Why Oklahoma State can mirror Indiana's turnaround with donor buy-in and fresh leadership
On this week’s episode of The Jones Report, hosts Roundtable Sooners publisher Tyler Jones and Roundtable OkState editor Thomas Bridges dive deep into the biggest headlines shaping the SEC and Big 12 landscapes.
While neither conference boasts a team in this year's national championship game—ultimately contested between Indiana and Miami in a thrilling matchup—the outlook remains surprisingly optimistic for both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
The 2025 season proved challenging for the two in-state rivals. Oklahoma, now fully settled into its SEC transition under head coach Brent Venables, experienced an early playoff exit in the first round. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State endured what many consider its most disappointing campaign in recent memory, culminating in a coaching change with the departure of longtime head coach Mike Gundy mid-season and the subsequent hiring of Eric Morris from North Texas.
Despite these setbacks, Jones and Bridges highlight a powerful blueprint for resurgence drawn from the remarkable success stories of Indiana and Miami.
These programs, once viewed as underdogs or historical also-rans, have stormed into national prominence in 2025, offering a clear roadmap for OU and OSU to reclaim elite status.
For the Sooners, the timing couldn't be more advantageous. The SEC, long a dominant force in college football, has shown signs of vulnerability this year, with several traditional powerhouses underperforming compared to past standards.
Oklahoma's move to the conference is now stabilized, complete with top-tier resources, elite facilities, massive fan support, and a robust NIL infrastructure. This positions the Sooners perfectly to capitalize on any perceived dip across the league.
With talented recruiting classes, veteran leadership, and a coaching staff gaining traction, OU has the tools to not only compete for SEC championships but to legitimately contend for national titles.
The program that once set the standard for excellence can once again rise to the top. Historically, schools like Miami and Indiana looked up to Oklahoma as one of the gold standard of the college football powerhouses.
Yet in 2025, both have flipped the script dramatically. Indiana, under head coach Curt Cignetti, engineered one of the most stunning turnarounds in modern college football history.
After years of being the Big Ten's perennial underachiever—with the most losses in program history—the Hoosiers went undefeated in the regular season, captured their first Big Ten title in decades, and marched all the way to the national championship game.
Cignetti's strategy emphasized veteran transfers with proven production over high-school hype, aggressive portal management, and a culture of relentless preparation.
Miami, meanwhile, rebounded under Mario Cristobal to a strong 10-2 regular season, navigated the expanded playoff as a No. 10 seed, and advanced through high-stakes wins—including upsets over power programs—to reach the title game in their home stadium.
If these two can achieve such heights right now, why can't Oklahoma—with its richer tradition, deeper resources, and storied brand—do the same or better?
Over in the Big 12, the path looks equally clear for Oklahoma State.
With Texas now in the SEC and other former heavyweights gone, the primary obstacle appears to be Texas Tech, bolstered by significant financial investments straight out of Landman.
But as Jones and Bridges point out, oil money and big boosters aren't unbeatable. Oklahoma State boasts a stronger overall football tradition than Indiana ever had, including consistent bowl appearances, iconic players, and passionate support in Stillwater.
The recent hiring of Eric Morris as head coach brings fresh energy and a proven offensive philosophy. Morris, who built explosive units at North Texas (leading the FBS in several offensive categories in 2025), is adopting a strategy similar to Cignetti's—importing veteran players from his previous stop, implementing an established system, and focusing on immediate impact through the transfer portal.
Donor investment has already shown signs of increasing since Gundy's exit, which could accelerate this rebuild. If boosters fully commit to modern realities like revenue sharing, NIL collectives, and facility upgrades, the Cowboys have every reason to mirror Indiana's rapid ascent.
Morris's ties to Texas recruiting grounds, combined with OSU's infrastructure advantages, position the program for a quick return to relevance in a wide-open Big 12.
The episode also features special guest College Football radio host Jason Powers, who shares his insights on the national championship showdown between Indiana and Miami, breaking down what made their improbable runs so compelling.
Additionally, Jones and Bridges provide in-depth analysis of the latest transfer portal activity impacting both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, highlighting key additions, departures, and potential game-changers for 2026.
They also touch on the college basketball scenes for each school as conference play heats up, noting early trends and standout performers.
This week's The Jones Report reminds fans that setbacks are temporary in college football's ever-evolving era.
With inspiration from Indiana and Miami's Cinderella stories, both the Sooners and Cowboys have compelling reasons for optimism—and the potential to write their own remarkable chapters ahead.