Oklahoma State University Athletics
Welcome to Oklahoma State University
Founded in 1890, Oklahoma State University is home of the Cowboys and Cowgirls. A land-grant institution with more than 35,000 students across a five-campus system, we’ve graduated more than 264,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.The Oklahoma State Department of Athletics has won 54 NCAA team national championships, a total that ranks among the very best in the nation. Oklahoma State University has a presence in all 77 counties throughout the state of Oklahoma. Its main campus is located in Stillwater, which was founded in 1884 in north central Oklahoma. The city of Stillwater offers a classic college-town atmosphere, and big-city access with Oklahoma City and Tulsa just an hour away.
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| FAST FACTS | |
| LOCATION | Stillwater, OK |
| FOUNDED | Dec. 25, 1890 |
| COLORS | Orange & Black |
| ENROLLMENT | 24,649 |
| CONFERENCE | Big 12 |
| TEAM NAMES | Cowboys & Cowgirls |
| PRESIDENT | Dr.Jim Hess |
| ATHLETIC DIRECTOR | Chad Weiberg |
| LINKS | |
| OSU Campus Map | |
| Gameday Parking Maps | |
| Gameday Guides | |
| Campus Safety | |
| Fan Code of Conduct | |
| Ticket Information | |
A Bold Aspiration
Oklahoma State University intends to become the nation’s preeminent Land-Grant university From their founding in the nineteenth century, Land-Grant universities have carried a distinctly American charge captured in the words of the Morrill Act of 1862: “to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions in life.”
Through teaching, research and Extension, the Land-Grant institutions steward a timeless responsibility: to raise successive generations of servant-leaders; to engage as vital members of their communities; to bring research and new knowledge to bear to prepare students for the world they will enter; and to extend critical knowledge and expertise to meet society’s most pressing problems — the “Grand Challenges” facing civilization.
| Oklahoma State University's Three Pillars | ||
| Instruction OSU provides the highest quality education in a variety of different majors using the latest teaching methods. |
Research OSU is creating the next generation of scientists, thinkers and scholars through its tradition of research excellence. |
Extension OSU’s Cooperative Extension connects people across the nation and world with the latest research and practical solutions. |
Core Values
Community
Foster a strong sense of community based on shared governance among student, faculty, staff and administration.
Diversity
Respect and value the diversity of individuals, beliefs and opinions.
Service
Serving others is a noble and worthy endeavor and distinguishing feature of a land-grant institution.
Steward of Resources
Dedicated to the efficient and effective use of resources and sustainability.
Excellence
Seek excellence in all endeavors and commitment to continuous improvement.
Integrity
Commitment to the principles of truth and honesty.
Intellectual
Freedom Believe in ethical and scholarly questioning that respects the rights of all to freely pursue knowledge.
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| Oklahoma State University’s Student Union is the most comprehensive in the world. | Old Central is the oldest building on the Oklahoma State University campus. |
America’s Friendliest College Town
Why yes, we really do believe Stillwater, Oklahoma is the place where smiles from strangers are abounding and hometown hospitality is a way of life. Our welcoming spirit is rooted in our Oklahoma history, the diversity forged by Oklahoma State University, and even community hardships that have spurred our strength and camaraderie.
We hope you soak up the vibrancy of our historic downtown, explore Oklahoma State University’s stunning campus, dive into our Red Dirt music scene and discover America’s Friendliest College Town!
Located in Payne County in north central Oklahoma, Stillwater has easy access (less than one-hour drive) to both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Stillwater Regional Airport features multiple daily flights to and from Dallas Fort Worth Airport.
The population of Stillwater is about 50,000 and with Oklahoma State University as its heart, it comes as no surprise that approximately 50 percent of Stillwater residents age 25 years or older have a bachelor’s degree.
America's Greatest Homecoming
OSU’s very first Homecoming was held as part of the Harvest Carnival in the fall of 1913, but it wasn’t until seven years later that the OSU Alumni Association hosted its first official Homecoming celebration. On October 30, 1920, 90 Oklahoma A&M alumni returned to Stillwater for festivities including the Aggie football game plus a dance and a dinner hosted by Alumni Association President Monroe Otey.
