Oklahoma
What will 2025 bring for Oklahoma State athletics? We make 25 bold predictions for Pokes
STILLWATER — The new year is always a good time for prognostication.
Oklahoma State enters the 2025 calendar year with a mix of excitement, hope and curiosity — and maybe a hint of anxiousness — depending on the sport you’re following.
So let’s dive into what’s ahead for the Cowboys and Cowgirls with 25 predictions for 2025:
Football
1. A 9-win season for the Pokes
After a dramatic and difficult offseason, coach Mike Gundy and his rebuilt coaching staff turn the Cowboys around. They triple their win total from 2024, posting a nine-win season and contending for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game until the final weekend of the regular season.
2. Rodney Fields Jr. has a breakout year
A native of Wright City and a graduate of Del City High School, Fields becomes a homegrown star, rushing for over 1,000 yards in his redshirt freshman season.
3. Malik Charles is Big 12’s top defensive newcomer
The Cowboy defense’s breakout player will be one who has yet to play a major college snap. OSU fans, familiarize yourself with West Georgia transfer Malik Charles, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound defensive end who didn’t fully dedicate himself to football until after high school.
4. Gabe Panikowski contends for another trophy
New OSU placekicker Gabe Panikowski is a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award one year after he won the Fred Mitchell Award as college football’s top kicker below the FBS level.
5. A speedy NFL combine showing for Korie Black
Korie Black runs a top-five time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, helping to boost his draft stock.
6. Ollie Gordon II goes early in the NFL Draft
Also benefiting from a strong performance at the combine, running back Ollie Gordon II is the first Cowboy selected in the NFL Draft, going in the second round.
7. Six Pokes drafted
Receiver Brennan Presley is picked in the seventh round of the draft, making it six former Pokes to be chosen in the three-day event.
Wrestling
8. OSU wrestling back atop Big 12
With several wrestlers making deep runs through their brackets, OSU returns to the top of the Big 12 with a championship at the BOK Center in Tulsa, edging Missouri and Arizona State in the championship session.
9. Four Cowboys reach NCAA wrestling finals
With four wrestlers reaching the NCAA finals, the Cowboys finish second to Penn State in the chase for a national title, announcing themselves as a legit threat to the Nittany Lions’ dynasty.
10. Special recognition for David Taylor
In his first season leading the Cowboys, David Taylor is named college wrestling coach of the year after guiding OSU to a resurgent season that establishes the basis of the program’s expectations going forward.
Women’s basketball
11. A 3-pointer record for the Cowgirls
Cowgirl basketball sets the Big 12 record for 3-pointers in a game with 21 — if not more. They’ve already tied the record of 20 in a game earlier this season, and Micah Gray set the OSU record, making 10 in a game.
12. A ‘W’ in the Big Dance
The Cowgirls get their first NCAA Tournament win under head coach Jacie Hoyt, who gave birth to her first child, a daughter, in mid-December.
Men’s basketball
13. Four league wins on the hardwood
Despite showing notable improvement on the court, the men’s basketball team ends with the same number of Big 12 wins as it did a year ago. The current version of the conference is a murderers’ row, particularly for a program trying to rebuild.
14. Bryce Thompson to the G League
Getting his professional shot the nearly same way former Cowboy and current Golden State Warrior Lindy Waters III did, OSU guard Bryce Thompson lands on the roster of the NBA G League’s Oklahoma City Blue.
Baseball
15. Nolan Schubart drops 30 bombs
Slugging outfielder Nolan Schubart hits 30 home runs on his rise to being a first-round selection in the MLB Draft.
16. A road regional win for Cowboy baseball
The baseball team fails to earn an NCAA Regional host berth as a top-16 seed, but advances to the Super Regional round on the road, falling one win short of a spot in the Men’s College World Series.
17. Happy Holliday goes No. 1
Though he’s committed to OSU, Ethan Holliday never makes it to campus. The nephew of Cowboy coach Josh Holliday follows in the footsteps of older brother Jackson in being selected No. 1 overall in the MLB Draft.
Softball
18. Karli Godwin sets Cowgirl homer record
Softball’s Karli Godwin breaks the program record for home runs in a season with 21. The record of 20 is held by Sam Show. Godwin hit 15 homers last year, setting the OSU freshman record.
