Oklahoma State athletics director Chad Weiberg has confirmed that the Cowboys will not be opting into the Big 12's new private capital credit line, a decision that places them among the majority of conference schools taking a pass on the deal.

The Big 12 recently announced a five-year agreement with RedBird and Weatherford Capital that injects at least $12.5 million into the league office. While the deal allows individual schools to access a $30 million credit line each, no university has publicly committed to opting in. According to USA Today, at least 13 of the conference's member schools have already said no.

Speaking on Inside OSU Athletics, Weiberg explained that Oklahoma State has other financial options it can explore before turning to the credit line. "RedBird is a huge global entity with a lot of partnerships," he said. "The conference office will get some money to invest in other business entities and try to grow revenues from different streams. That's worth exploring in this time we're in."

Weiberg emphasized that the school's decision doesn't impact the overall conference deal. "As of right now, that's something that Oklahoma State will not do at this point. Should we need something like that, we believe we'll probably have other avenues or levers we can pull first," he noted, adding that he applauds the commissioner for making the option available.

So what revenue streams does Oklahoma State plan to tap instead? Weiberg pointed to multimedia rights agreements, licensing deals, and the Big 12's television contract with FOX and ESPN. He also highlighted the power of the Cowboys' loyal fan base and brand partnerships as key drivers.

"We've got a great, loyal fan base, and that's still the biggest driver of our revenue streams," Weiberg said. "There are things like multimedia rights and our partnerships with apparel providers—in our case, Nike. Those are all things we have to consider."

For fans and alumni, this measured approach signals confidence in Oklahoma State's existing financial foundation. While the Big 12's private capital deal opens new doors, the Cowboys are betting on their own proven playbook—strong partnerships, fan support, and long-term stability—rather than taking on new debt.