Bedlam’s gridiron days are numbered according to a new report out Tuesday.
The report from Action Network’s Brett McMurphy says athletic directors for the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University both confirmed the state rivalry between the schools’ football teams will end once the Sooners leave the Big 12 for the SEC in 2025.
OU, along with the University of Texas, received invitations from the SEC in July 2021, with the expectation of officially joining for the 2025-26 academic year.
Athletic directors from both schools cited scheduling issues as the top reason fans won’t see the annual clash.
“It (playing Oklahoma) presents logistical issues under our current (scheduling) structure ... We don’t have any openings to play them. We’re full. Unless there are significant undertakings to make the game happen, it can’t happen,” said OSU Athletic Director Chad Weiberg, according to the report.
“Oklahoma State has shown no interest to schedule any future games in football, so we’re moving on (with filling OU’s future nonconference openings),” said OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione.
Per the report, both athletic directors are confident the Bedlam series will continue between the schools in all other sports except football. Weiberg said the ending of the football rivalry is one of the consequences of OU’s decision to leave the Big 12.
“It’s disappointing for the people of the state of Oklahoma,” said Weiberg.
OSU Head Coach Mike Gundy said in July he personally believed the series would end, saying “Bedlam’s history.”
“When you look at, we’re scheduled out through 2032 or ‘33, something like that. And most conferences, once all this settles down, you’re going to have a minimum of nine conference games in my opinion,” Gundy said. “You’re talking about contract buyouts and you’re talking about convincing head coaches to play another game, which would be like playing another conference game.”
FOX23 has reached out for comment from both schools and has not heard back. This year, the Sooners host the Cowboys in Norman on Nov. 19.