Mike Gundy: Ollie Gordon to Play This Fall, No Suspension

LAS VEGAS, NV – Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy announced Tuesday morning at Big 12 Media Days that Doak Walker Award-winning running back, Ollie Gordon II, will not be suspended for any amount of time in the 2024 season following his DUI arrest.

“The truth of the matter is, I had a chance to think about this for a number of days and as you can imagine, I’ve had a number of opinions from a lot of different people, but I have to do what’s best for Oklahoma State football as we move forward and we’re in a different time now,” Mike Gundy told Pokes Report and Triple Play Sports Radio. “We’re not calling players employees, but these guys make a lot of money. Times have changed and whatever decision we made moving forward with Ollie, you’re gonna have some people say it was good and some people say it was bad. So, I did what I thought was best for everybody involved after having conversations with Ollie.

“A suspension drags it from July 9 to August 31. After today, it’s over with, everyone knows what’s going on.”

Gordon II was arrested back on June 30 on suspicion of DUI, with the four following charges

• DUI under 21
• Transport of open container of alcohol
• Failure to maintain lane of traffic
• Speeding 15-20 mph over the limit

“Ollie and I have had multiple conversations over the last week, the first thing I wanted to get a feel for was if he understood how serious this situation could’ve been. I could only offer him my opinion, so I tried to lean more into being a parent than a coach at that point, he got out lucky in that situation. Nobody was hurt, somebody else, himself and the everlasting effect that that has on people’s families.”

Gundy mentioned one of the conversations with Gordon II revolved around the punishment and how to move forward with Big 12 Media Days and moving forward.

“Coach, I think it’s best for me to go. Yes, I want to be there,” Gundy said of what Ollie told him. “I’ve been miserable, I don’t ever want to do this again.” Gundy also mentioned that Sports Information will not be shielding Gordon from any questions from either local or national media.

Gundy also told Triple Play Sports that if there was going to be any punishment, it will be making him carry the ball 50 times in the opening game of the season.

Gordon II had an All-American season in 2023 as a sophomore as he rushed for 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and Doak Walker awards.