What Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy Addresses Loss Against Oregon Ducks After NIL Remark

The No. 6 Oregon Ducks defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys 69-3. Ahead of the matchup, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy made several remarks about Oregon's usage of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), adding tension to the game. After the matchup, Gundy addressed the media, including his comments on Oregon's NIL usage.

Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy speaks during a press conference at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater Okla., on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. | NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 6 Oregon Ducks blew out the Oklahoma State Cowboys 69-3. Oregon’s offense picked up right where it left off, scoring two touchdowns within the first two minutes of the game. It was another full team win, as the Ducks continue to push for a College Football Playoff appearence.

Ahead of the matchup, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy made multiple comments on the Oregon Ducks’ use of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). After a back-and-forth between Gundy and Oregon coach Dan Lanning, tensions were high heading into the game.

What Gundy Said After Losing to Oregon Ducks

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy walks off the field after an NCAA football game between Oklahoma State (OSU) and UT Martin in Stillwater, Okla., on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025. | NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“When I made that comment, I was complimenting Oregon for what they’ve done,” Gundy said. "The second thing is, which I said later in the week, we’ve made commitments also, alright. But we have to be better and fundamentally sound and execute.”

“Sometimes you’re gonna play people that have the ability to run away from you. Well, then we've got to look at that and see where we're at,” Gundy said. “But, we didn’t play good enough with the systems that we had to execute.”

“They’ve got skill guys. There’s times defensively, we were out of place, and there’s times they just ran away from us,” Gundy said. “So as coaches, we have to evaluate that. We have to look and say, was it the concept, or are they, you know, they have skill players, and were we in position? And I know it’s some of both just from the naked eye watching in the game.”

Gundy Praises Oregon Ducks

Sep 6, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning shakes the hand of Oklahoma State Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy after a game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

“Oregon’s a very, very good football team, and they were trying to find ways to maneuver to get stops and trying to find ways to maneuver and move the football, and we ended up not being very good at anything. We didn’t execute,” Gundy said. “They hit the early scores on you, and you’re playing catch-up to a certain extent, which doesn’t help.”

"There's nothing wrong with saying that teams you're playing are good teams," Gundy continued. "They have a lot of skill, and they have a lot of speed. And they're very big up front on both sides of the ball."

"I wanted [Dante Moore] concerned a little bit that we could put pressure on him," Gundy said.

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Oregon Dominates Oklahoma State

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore warms up as the Oregon Ducks host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 6, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Running back Noah Whittington kicked off Oregon’s domination with a 59-yard touchdown run. On the next offensive drive, quarterback Dante Moore hit wide receiver Dakorien Moore for a 65-yard touchdown. In week one, the Ducks’ quarterback came out firing. With a tougher opponent, Moore picked up right where he left off.

Oregon’s offense was filled with explosive plays, in large part thanks to the offensive line. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore was well protected, giving time to make plays, and the unit created holes for the running backs to break free. The offense scored three touchdowns in the first quarter, and the team entered halftime with a 41-3 lead.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning walks the field as the Oregon Ducks host the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Sept. 6, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti did well reading plays quickly by keeping an eye on the ball. While there were moments where the defensive backs did let big plays occur that could have been avoidable, such as letting the Oklahoma State wide receiver break free for a 34-yard pass, the team held it down in the red zone.

Aside from the minimal errors, the Ducks' defense had an overwhelmingly strong performance. Oregon's defense finished the game with two sacks, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions, both of which were returned for a touchdown.

The No. 6 Oregon Ducks will next face their first Big Ten opponent, the Northwestern Wildcats. The game will take place on Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. PT at Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium.