Tag: Mike Gundy

Could ‘Backyard Brawl’ renewal provide hope for future of Bedlam?

A renewal of the old Big East rivalry between West Virginia and Pittsburgh should serve as a springboard to continue Bedlam after Oklahoma goes to the SEC.

Conference realignment has taken its toll on the traditional landscape of college football. Conferences and rivalries that were once beloved have shifted into occasional nonconference matchups. It took a decade to get Oklahoma and Nebraska on the books for their home and home in 2021 and 2022.

Other major rivalries haven’t fared so well.

Texas and Texas A&M haven’t played since the Aggies left for the SEC. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State’s Bedlam matchup is threatened after OU decided to move to the SEC following the 2025 season.

Oklahoma State President Kayse Shrum didn’t mince words about her disappointment in the University of Oklahoma’s “lack of engagement and transparency” when the news broke last summer. Shrum was noncommittal to continuing Bedlam in August and Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy stated that he didn’t think it would continue when speaking to the media in November.

“I don’t think it will. I just don’t think there’s a business side of it that…I don’t make that decision. I guess Dr. Shrum and Chad Weiberg, they could do whatever they wanted or the board. I don’t know who’s involved in this. I don’t think it’s a realistic thing that it’s going to happen based on the business side of power-five conference football in the Big 12 or the SEC. That’s just my opinion on it. I mean, I could be wrong and I’m not getting that from anybody. I’m just answering the question you asked me,” Gundy said.

Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg took a “maybe” approach back in December, citing the potential conflicts of nonconference games as schedules are created years in advance.

It’s a game that Joseph Harroz and the University of Oklahoma want to continue, but it takes two to tango. While Gundy has his doubts and Shrum may not be eager to play in the same sandbox as Harroz, another old rivalry, which has been renewed provides a glimmer of hope for the future of Bedlam.

“The Backyard Brawl.”

Former Big East league mates Pittsburgh and West Virginia will renew the once-storied rivalry in 2022 and it will run home and home matchups for the next four seasons. According to ESPN’s Heather Dinich, the two sides added four more years to their agreement to run from 2029 through 2032.

While the conference realignment that occurred a decade ago hit the Big 12 significantly with the losses of Nebraska, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Colorado, the Big East was put in a worse situation.

The ACC came for Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Syracuse. The Big 10 added Rutgers and Maryland. The Big 12 took West Virginia to give them an east coast presence. Cincinnati, Connecticut, Temple, and South Florida were relegated to Group of Five status in the American Athletic Conference.

What we knew of the Big East was no more. And the “Backyard Brawl” a game played between schools just 75 miles apart on Interstate 79. Pittsburgh and West Virginia have met 104 times in their history.

Norman and Stillwater are just 80 miles apart and the two sides have done battle on the gridiron 106 times.

The games and their histories are too similar.

The two sides in the Backyard Brawl provide a glimmer of hope that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will be able to figure out a scenario where Bedlam continues even after the Sooners and the Longhorns depart for the SEC. The game means too much to the state and to the two schools.

The rivalry could turn petty and go the way of Texas and Texas A&M who will be forced to play nice when they meet in the SEC. Or Oklahoma State and Oklahoma could use “The Backyard Brawl” as a springboard to a renewal of common interest in one of the state’s biggest and most important events.

Eventually, cooler heads will prevail and the two sides will work out an agreement to keep the game going long after they are no longer conference bunkmates. And when that day comes, the reaction will be one that fits the moniker of the game…

Bedlam.

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Oklahoma Sooners receive 5 new Crystal Ball predictions from OUInsider Parker Thune

The Oklahoma Sooners are coming off a massive recruiting weekend and that work is already paying dividends.

While the most recent recruiting weekend looks like it was a resounding success, prospects from previous recruiting weekends with the Oklahoma Sooners have taken time to digest their time in Norman. For some, the time spent analyzing where the Sooners fall in their recruitment has led some of college football’s biggest recruiting insiders to believe there’s significant momentum for Oklahoma in regards to some of these prospects.

The momentum is so real that recruiting analyst Parker Thune of OUInsider at 247Sports was confident enough to issue Crystal Ball predictions for several Oklahoma Sooners’ targets. We’ve taken the liberty of chronicling those below for your viewing pleasure:

Big 12 coaches ranked by career win percentage

With turnover of three of the conference’s programs, here’s a look at how the current Big 12 coaches stack up in win percentage.

