New year, same insanity.
Following a two-day heater of Todd Monken rumors, Kasey Dunn info and finally a Tylan Wallace confirmation, the mill continues to churn in 2020 with Chuba Hubbard’s upcoming decision looming large.
We decided to try and compile everything we know, think, don’t know and would like to know based on everyone involved.
What We Know
• Kasey Dunn is staying. This is an open secret by now. He’s not going to UNLV. He’ll be coaching at OSU again next season in some capacity.
What We Believe
• I believe Todd Monken has (at the very least) been contacted. I noted this the other day, but this could mean any number of things. The most notable thing here, though, is that there isn’t currently a job opening in Stillwater for him to apply for. Also, though there’s some smoke there, I think it’s more “hey, so where’s Monken going to work next year?” smoke than anything else. For now.
• I believe Chuba Hubbard is returning. I now think that based on conversations with various people. One person close to the situation said he feels good about Chuba returning, and when you combine that with other convos I’ve had with people I trust, plus the player troll job on Thursday night, I now think this is going to happen. That could change five times before his actual announcement, but I think now I would be slightly surprised if he left (which is crazy!).
• I also believe he’s the most fluid of all of these entities. That by this time tomorrow or Saturday, things could have flipped. It’s exactly like recruiting, but with far higher stakes.
What We Don’t Know
• What’s up with Sean Gleeson. I haven’t been able to get very close to that one. It remains a mystery, although the logic of Dunn staying and presumably getting (another) raise, extension and responsibilities bump implies that it wouldn’t be wildly surprising to see Gleeson either move on or his role diminished. One person I trust said potential co-OC for Dunn.
• When Chu will make his decision. Again, not much would surprise me here, but between the Canada troll and some other chatter, I wouldn’t be surprised if we go into the weekend with an answer.
What We’d Like to Know
• How the Tylan news has affected Chuba. If you haven’t read this on Tua’s decision, it’s fascinating. We make these things so binary (raises hand as chief culprit), but what Chuba and Tylan just want to come back and try to win a Big 12 title together?
Also, this hasn’t gotten nearly enough eyeball emojis.
• How Chuba’s family is affecting things. Again on the Tua piece, I think we think coaches or players or money or whatever has the most sway. I think more often than not, it’s actually probably your family.
• What the Lincoln Riley situation is. He lost a big-time QB recruit this week, which might mean nothing but also might not mean nothing. Related: What the Matt Rhule situation is. What if OSU returns Chuba and Tylan and the two coaches coaching in last year’s Big 12 title game are coaching in the NFL next year? Unlikely … not impossible.
Lincoln logs and matty ice take a step up.