Every time Oklahoma State football takes the field, it feels like Boone Pickens Stadium is stuck in some awkward middle ground. While other schools jumped headfirst into the new world of “pay-for-play, but legally this time,” Oklahoma State hesitated. While NIL money is technically outside the athletic department’s control - handled by collectives and donors - head coach Mike Gundy has become the lightning rod. Gundy’s been the face of OSU football for two decades. You can either pay to keep up or fall behind, and Oklahoma State seems to be the cautionary tale.