The Big 12 saw some head coach turnover from the 2021 season. Gone are Lincoln Riley, Matt Wells, and Gary Patterson and in are Brent Venables, Joey McGuire, and Sonny Dykes.

Dykes is the only one of the three with head coaching experience having spent time at Louisiana Tech, Cal, and SMU before taking over the TCU Horned Frogs. For much of the 2021 season, SMU looked to be the biggest threat to Cincinnati’s AAC title and playoff aspirations before a late-season collapse allowed Houston to challenge the Bearcats in the AAC title game.

McGuire made a name for himself in the Texas high school football ranks. He led Cedar Hill to three state championships in his tenure. After that he spent time on Baylor’s staff as an assistant before landing at Texas Tech. He might have limited college experience, but he’s a well respected name in Texas high school circles that should give the Red Raiders a boost on the recruiting trail.

Venables is arguably the most successful defensive coordinator of the last decade, helping Clemson win two national titles and predicting countless NFL prospects. No team had more sacks than the Tigers in the last decade in Venables pressure scheme. Bringing back Venables, the Sooners hope to recreate that success in Norman ahead of a future move to the SEC.

How 247Sports experts see Notre Dame vs Oklahoma State playing out

Who wins the biggest games this bowl season?

The bowl season is in full force but the biggest games are still waiting to be played. In just a few days, Notre Dame and Oklahoma State will face off against each other in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.

The New Year’s Six game’s along with the College Football Playoff semi-finals are right around the corner. That will get many experts guessing how the games will play out. That’s what 247Sports did, as Chris Hummer and Brad Crawford made their selections for those games.

Obviously they included the Irish taking on the Cowboys, a game that is very important for Marcus Freeman more than Mike Gundy. Both of them picked Notre Dame to win, but in a closely contested game. Hummer and Crawford have the margin of victory under a touchdown, meaning we could be seeing a game that goes down to the wire.

Our staff predictions have bet to revealed, they will soon, so keep an eye out for them as we give our predictions to how the biggest games of the bowl season will play out.

Mike Gundy trolls Ohio State using Jim Harbaugh quote

Did Oklahoma State and Michigan just become best friends?

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After Michigan football beat Ohio State 42-27 on Nov. 27, Jim Harbaugh threw a thinly veiled comment at Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day, saying ‘some people wake up on third base and think they hit a triple.’

This was in response to the question about hearing all the chatter coming from Columbus, whether it was Day’s ‘we’re gonna hang 100 on them,’ to defensive tackle Tyleik Williams stomping on a J.J. McCarthy jersey in a video. Harbaugh, of course, was essentially saying that Day didn’t build the Ohio State program, he inherited a powerhouse as built by Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer.

Well, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy is getting into the act.

The Buckeyes stole away the Cowboys defensive coordinator in Jim Knowles this offseason, and on early signing day, apparently Gundy wasn’t going to take that poaching idly. After acknowledging the departure, Gundy used the same idiom but wasn’t as thinly veiled about it.

“Consistency is the most important thing in building a big-time college football program, in my opinion,” Gundy added. “Now, I’ve never been at some of these schools where as people say you wake up on third base and you think you hit a triple. I’ve never been there, so I don’t know what it’s like to coach at a school like that. Coach Knowles will know.”

Assuredly, like Harbaugh’s comment after The Game, this will be likely to rankle some feathers in Columbus.

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Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg wants Bedlam to continue in all sports but football once Oklahoma leaves for SEC

Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg said the Cowboys’ athletic department wants to continue Bedlam in all sports but football.

Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg provided an update on the future of the Bedlam Series.

Weiberg said Thursday at the Sports Business Journal Intercollegiate Athletics Forum in Las Vegas that the Cowboys’ athletics department hopes to continue the Bedlam rivalry with Oklahoma in all sports except football.

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy shared Weiberg’s comments on Twitter.

While Weiberg didn’t rule out Bedlam continuing in football, he noted how future schedules could act as a roadblock.

“I’m not saying we would never play them, but logistics need to be worked out. There are a lot of unanswered questions,” Weiberg said per McMurphy’s tweet.

The future of the Bedlam series has been in doubt ever since Oklahoma and Texas accepted invitations to join the Southeastern Conference. OU and Texas leadership have stated that they intend to remain in the Big 12 conference until the league’s media grant of rights deal expires on June 30, 2025.

Naturally, it again became a storyline leading up to this season’s edition of Bedlam. Oklahoma State head football coach Mike Gundy addressed the future of the rivalry on Nov. 22 and said his expectation was that the series’ future was in jeopardy.

“I don’t think it will. I just don’t think there’s a business side of it that…I don’t make that decision. I guess Dr. Shrum and Chad Weiberg, they could do whatever they wanted or the board. I don’t know who’s involved in this. I don’t think it’s a realistic thing that it’s going to happen based on the business side of power-five conference football in the Big 12 or the SEC. That’s just my opinion on it. I mean, I could be wrong and I’m not getting that from anybody. I’m just answering the question you asked me,” Gundy said.

Gundy referenced the new members that will be joining the Big 12 in the coming seasons—BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF—and said it’s unlikely Oklahoma State would want to play Bedlam in addition to its existing non-conference commitments and future conference schedule.

“So, that’s 10 power-five conference [games], so if you’re going to go back into this game, you would be willing to play 11 out of a 12-game season, which would be extremely difficult,” Gundy said.

Gundy also discussed how adding another difficult non-conference opponent could affect Oklahoma State’s financial bottom line.

“And, from a business standpoint, we all know this. The more success and games you win in football is a huge revenue avenue for your athletic department and your university, because the more you win in football, enrollment goes up. That’s the fact. Marketing money goes up. There’s a huge amount of money involved in that. So, you would say, if we were running a company and you’re in a business standpoint, somebody would have to make a decision. Do you want to risk some of that and how many other teams across the country that are competing to get into the final four are willing to play 11 conference games and only have one non-conference based on the amount of money that could be sitting there at the end? Whether you like it or not, I’m guessing that’s what’s going to take place,” Gundy said.

Oklahoma State snapped what had been a six-game losing streak in Bedlam by rallying to beat Oklahoma 37-33 on Nov. 27.

Oklahoma true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns against the Cowboys, but the Sooners’ offense was held scoreless in the second half.

Redshirt junior running back Kennedy Brooks carried 22 times for 139 yards against Oklahoma State.

The two teams are set to meet on Nov. 19, 2022, in what will be Oklahoma’s regular season home finale next season.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

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How social media reacted to Baylor’s win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship

It was a tight ball game that came within inches of a different outcome, but Baylor held on to beat Oklahoma State to win the Big 12 title.

Coming off of an impressive win over the Oklahoma Sooners in Bedlam, the Oklahoma State Cowboys figured to be in line to win their first Big 12 title. Blake Shapen and the Baylor Bears had other plans as they jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the first half off of the true freshman quarterback’s impressive performance.

Coming into this contest, the Oklahoma State Cowboys had allowed just nine passing touchdowns on the season, but Shapen threw three in the first half to give the Bears their big lead.

For the second straight week, the Cowboys’ defense held the opposing offense scoreless, but the Bears’ defense was able to hold on in the second half despite a serious comeback effort from Spencer Sanders and the Cowboys.

Sanders, who threw four interceptions in this game, was great in the final three minutes, leading the Cowboys to first and goal inside the five-yard line against Baylor. Baylor’s defense, as they had all game long, held strong at the goal line to preserve the win.

Though it’s not a Sooners win, Oklahoma fans were tuned into this contest, and here are some of the best social media reactions from the Baylor Bears 23-16 Big 12 championship win over Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys tied 24-24 at halftime of Bedlam

At halftime of Bedlam, the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys are in a barn burner tied at 24 apiece.

In what many thought would be a defensive battle, the complete opposite has broken out in this 2021 version of Bedlam. The Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys enter the half tied at 24 apiece after an interception by cornerback Woodi Washington set the Sooners up in the red zone leading to a beautiful touchdown pass from Caleb Williams to Brayden Willis.

Williams has seemingly freed himself from the funk that he was in for the last two games. His arm has kept the Sooners in the game and has them going blow for blow with an Oklahoma State team that has completely deviated from the ball control, run-heavy offense many expected.

The two teams traded punts on their opening possessions before Spencer Sanders found Tay Martin on the outside for a 30-yard touchdown. The Sooners would answer as Caleb Williams hit H-Back Jeremiah Hall for a huge gain, setting up Williams and Brian Darby’s 9-yard connection for a touchdown.

