2025-2026 Portal Recruiting

[cowboyfan97]

It's the obligation of the University to be a great educational institution (not to help veterans on the streets, which is the job of the federal government), and that requires lots of money. A substantial portion of the budget comes from donors. And keeping deep-pocket donors happy with a good football team is important. Whatever we might think of this situation, it is the reality. And so the millions paid to a college QB is an investment and also of course a risk. It's a ton of money. But now that it is done, I just hope he helps establish a new level of success for our program.

I understand that football generates revenue. But as a 3rd generation graduate, living in Texas, our wonderful university makes me pay out of state tuition for my children to attend the school I love. Yet, donors fork over 7M for a kid to play football. As much as I love sports, our priorities are wrong in society.

 

[zone2poke]

I understand that football generates revenue. But as a 3rd generation graduate, living in Texas, our wonderful university makes me pay out of state tuition for my children to attend the school I love. Yet, donors fork over 7M for a kid to play football. As much as I love sports, our priorities are wrong in society.

I agree. We could have a wonderful country where we take care of each other, but we choose not to.

I just watched the 60 Minutes episode about Curt Cignetti and Indiana football. IU spent $60 (!) million on football, while cutting staff and academic programs. That would make me deeply unhappy if our alma mater cut its main mission for sports. I'm glad we're not there.

 

[Cowboyshoopspride]

I understand that football generates revenue. But as a 3rd generation graduate, living in Texas, our wonderful university makes me pay out of state tuition for my children to attend the school I love. Yet, donors fork over 7M for a kid to play football. As much as I love sports, our priorities are wrong in society.

I couldn’t afford to send my youngest to OSU.

We moved to Texas when he was a freshman. I graduated. Wife graduated. His older brother graduated. Mom, Dad, sister, both in laws, and my cousin all OSU cowboys.

We were looking at $26,000/year out of state for a an OSU degree. Instead he ends up at Texas Tech. But we’ll buy a QB for $7 mil.

System is beyond broken.

 

[PokeBloke]

I couldn’t afford to send my youngest to OSU.

We moved to Texas when he was a freshman. I graduated. Wife graduated. His older brother graduated. Mom, Dad, sister, both in laws, and my cousin all OSU cowboys.

We were looking at $26,000/year out of state for a an OSU degree. Instead he ends up at Texas Tech. But we’ll buy a QB for $7 mil.

System is beyond broken.

Ironic because Texas Tech leads the way in a billionaire donor buying players the last 2 years with millions poured into renovations.

 

[DxCowboy]

I agree. We could have a wonderful country where we take care of each other, but we choose not to.

I just watched the 60 Minutes episode about Curt Cignetti and Indiana football. IU spent $60 (!) million on football, while cutting staff and academic programs. That would make me deeply unhappy if our alma mater cut its main mission for sports. I'm glad we're not there.

Thanks for sharing. Without the time right now to watch it, I am curious about IU’s financial structure vs OSU’s.

It’s been a few years since I worked on campus but athletics and residential life were considered auxiliary departments to the university and did not receive their funding from the university. I do recall a temporary student fee being added in the early phases of BPS construction but it was supposed to only be 3 years or so.

I can understand opinions that maybe priorities are out of whack but it feels like a lot of comments on the topic don’t really get that you’re talking about different buckets in terms of where the $$$ comes from.

 

[Pistol Pete's Mustache]

For throwing a football for two years or a possibility of 24 games, a 20 year-old kid gets more money than I’ve made working my ass off the last 50 years. That is $291,666.67 per game if he plays all 24 games. So for a 3-4 hour game on a Saturday, he’ll make what took me two years roughly to earn at the highest point in my career. This is so jacked up! Please fix it!

The NIL has so f'ed up college sports. I would almost prefer to fade into irrelevance, than waste this amount of money. I want to win, but can't stand this at all. We have veterans living on the streets. How much good could we do in society with the total amount of money wasted on athletes. Most of whom are dumber than a box of rocks, and will never contribute to society after this. I didn't agree with everything Gundy did or said, but do agree we should have spilt into two leagues; those who want to be semi-professional, and those who just want to play.

College football at the P4 level geneates billions of dollars in revenues, why should the players who are the primary creators of that revenue and who put their physical well being at risk in the process be limited in sharing in those revenues and accepting additional compensation from people willing to pay? There are also people making millions of dollars pushing papers around while teachers who are the lifeblood of our future are paid peanuts. Hell, there are people who inherit more money than they can spend in multiple lifetimes just by the lottery of birth.

I don't "like" it either especially since my alma mater is not likely to compete with the highest levels of spending but there's no legitimate basis to say that players shouldn't be paid a lot of money in an industry that generates so much revenue. The same has obviously been true for pro sports for decades, the only difference is we have finally gotten past the false facade of the "student athelete" when it comes to revenue sports. There are plenty of real amateur sports going on worth supporting too and I'm not being sarcastic to suggest maybe seeking them out if player compensation is a problem. I support a local amateur soccer club and it brings me a lot of happieness. There are D-II, D-III, and NAIA programs everywhere to support including in Oklahoma. I wish the FCS playoffs got more attention because they are a lot of fun and I tune in if it pops up on my live tv app.

