Hornet Nation finally has an answer to the question of who will play quarterback for the ESU football team in 2024. On Monday afternoon’s “Hornet Talk,” Emporia State head coach Garin Higgins announced that Gunnar Gundy will be the starter when the Hornets open the year with a Week 0 game against Washburn on Thursday night.

Gundy is in his first season in Emporia after spending three years at Oklahoma State, where his father, Mike, is the head coach. Gundy played in four games last year and finished the season completing 21 of 34 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown while running 15 times for 49 yards and another touchdown. Gundy led Stillwater High School to a 12-1 record in his final season as starting quarterback in 2019, while the Pioneers were state runners-up in each of his final two seasons. Gundy went 32-5 as a starter and was named The Oklahoman’s 2019 Big All-City Offensive Player of the Year, throwing for 3,481 yards and 47 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Gundy takes over for current ESU quarterbacks coach Braden Gleason, who is ESU’s career all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

The Hornets open the year Thursday night against Washburn at Turnpike Tussle. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. on Mix 104.9 with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.