19. Cowgirls conquer Big 12
The softball team asserts its dominance over the new-look Big 12 with an overpowering run to win the regular-season title, followed by a Big 12 Tournament championship as well.
20. Sixth straight WCWS trip
For the sixth straight time, OSU earns a spot in the Women’s College World Series, coming in Kenny Gajewski’s 10th season as coach.
Tennis
21. A banner to hang
Cowgirl tennis brings the school its first NCAA national championship in women’s athletics. OSU won the ITA indoor title last season, but that isn’t an officially recognized NCAA championship.
Equestrian
22. An equestrian five-peat
On its way to another strong showing at nationals, OSU equestrian wins the Big 12 Championship for the fifth straight time.
Golf
23. Elite Eight for men’s golf
Relying on a consistently balanced lineup, Cowboy golf advances to the matchplay bracket as a top-eight team in the NCAA Championships.
Olympics
24. Golden going for gold
Once again showing off her broad athletic talents, former OSU women’s basketball and track athlete Bailey Golden qualifies for the 2026 Olympics as part of the USA Bobsled team.
Facilities
25. New facilities on the horizon
OSU announces that it has the funding for an indoor track facility and a new softball stadium, along with breaking ground on the previously announced Boone Pickens Human Performance Innovation Complex.
The Western Conference Finals are at a stalemate thanks to chronic turnovers by the San Antonio Spurs. On top of that, Chet Holmgren finally showed up to the series, and OKC’s bench scored an abundance of relief points, which included Alex Caruso shooting like prime Klay Thompson. The series will now shift to San Antonio.
The Spurs never fell into a big crater (only 13 points), yet that deficit might as well be twice that with how desperate and physical the Thunder were playing. Victor Wembanyama was not the leading scorer this time (21 points, 17 rebounds, six assists) but his rim protection had opposing players seeing ghosts, rushing shots and trying to sell calls. But despite valiant efforts and multiple moments in which the deficit was cut to one possession, there wasn’t enough enough disruption at the arc, and the offense wasn’t flowing the same after Dylan Harper left with a leg injury in the third quarter.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education has launched the Oklahoma Educator Launch & Mentorship Initiative, a statewide effort aimed at improving teacher recruitment and retention through training, mentorship and financial support for educators.
Oklahoma Teacher Initiative
The program includes a five-day Summer Launch Institute scheduled for July 27–31, 2026, followed by year-long mentorship support for first-year teachers.
OSDE said new teachers will be paired with experienced educators throughout the school year to help strengthen classroom readiness and long-term retention.
“Participating first-year teachers may earn up to $2,000 in stipends, while mentors may receive up to $10,000 for supporting new educators,” said Autumn Kouba, OSDE’s senior director of teacher recruitment and retention.
Focus On Teacher Recruitment and Retention
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindel Fields said the initiative is designed to support teachers early in their careers while recognizing experienced educators who serve as mentors.
“Recruiting great teachers is only part of the equation,” Fields said in a release. “We also have to ensure they feel supported, prepared, and encouraged to remain in the profession.”
Program Details
- Summer Launch Institute runs July 27–31, 2026
- First-year teachers can receive up to $2,000 in stipends
- Mentors may earn up to $10,000
- Retired educators and experienced teachers can apply as mentors
What happens next?
Applications are open now, and the Summer Launch Institute begins July 27, 2026.
From their favorite music to their Braum’s order, Oklahoma City-area high school athletes have a wide range of views.
The Oklahoman asked each athlete who attended an annual media day to answer those questions and more.
Let’s get to know the athletes in the Prep Spotlight:
Order book on Oklahoma HS basketball at ‘The Big House’
Logan Janaway, Washington
Sport: Golf
Class: Sr. | Ht./Wt.: 6-5/240
College choice: Seminole State
Social media: @janawaylogan (Instagram)
Favorite Braum’s order: “Chicken strip dinner”
Favorite pregame musical artist and/or song: “Firefly” by Ty Myers
What’s your dream career outside of being a professional athlete? “Pharmacist”
Who’s the best athlete you’ve played against?: “(Oklahoma State golfer and former Community Christian star) Collin Bond”
If you could change your school mascot, what would it be and why?: “Bugs because annoying”
Nick Sardis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Nick? He can be reached at nsardis@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @nicksardis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Nick’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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