Bedlam football keeps sliding farther into the rearview mirror, and Oklahoma State just made sure that won’t change anytime soon.
With recent Power 4 schedule additions, the Cowboys have effectively boxed out any realistic chance of a non-conference meeting with Oklahoma for at least the next decade. Unless the rivals cross paths in the postseason, the in-state series that disappeared after the 2023 season - when OU left the Big 12 for the SEC - is now pushed way down the road.
Oklahoma State added a home-and-home with Mississippi State for 2030 and 2031 on Wednesday, and that move matters more than it might first appear. The Bulldogs are trending upward, but the series still fills one of the key windows that could have allowed Bedlam to return.
According to FBSchedules, 2031 was the earliest year both schools had an open slot available for a future Power 4 opponent. Now that opening is gone.
That leaves the rivalry in a holding pattern that, by the current setup, stretches all the way to 2036 at the earliest.
The timing is tied directly to how both schools have filled out their slates. Since the SEC expanded to nine conference games this season, members also have to schedule a non-conference game against another Power 4 team or Notre Dame. Oklahoma already has that requirement covered through 2031, and with nine SEC games on the docket, there’s little incentive to add more unless the College Football Playoff committee eventually starts placing extra weight on strength of schedule.
Here’s the Sooners’ non-conference schedule as it stands now:
2027- Utah State, SMU (in Arlington), San Diego State
2028- Temple, Missouri State, at Houston
2029- at San Diego State, Nebraska
2030- Tulsa, at Nebraska
2031- San Diego State
2032- None
2033- Tulsa
2034- None
2035- at Clemson
2036- Clemson
If Oklahoma were to add another Power 4 opponent, 2031 would have been the cleanest fit. But Oklahoma State just took that year off the board with the second game of its Mississippi State series. Even then, a full home-and-home Bedlam setup still wasn’t looking workable, and there isn’t a neutral-site option in Oklahoma that makes sense.
The Cowboys do have some openings in the early 2030s, but they are not available in a way that helps bring Bedlam back sooner. Oklahoma State plays Arkansas in 2032 and 2033, then Nebraska in 2034 and 2035. Unless something changes through cancellation, 2036 is the first year the series could realistically land on a football schedule again.
And by then, even that may be too optimistic. Oklahoma is likely to keep filling its openings, with athletic director Roger Denny set to start plugging those dates soon. So even if Oklahoma State’s plans shift, the window could close before anyone gets back to the table.
There has been public talk from both sides about wanting the rivalry back. New Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris said during his introductory press conference that he would “Welcome it with open arms.” Denny, too, said in the spring that bringing Bedlam back matters.
"It's huge for our state and our fans," Denny said."We've said pretty openly that's something we think is important to Oklahoma -- the state, not just the institution. So if we have a way to (play Oklahoma State) in a way that doesn't limit our opportunities, certainly that's something we'd want to look into."
But the schedule choices tell a different story. Morris has talked about wanting Bedlam, yet his department has since lined up Michigan State and Mississippi State. Denny said the dates were available, but nothing got done.
Who’s truly avoiding who may never be clear. What is clear is that Oklahoma has no real reason to hurry, given its 91-19-7 edge in the all-time series. And for now, both sides keep saying the right things while the rivalry drifts even deeper into the past and farther into the future.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Faces Two Big Injury Questions Before Kentucky
Oklahoma heads into its matchup with Kentucky still waiting on clarity at a pair of key spots, with cornerback Eli Bowen and offensive tackle Michael Fasusi both listed as questionable in the latest SEC availability report. The Sooners have several other names spread across the injury chart as well, leaving the staff to sort through a mix of probable and unavailable players as kickoff approaches.
Kentuckys report adds another layer to the pregame picture, with former Oklahoma wide receiver Nic Anderson listed as probable for the Wildcats. The board on both sides is crowded enough to make the final injury updates worth watching, especially for an Oklahoma team trying to steady itself before another conference test. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Have Found The O-Line Combo It Needed Most
The Sooners made a notable shuffle up front in their win over Texas, with freshman Noah Best starting at left guard after previously working at right guard and Heath Ozaeta sliding over to right guard despite a minor injury concern. It was the kind of midseason adjustment Oklahoma has been searching for, and the results gave the staff reason to believe it may have settled on a better fit along the line.
Brent Venables and Ben Arbuckle both praised the pair for their toughness and performance, pointing to a running game that looked better after halftime. Ozaeta was listed as questionable for the upcoming game against Kentucky, but the expectation is he will go if he is able, leaving Oklahoma to see whether the same combination can hold together under another week of pressure. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Have Found Exactly What It Needed After Beating Texas
Beating the No. 1 Texas Longhorns did more than snap Oklahomas recent frustrations, it gave this team a clearer sense of who it can be when the pieces start to fit. After a stretch defined by shaky offensive line play and quarterback mistakes, the Sooners looked far more settled in the win, with John Mateer operating more cleanly and the ground game getting meaningful help from Lloyd Avant and Jonathan Hatton Jr.
Will Stein now has a reason to believe the offense can carry some of that confidence into the next stretch, starting with Kentucky and a new-look challenge on the schedule. The question is whether this was just a rivalry jolt or the kind of performance that finally points Oklahoma toward something more stable as the season keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]