Oklahoma's Trace Ford Calls out Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy: 'He Loves Being Petty'

Oklahoma defensive lineman Trace Ford, who transferred last offseason after four seasons with Oklahoma State, was not impressed by Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy saying he had "not paid attention" to Ford's game tape ahead of Saturday's rivalry showdown.

"He is really smart with the media. He knows exactly what to say," Ford said Thursday on Oklahoma City's WWLS radio, per ESPN's Dave Wilson. "He's a little celebrity when it comes to that stuff. He loves being petty, and I can't wait to play him. I can't wait to see his face. If he hasn't seen me on film yet, I hope he does this weekend."

The same radio station asked Gundy about Ford on Monday, per Wilson.

"I've watched a lot of tape and honestly have not paid not paid attention or noticed," Gundy answered. "I look at concepts, schemes, numbers. ... What to attack, what I want to stay away from, things like that more so necessarily than who it would be, so I don't really notice things like that."

Ford will face his former coach on Saturday when No. 10 Oklahoma plays at Oklahoma State. He has 10 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, and one defensive interception through eight games this season.

Ford has so far this season had better injury luck than his last two campaigns with the Cowboys. He suffered two ACL tears, one in each knee, in the span of less than a year, cutting his 2020 season short and entirely ending his 2021 campaign. He returned in 2022 only to suffer a fractured kneecap with four games left in the season.

After three severe knee injuries, it was unclear if Ford would be able to return to the dominance he displayed for the Cowboys in 2019 and 2020 when he racked up 51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 23 games across two seasons.

Through eight games, the Sooners seem pleased with his comeback. Ford was named one of the team's Week 10 captains for the upcoming Bedlam Series showdown.

This weekend will present a challenge for Ford and the Oklahoma defense even outside of the rivalry.

Oklahoma State's offense is coming off three of its best rushing games of the season after clearing 200 yards on the ground in wins against Kansas and West Virginia and reaching 300 rushing yards for the first time this season in last Saturday's loss to Cincinnati.

Disrupting the defensive scheme that has allowed Ford's old teammate Ollie Gordon to lead all college running backs with 1,087 rushing yards will present a challenge for the defensive lineman.

If he succeeds, Ford's wish of Gundy watching his film is likely to come true.