How Much of OSU’s AP Top 100 Ranking Is Mike Gundy Responsible For?

I promise I don’t read the comments. OK, sometimes I do. Yesterday when it came out that OSU was the No. 43 team all-time on the AP poll, somebody named Mark J. had a great idea in the comments section.

It would be interesting if someone (PFB) would use this criteria to see where OSU was before Gundy and how much he has moved the Cowboys up the list.

And away we go. But first a recap of what we’re even looking at. OSU has 208 total “points” all time according to the AP. But how do you get a point, and what does it mean?

To determine the all-time Top 25, the AP formula counted poll appearances (one point) to mark consistency, No. 1 rankings (one point) to acknowledge elite programs and gave a bonus for AP championships (10 points).

So we’re looking at AP titles (nope), No. 1 rankings (nope) and poll appearances. That last one we can do. So we will see how many polls OSU has appeared in since taking over in 2005 and divide that number by the total number of 208 to see what percentage of OSU’s all-time ranking Gundy is responsible for.

According to my count on this historical poll site, OSU has been ranked in the Top 25 in 94 of a possible 176 weeks since Mike Gundy took over in 2005. That’s 94 points or 45 percent of OSU’s total of 208. Forty-five percent! Think of it this way. OSU was earning about 1.25 points per year in the 91 years before Gundy took over. If that trajectory had continued, OSU would currently rank No. 60 with 128 points. Tied with Navy. Behind Washington State. Yeesh.

That’s why you can’t overpay Mike Gundy based on where the market currently is. It’s impossible. He’s worth all of it and much more.