Daily Bullets (Aug. 31): At This Point, Is OSU a Ten-Win or Eight-Win Program?

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OSU Bullets

• Jenni Carlson dug into the details around Gundy’s salary reduction and surfaced an interesting negotiation point that must have played out in discussions. Personal note: I want Mike Gundy to coach at Oklahoma State until my three-year-olds have kids.

After a near player revolt triggered an investigation into the football program, the athletic department wasn’t all that excited about what it found. Gundy wasn’t connecting with players. His reputation as a great players’ coach, one of the things that buoyed him when he wasn’t working and playing well with boosters or administrators, took a huge hit. [NewsOK]

• This Bill Haisten piece over the weekend fishing around the concept of Arkansas and Nebraska to the Big 12 is so good/terrible for my emotions. Can’t imagine how much fun it would be to have those guys in the league.

• In picking how many games OSU wins this year: the way OSU won ten games three years in a row has surely shaped perspectives… But is that wearing off?

The last two seasons have been more disappointing than anything. Each season has included a top-25 ranking, only for the team to falter and finish the season unranked with seven- and eight-win seasons. Is OSU ready to jump back in the hunt when it won 10 games in three straight years(?) [GoPokes]

I say there’s grace for a quarterback rebuilding year – hence why so many were frustrated with the Taylor Cornelius season, you had to spend the next year breaking in Spencer Sanders – but if OSU’s somehow mediocre with a nearly full roster…

• OSU defensive line commit Aden Kelley got that coveted fourth-star on the 247 Composite… Look out for this guy.

OSU DB commit Ty Williams is hanging tough with other schools calling – given the above, it looks like Jim Knowles is racking up a class

• This was terrific news for Tylan Wallace – a big-time competitor for the Biletnikoff out of the way. 

Chase is a bona fide star (at least he was with Joe Burrow). Smart move on his part not to let tape get out with a non-first overall draft pick throwing passes.

Opens up a pretty clear path for #OkState WR Tylan Wallace to the Biletnikoff Award https://t.co/GKiGIOgTmf

— Jason Elmquist (@jelmquistSW) August 30, 2020

• This is not a drill – as of today, games at the FBS level will be played this weekend.

This week’s FBS lines via @SuperBookSports:

Thursday
Southern Miss 14½ S. Alabama

Saturday
Memphis 21 Arkansas State
SMU 20 at Texas State
Army 5 Middle Tennessee

Monday
Navy 2½ BYU

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) August 30, 2020

Non-OSU Bullets

• I agree with Tramel that the 2019-2020 Thunder’s fate is in Lu Dort’s hands, I disagree with the conclusion that Dort needs to keep shooting (off-ball screens, Berry)

• Excellent, short, and encouraging piece for dads (faith-based)