We just witnessed Indiana winning it all — can Oklahoma State mirror their blueprint?
Turnarounds can happen swiftly, as evidenced by the Indiana Hoosiers’ stunning ascent under Curt Cignetti.
Hired in late 2023 from James Madison University, Cignetti inherited a program that had gone 9-27 over the previous three seasons, marking it as one of the losingest in FBS history.
Yet, in just two years, he engineered a 26-2 record, culminating in a perfect 16-0 campaign in 2025 and a 27-21 victory over Miami in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Key to this rise was aggressive recruiting through the transfer portal, including Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza from Cal, who epitomized Cignetti’s focus on “super seniors” and disciplined execution.
Indiana’s blueprint: portal mercenaries, fundamental soundness, and a no-nonsense culture that turned perennial underdogs into champions.
Now, enter Oklahoma State, which finds itself in a strikingly similar position. After a dismal 1-11 season in 2025, the Cowboys parted ways with long-time coach Mike Gundy and hired Eric Morris from North Texas on November 25, 2025.
Morris, like Cignetti, comes from a Group of Five program where he built success, leading UNT to a 10-1 record in 2025 and positioning them for a conference title. Known for developing elite quarterbacks (think Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield), Morris has already adopted the Cignetti model, raiding the transfer portal for over 50 additions, including 17 from his former team.
Standouts include five-star QB Drew Mestemaker, national rushing TD leader Caleb Hawkins, and top receiver Wyatt Young, bolstering an offense that could thrive in the Big 12.
Defensive reinforcements like linemen Jerry Lawson and James Williams add grit.
The parallels are clear: Both coaches inherited struggling Power Four programs and prioritized portal flips for immediate impact. Indiana proved skeptics wrong by improving from an 11-2 playoff berth in 2024 to undefeated champs in 2025.
For OSU, a competitive resurgence in 2026-2027 seems plausible. With a revamped roster and Morris’s offensive prowess, the Cowboys could climb from rock bottom to Big 12 contenders, leveraging NIL and transfers to match rivals.
In the reconfigured Big 12, now without powerhouses like Oklahoma and Texas, the path to prominence is more accessible. Programs like BYU and Texas Tech represent the new benchmark for contention. BYU’s balanced attack and Texas Tech’s high-octane offense have thrived in this parity-driven league, but OSU’s portal haul positions them to challenge these peers. With explosive playmakers and a defensive overhaul, the Cowboys can exploit matchups, aiming for upsets that propel them into the expanded playoff picture.
To Oklahoma State fans disheartened by recent woes…look at Indiana’s improbable title.
“Why not us?”
If the Hoosiers can rewrite history in two seasons, the Cowboys, armed with portal success and fresh leadership, have every reason to believe in a championship run of their own.
Why not us in 2026?