They would trade touchdowns back and forth before the Sooners would have to settle for a field goal on their first possession after giving up a 100-yard kick return to Brennan Pressley to make it 21-17 Cowboys.

The Cowboys would answer once more with a field goal of their own after being stymied in the red zone thanks to a massive tackle for loss by All-American Nik Bonitto. The play was huge as a touchdown would’ve given the Cowboys an 11 point lead.

Instead, with Oklahoma State driving late in the second quarter, Woodi Washington jumped a route, picked off Sanders, returning it to the red zone. Caleb Williams then threw a beautiful ball to H-back Brayden Willis for the game-tying touchdown.

To round out the half, Williams ended up 14 of 21 for 204 yards and three touchdowns. Perhaps the best throw of the first half was this one to Austin Stogner, who made an incredible catch before throwing up the “X,” former Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant’s touchdown celebration.

Heading into the second half, the Sooners will need to figure out the Cowboys’ offense as they often looked confused and out of place multiple times in the first half.

5 Bold Predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys

5 Bold Predictions as the Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Bedlam.

In a highly anticipated matchup of top 10 teams in the College Football Playoff rankings, the No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners travel to Stillwater to take on the No. 7 Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Oklahoma faces their rival on the heels of back-to-back subpar performances for an offense that was rolling through Texas, TCU, and Texas Tech. The Cowboys look to be playing the best football they’ve played all season. Oklahoma State boasts one of the best defenses in the country, which will pose a significant challenge to Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams.

As the Sooners get set to take on the Cowboys, here are 5 Bold Predictions for this week’s matchup.

Mike Gundy says Bedlam rivalry continuing isn’t a ‘realistic thing’ once Oklahoma joins SEC

The Oklahoma State coach doesn’t have high hopes for Bedlam after Oklahoma exits the Big 12.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy has his doubts about the future of the Bedlam rivalry game with Oklahoma, which is set to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC in 2025.

In July, Oklahoma and Texas accepted invitations to join the SEC, and although that move isn’t scheduled for a few more years, it’s possible the schools could attempt to exit the Big 12 earlier. And with nonconference games often being scheduled out years in advance — along with BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF joining the Big 12 no later than 2024 — Gundy doesn’t have high hopes for the continuation of Bedlam, which dates all the way back to 1904, with the two teams eventually being in different conferences.

Ahead of the 116th matchup between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma on Saturday, Gundy explained his thinking Monday. Via the Tulsa World:

“I don’t think it’s a realistic thing that it’s going to happen based on the business side of Power 5 conference football, the Big 12 or the SEC,” Gundy said Monday. “That’s just my opinion on it. I could be wrong. I’m not getting that from anybody.”

He acknowledged he’s not been in those discussions and is guessing, but added:

“I don’t think it will (continue),” Gundy said. “I just don’t think there’s a business side of it. I don’t make that decision. I guess Dr. (Kayse) Shrum and (athletic director) Chad Weiberg, they can do whatever they wanted. Or the board, I don’t know who’s involved in this.”

It is, however, still very possible for Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to reach an agreement to continue playing each other as nonconference opponents. But, as Gundy noted, it could be a challenge with scheduling requirements within the respective conferences.

Per the Tulsa World, the Cowboys coach said he expects the Big 12 to continue its nine-game conference schedule once BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF join the mix. The SEC currently has an eight-game conference schedule, but that could also change with the addition of the Sooners and Longhorns.

So Gundy sees the continuation of Bedlam leading to consistently challenging schedules or simply impossible options for the rivalry series. More via the Tulsa World:

“If you’re going to go back into this game, you would be willing to play 11 (Power 5 teams) out of a 12-game season, which would be extremely difficult,” he said. “And from a business standpoint, we all know this: the more success in games you win in football is a huge revenue avenue for your athletic department and your university. Because the more you win in football, enrollment goes up. That’s a fact. Marketing money goes up. There’s a huge amount of money involved in that.”

“Do you want to risk some of that?”

No. 13 Oklahoma takes on No. 9 Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC), entering the game as two one-loss teams at the top of the Big 12 standings. As of Tuesday, the Cowboys are 3.5-point favorites, per Tipico Sportsbook.

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