 

[JTOSU]

Losing Rodney Fields hurts. He is a player.

 

[Klacy56b14]

For throwing a football for two years or a possibility of 24 games, a 20 year-old kid gets more money than I’ve made working my ass off the last 50 years. That is $291,666.67 per game if he plays all 24 games. So for a 3-4 hour game on a Saturday, he’ll make what took me two years roughly to earn at the highest point in my career. This is so jacked up! Please fix it!

Fix what? This is a big time business

 

[Klacy56b14]

I’ll admit I’m skeptical. His game-by-game stats look impressive at first glance—until you look at the competition. He basically carved up a bunch of nobodies, and I mean nobodies. When he finally faced the three teams that actually had a pulse (later in the season, no less), he was picked apart with ease. His reads were poor. He looked like a quarterback who’s barely played the position. And honestly, that’s exactly what he is. Against comparable talent, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns in those three games.

He’s not even listed among the top 75 college quarterbacks this season. Any talk of Drew entering the draft after the 2026–27 season (looking at you, Pistols Firing) is pure fantasy. $7 million.. are you kidding me? We could've bought a HELLUVA proven successful QB. I hear clown music in the distance.

I hope I’m wrong. I truly do. I hope he comes in and wins us games. But the reality is that we’re not going to be remotely competitive for years. That’s just the truth, and I’m okay with accepting it. Some people call that being a scrooge—maybe so. But he’s being hyped like some kind of Messiah, and he’s just not that guy yet. Not even close.

Unfortunately, the actual right quarterback is likely going to transfer because of this unjustified Messiah narrative everyone hopes becomes reality. Because he’s the one truly worth $7 million—and he’s almost certainly heading to the portal.

I’m sure I’ll hear plenty of “Boo this man!” and “You suck!” responses. That’s fine. It’s okay to be skeptical. It’s okay to have hope and enthusiasm. And it’s okay to share your opinion, even when others disagree. I want to be hopeful. Believe me.. I completely understand how hope works. Since November 2024, I've battled and won against stage 4 cancer and I won.

I want OSU to succeed. I just don’t believe the athletic department made the right choice. And if that $7 million is correct, Eric Morris made the worst decision he could've made. That much on one player is just... WTF. This team needs talent. That $7 million could've brought a ton of the talent necessary to compete in the Big 12.

Y'all can call me a buffoon. But if that $7 million is correct, the AD is a clown

I guess you are thinking about how it use to be...in todays world you can compete the very next year...you dont build you buy

 

[Klacy56b14]

The NIL has so f'ed up college sports. I would almost prefer to fade into irrelevance, than waste this amount of money. I want to win, but can't stand this at all. We have veterans living on the streets. How much good could we do in society with the total amount of money wasted on athletes. Most of whom are dumber than a box of rocks, and will never contribute to society after this. I didn't agree with everything Gundy did or said, but do agree we should have spilt into two leagues; those who want to be semi-professional, and those who just want to play.

You are not wasting money...its not your money so chill and enjoy the ride homie

 

[Poke Skywalker]

I agree. We could have a wonderful country where we take care of each other, but we choose not to.

I just watched the 60 Minutes episode about Curt Cignetti and Indiana football. IU spent $60 (!) million on football, while cutting staff and academic programs. That would make me deeply unhappy if our alma mater cut its main mission for sports. I'm glad we're not there.

The 60mil is a little deceptive, they weren’t spending that solely on their roster. 15mil went to a fired previous coach and buying out assistant contracts. Also, as he mentioned some facilities needing updating. Whatever they’ve spent they’ll more than recover not just in athletics but academics as well with renewed donor engagement and enthusiasm.

Estimates are they spent 18-20mil on NIL. Sadly we weren’t that far behind that. Much of their key pieces followed Cignetti from JMU. Their D is stellar, but most of those guys were not big NIL guys, and came from JMU, Kent State, Texas State, W Kentucky, etc. and that’s the front 7! Clearly Chad Weiberg followed that model in hiring Morris. Some people will be concerned about bringing in a number of N Texas players but I’d just suggest looking at what Cignetti did.

 

[Poke Skywalker]

Losing Rodney Fields hurts. He is a player.

Just means Hawkins is coming, and maybe more. Upgrading!

 

[Osucowboys344]

Have to get OL to block or none of these guys will be effective

 

[Poke Skywalker]

Have to get OL to block or none of these guys will be effective

They’ll get an Oline but keep in mind, this offense is going to be different than what we are used to. They’re probably not going out looking for B10 guys that will mow you down, we’re looking for pass blockers who are going to give the QB 3-4 seconds. I’m sure this staff is looking at portal guys that were in similar offenses and didn’t give up sacks. As far as the run game, the pass will set up the run and create the holes.

