollie Gordon II, the Cowboys enter the season ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Head coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys cheers on his team in the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium Nov. 5, 2022, in Lawrence, Kan. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Oklahoma State hopes to contend for the Big 12 title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"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."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.