Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy surveys the Big 12 landscape without Texas, Oklahoma

ARLINGTON — New Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark wants to position the league in a way that’s “younger, hipper, cooler.”

And then here comes Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, quoting the Carpenters.

“Conference realignment, it’s almost the Karen Carpenter concept — ‘We’ve only just begun,’” Gundy said Wednesday at Big 12 media days.

The 1970 love anthem — one of Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” — would fit perfectly if there truly was a collegial spirit. But it’s every Longhorn, Sooner and Cowboy for themselves these days. Shoot first, ask questions later while cashing out at the ATM.

“The moves that are being made are only being made for the money. Period,” Gundy said.

More:Big 12 Media Days: What we learned about Brett Yormark, 2022 football season on Day 1

He wouldn’t mind Oklahoma State being on the receiving end of those payouts, though. Asked whether Texas and Oklahoma should stay in the Big 12 through 2025, Gundy said, “If they leave early and they dump $80 million our way, I think that’s awesome.”

Gundy figures to become the wise, elder statesman of the reconfigured Big 12 when the four new teams arrive in 2023 and Texas and OU eventually move on. He’s certainly earned that distinction, having won 149 games in 17 seasons with an 11-5 bowl record.

This new world order upsets everything. What about the Bedlam Series against in-state rival Oklahoma? “The future of Bedlam is a year or two left,” Gundy said. “That’s the future of Bedlam, based on somebody else’s decision.”

When Texas A&M left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012, it sparked a cold war of sorts with rival Texas. Gundy doesn’t feel the same type of anger among Oklahoma State faithful. In fact, his fans would prefer to keep playing the Bedlam game, but he admits it’s not practical.

“Most conferences, once all this settles down, you’re going to have a minimum of nine conference games in my opinion,” he said.

Texas and OU are already booking nonconference games for the late 2020s and early 2030s. “So you’re talking about contract buyouts, and you’re talking about convincing head coaches to play another game, which would be like playing another conference game,” Gundy said.

Then, Gundy said coaches worry about player durability. What if you lose that game? How does that affect a team’s playoff chances? How would a loss hurt the league’s credibility?

“So there’s a lot going on,” he said. “I think most fans would love to do it. I just don’t know that it’s really feasible to happen in my opinion.”

Asked if he wants to keep playing OU, Oklahoma State receiver Brennan Presley said, “I don't know. I don't get paid that much to make this decision. I don't get paid at all.”

For now, Gundy simply plans to keep doing what he’s been doing — find a bunch of good or overlooked recruits and coach ’em up. Last year, the Cowboys came up literally one yard shy of winning the Big 12 title. So yes, it was a tad odd to be back inside AT&T Stadium, the site of last year’s goal-line stand by Baylor to win the Big 12 championship game.

“I’ve lost on a lot of fields, and I’ve revisited those fields a lot of times,” defensive end Brock Martin said. Oklahoma State rallied past Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, and Gundy proclaimed his program could become a college football blue blood. “It kind of put a Band-Aid over it, I guess,” Martin said. “But it’s nothing but the past now.”

Gundy should be feeling good with the return of first-team All-Big 12 quarterback Spencer Sanders. Gundy called him “a magician in our offense.” And as usual, the Cowboys have a slew of skill-position players who will run around and make life miserable for the opposition.

“I think our coaches do a good job of bringing kids in like me,” said Martin, a super senior who returned to bolster his NFL status. “I came in at 220 pounds, 6-1 and a half. It took me a little longer to develop, but I mean, I stayed after it, got after last year and had a good year last year.”

Martin said the Cowboys should be fine this year, too. “We always seem to kind of figure it out and kind of put ourselves in the mix,” he said.

That’s what Oklahoma State does. No matter the conference configuration or the sport’s unsettled future, chances are the Cowboys will figure it out.

“We go to conference meetings, and OU and Texas are in there,” Gundy said. “They’re still in the conference. But I’m guessing when they leave, they’re scratching down things that can help them when they’re in the SEC.”

Ten years ago, Gundy said, people wouldn’t even let OU and Texas administrators in those meetings. “I think the world’s changing, and people are like, yeah, they made a business decision,” he said.

Gundy must trust that Yormark, a negotiator at heart, can wheel and deal in such a way that keeps the Big 12 viable for years to come.

“Well, he’s pretty cool,” Gundy said with a grin. “And soon as he secures a long-term television contract for a lot of money, he’ll be a lot cooler.”

Contact Brian Davis by phone or text at 512-445-3957. Email bdavis@statesman.com or @BDavisAAS.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas, OU leaving Big 12, but Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy soldiers on