 

[DxCowboy]

They’ll get an Oline but keep in mind, this offense is going to be different than what we are used to. They’re probably not going out looking for B10 guys that will mow you down, we’re looking for pass blockers who are going to give the QB 3-4 seconds. I’m sure this staff is looking at portal guys that were in similar offenses and didn’t give up sacks. As far as the run game, the pass will set up the run and create the holes.

Fwiw Bama had one of the UNT transfers starting on OL

 

[zone2poke]

Thanks for sharing. Without the time right now to watch it, I am curious about IU’s financial structure vs OSU’s.

It’s been a few years since I worked on campus but athletics and residential life were considered auxiliary departments to the university and did not receive their funding from the university. I do recall a temporary student fee being added in the early phases of BPS construction but it was supposed to only be 3 years or so.

I can understand opinions that maybe priorities are out of whack but it feels like a lot of comments on the topic don’t really get that you’re talking about different buckets in terms of where the $$$ comes from.

Yes, great point about different buckets, but the buckets are created, defined, and apportioned by the administration in the first place. The Athletics Department, for example, is not just funded by proceeds from events, apparel sales, and donors, but by student fees and state appropriations. If a school spends, say, $50 million on a football team while cutting educational staff and programs, I think that requires a serious conversation. Perhaps it is good business. Maybe a winning football team yields far more to the university than the $50 million investment. But at first glance anyway, it's not a good look.

 

[DxCowboy]

Yes, great point about different buckets, but the buckets are created, defined, and apportioned by the administration in the first place. The Athletics Department, for example, is not just funded by proceeds from events, apparel sales, and donors, but by student fees and state appropriations. If a school spends, say, $50 million on a football team while cutting educational staff and programs, I think that requires a serious conversation. Perhaps it is good business. Maybe a winning football team yields far more to the university than the $50 million investment. But at first glance anyway, it's not a good look.

That would be a change in osu’s budget structure that existed for decades if correct.

In looking at what’s posted for the’24-25 OSU system budget, I dont find athletics anywhere. Budget breakdown shows Big 12 $$$ accounts for over 40% of revenue, and over 55% from ticket sales, donations, Cowboy Ports Properties, trademark licensing and concessions.

I do find mention of a one time $12,934,006 institutional support payment from the university to cover COVID losses in’21-22.

 

[GratefulPoke]

Losing Rodney Fields hurts. He is a player.

I would prefer to keep him and he is a good player, but he is also replaceable.

 

[zone2poke]

That would be a change in osu’s budget structure that existed for decades if correct.

From what I see online, Oklahoma State Athletics generally breaks even (2023: made $122 million, spent $121 million).

Student fees do support athletics:

"Some of the OSU student fees to go renovations in the Athletic Department. Student Activity Fee, Athletic $5.50 Implemented in 1997, with an extension supported by SGA in 2004, revenue from this fee is dedicated to various bond issues for Athletic Department renovations (e.g. Gallagher-Iba Arena and Boone Pickens Stadium)."

Tuition & Fee Details - Oklahoma State University

Tuition & Fees information for Oklahoma State University.

bursar.okstate.edu

The Athletic Department received state money after Covid.

Oklahoma State athletics received a one-time $12,934,006 institutional support payment in the 2021-2022 fiscal year from the university. This funding helped the department recover from a $14.2 million loss during the COVID-impacted 2020-2021 fiscal year.

How Oklahoma State athletics is financially self-sustaining with $100M budget

Oklahoma State athletics has seen its annual budget increase from less than $90 million to over $100 million in just a few years' time

www.oklahoman.com

 

[DxCowboy]

From what I see online, Oklahoma State Athletics generally breaks even (2023: made $122 million, spent $121 million).

Student fees do support athletics:

"Some of the OSU student fees to go renovations in the Athletic Department. Student Activity Fee, Athletic $5.50 Implemented in 1997, with an extension supported by SGA in 2004, revenue from this fee is dedicated to various bond issues for Athletic Department renovations (e.g. Gallagher-Iba Arena and Boone Pickens Stadium)."

Tuition & Fee Details - Oklahoma State University

Tuition & Fees information for Oklahoma State University.

bursar.okstate.edu

The Athletic Department received state money after Covid.

Oklahoma State athletics received a one-time $12,934,006 institutional support payment in the 2021-2022 fiscal year from the university. This funding helped the department recover from a $14.2 million loss during the COVID-impacted 2020-2021 fiscal year.

How Oklahoma State athletics is financially self-sustaining with $100M budget

Oklahoma State athletics has seen its annual budget increase from less than $90 million to over $100 million in just a few years' time

www.oklahoman.com

The student fee is the one I mentioned