Of the 90 alumni in attendance, 50 were from the Stillwater area and 40 were from out of state. It was also in the ‘20s the now-famous tradition of house decorations began when sororities started to decorate their doorways.
In 1930, the first ever Homecoming Parade, a mile long, made its way down Main Street. More than 17,000 alumni returned to Oklahoma A&M that year to renew old friendships and show their pride in the Orange and Black.
In 1942 and 1944, Homecoming was combined with Dads’ and Mothers’ days and sponsored by the YMCA, YWCA, Dads’ and Mothers’ Day Association and the Alumni Association. The combination was a result of World War II and impending gas rationing to occur. Even with the gas rationing and cutbacks on parade floats, decorations and visiting bands, the football game and reunion functions were still well attended.
Following the war in 1946, there was a record attendance of 20,000 alumni and the largest parade was held including more than 50 floats, six bands and other community entries. Over time, the size of the house decorations overtook those of parade floats. In 1966, vehicles were abandoned and onlookers tried a new experiment - they simply “walked around” to view the decorations. Three years later, house decorations began being judged and scored.
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| The Spears School of Business occupies one of the newest buildings on the OSU campus. | The McKnight Center is a home to premiere cultural expression, bringing world class artists to Oklahoma State University. |
New events like the Sign Competition, Football Frenzy and Chili Cook-Off were added in recent decades. Since that time, the event has grown and today is recognized as “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration,” drawing more than 80,000 alumni back to campus each year.
CASE International (Council for Advancement and Support of Education) has recognized OSU’s Homecoming as a Seal of Excellence recipient. This is the highest award given by CASE in the field of Alumni Relations. This prestigious award is given only to programs that serve as models for others. OSU was recognized for the widespread participation and outstanding organization of its Homecoming program.
Most recently, the Homecoming celebration has launched onto the world wide web with photo albums, video highlights and live streams of Walkaround and the Sea of Orange Parade.
In 2010, the OSU Alumni Association began fundraising for the $3 million Homecoming and Student Programs Endowment as part of the $1 billion Branding Success campaign. OSU is one of the only schools left in the nation with an event like Walkaround, and once fully funded, the endowment will ensure future generations of Cowboys will be able to experience “America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration” as we know it today.
OSU’s Homecoming is presented by the OSU Alumni Association and is planned by the student-driven Homecoming Executive, Steering and Big committees. OSU’s Homecoming is a longstanding, exciting and colorful tradition for both campus and community.
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| The Sea of Orange packs Boone Pickens Stadium for every Cowboy Football home game. | Oklahoma State's O'Brate Stadium is among the crown jewels of collegiate baseball. |
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 is one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences, and is under the direction of Commissioner Brett Yormark. In his time at the helm, Yormark has elevated the Conference to new heights, placing an emphasis on marketing, brand building and storytelling that has resonated across the college athletics landscape.
The Big 12 is comprised of 14 institutions after welcoming BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston on July 1, 2023. TCU and West Virginia were the first new additions since inception when they joined the league on July 1, 2012. During the summer of 2023, the Big 12 Board of Directors has voted unanimously to admit Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, the University of Colorado and the University of Utah to the Big 12 Conference. Beginning with the 2024-25 academic year, the Big 12 Conference will be comprised of 16 members - Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, UCF, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, Utah and West Virginia.
In the first year of his tenure, Yormark executed a media rights deal with ESPN and Fox that will run through 2030-31 while leading a revamp of the Big 12 Football and Basketball Championships that resulted in revenue and digital engagement highs. He has taken an innovative approach to ensure the Conference resides in places it has never been before including creating the first Big 12 Business Advisory Board. Other highlights are executing a partnership with the National Football League to operate a conference-wide Pro Day, teaming up with New York City Parks Department for a summer activation at historic Rucker Park, and bringing celebrity talent such as Fat Joe, Ashanti, Shaq and DJ Khaled into the Big 12 marketing fold. “Big 12 Homecoming” will debut during the 2023 football season at the four new members’ campuses with additional conference members featured in future seasons.
The Big 12 office is located in Irving, Texas.
