College football has always been a game of momentum - on the field and off it. But what’s happening right now at Oklahoma State and Iowa State? This is something else entirely.
Just a month ago, these two teams were lining up across from each other in Stillwater. Same helmets, same coaches, same rosters fans had been watching all season.
It felt like a typical late-season Big 12 clash. Fast forward 30 days, and both programs are nearly unrecognizable - not because of a bad bowl loss or a recruiting miss, but because of the transfer portal.
Since that game, Oklahoma State has seen 43 players hit the portal. Iowa State?
Right behind with 42. That’s not just a high number - that’s the highest in the country.
Two teams that shared the field just weeks ago are now leading the nation in roster turnover. That’s not a coincidence.
That’s a sign of how fast things can flip in the modern college football landscape.
And while losing that many players would be jarring under any circumstances, both programs are also undergoing coaching transitions - which only accelerates the churn. Oklahoma State made the bold move to part ways with longtime head coach Mike Gundy midseason, ushering in a new era under Eric Morris, fresh off his stint with North Texas. That’s a full-on reset, and the roster is reflecting it.
Iowa State’s shift was less planned. When Matt Campbell took the job at Penn State, the Cyclones were left scrambling.
They landed on Jimmy Rogers to steer the ship, but the transition hasn’t been smooth. The roster now sits at just 32 scholarship players - and many of those haven’t seen meaningful snaps.
That’s not just a rebuild. That’s a full-scale restart.
This isn’t about wins and losses anymore - at least not right away. This is about survival in the portal era.
It’s not just a new wrinkle in roster management; it’s a wholesale redefinition of what program-building looks like. The long-term developmental model?
That’s getting pushed aside in favor of immediate adaptability. Can you recruit?
Sure. But more importantly - can you re-recruit your own roster?
Can you plug holes faster than they open up?
What’s happening in Ames and Stillwater is a case study in just how quickly things can change. Thirty days ago, these teams were battling on the field. Today, they’re battling to fill out a two-deep.
Welcome to the new era of college football - where the offseason hits harder than the regular season, and where a month can turn a stable program into a blank slate.