Daily Bullets (July 12): Understanding the 2026 Cowboy Football Team

Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news.

Three Thoughts

• Reading between the lines from quotes at Big 12 media days on the OSU quarterback situation, here’s what it seems we’re hearing: Hauss Hjeny is a better pure runner, more dynamic on that front. Zane Flores is athletic enough to create with his feet, but uses them to extend the play more. (PFB)

• What an assessment of talent – NCAA Football 2026 evaluated the Cowboy Football roster and grouped a few players into the 80s (PFB)

• Cowboy Baseball commit Ethan Holliday appears a lock for a top-five pick in the draft on Sunday and was recently named prep baseball’s player of the year. Will he and his brother be the first to earn this unique honor?

Should the Washington Nationals pick Ethan with the first pick, he and Jackson would become the first-ever brothers to each be selected first overall in the MLB Draft. [O’Colly]

Two Quotes

• This is massive uncertainty compared to what we’ve seen historically.

Mike Gundy: When I used to go on vacation in July, I had a really good idea of who are two-deep was and, in most cases, who the QB will be.

When I go on vacation next week, I’m not sure I know that I know who will be starters in 8 of 22 spots.#OkState — Eric Bailey (@EricBaileyTW) July 9, 2025

• Classy move here from Mike Gundy:

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy largely absolved ex-defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo for the unit’s struggles last season, saying that the switch from a 3-down front to a 4-down front “really wasn’t Bryan’s strength. It’s not Bryan’s fault. … I put Bryan in a bad situation.”

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) July 9, 2025

One Question

• If you could guarantee one win on the Cowboy Football schedule, which would you pick? A win at Autzen Stadium would be epic. 

Non-OSU Bullets

• AI is killing the modern resume • What it costs the IRS to collect its revenue • Is hope > gratitude?