Could Bedlam Return? Why the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State Rivalry Still Sparks a Fire
It’s been nearly two years since Oklahoma and Texas packed their bags for the SEC, officially leaving behind the Big 12 and, with it, one of college football’s most storied rivalries: Bedlam. The annual clash between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State was more than just a game-it was a cultural event, a heated in-state battle that split households and defined seasons. But when the Sooners left the Big 12, Bedlam went with them.
Now, the conversation is heating up again.
Former Oklahoma defensive lineman Dusty Dvoracek reignited the debate during a radio appearance on KREF in Oklahoma, and he didn’t exactly mince words. “You telling me that Sooner fans wouldn’t love for Oklahoma State to come down from Stillwater and kick their heads in Norman?”
he said. The tone was tongue-in-cheek, but the message was clear: there’s still plenty of appetite for Bedlam, at least from the fans.
But wanting the rivalry back and making it happen are two very different things.
The Scheduling Dilemma
Since joining the SEC, Oklahoma’s schedule has become a gauntlet. The conference’s move to a nine-game league slate means the Sooners only have three non-conference games to work with each season. That’s not a lot of room to maneuver, especially when you’re already locked into future matchups with the likes of Michigan (2026), SMU (2027), Houston (2028), and a home-and-home with Nebraska in 2029 and 2030.
If Bedlam were to return, the earliest realistic window would be 2029. But even then, that would mean Oklahoma facing two Power 4 opponents in the non-conference schedule-something most programs try to avoid unless there's a major payoff, either financially or in terms of playoff implications.
That raises a key question: Is it worth it for Oklahoma to use one of its limited non-conference slots on a game that doesn’t help its playoff resume or recruiting footprint in a meaningful way?
What’s In It for Oklahoma State?
Flip the script, and you’ve got Oklahoma State, a program currently in rebuild mode under new head coach Eric Morris. The Cowboys are coming off a brutal 1-11 season-their worst since going winless in 1991-and while Morris has embraced the challenge, he’s got a long road ahead.
Morris has already voiced support for reviving Bedlam, acknowledging how much the fans want it back. But that’s the easy part. The harder question is whether it makes sense for a rebuilding program to voluntarily take on a high-stakes rivalry game against a national powerhouse three weeks into the season.
In the NIL and transfer portal era, every game on the schedule matters-especially for a coach trying to build momentum and confidence. A marquee matchup might generate buzz, but it could just as easily derail a season before it gets going.
Rivalry vs. Reality
There’s no denying the emotional pull of Bedlam. Rivalries like this are the heartbeat of college football.
They bring out the passion, the pageantry, and the kind of regional pride that makes Saturdays in the fall feel like something sacred. But emotions don’t build schedules-athletic departments and TV contracts do.
Oklahoma made a business decision when it left the Big 12. The SEC brought more money, more exposure, and a tougher path to the College Football Playoff.
The trade-off? Traditions like Bedlam took a backseat.
And while the two schools have continued to meet in other sports-basketball, baseball, softball-the football rivalry has remained on ice. That silence has only amplified the longing for its return.
The Verdict
Right now, Bedlam is more of a memory than a reality. Could it come back?
Sure. But the earliest window is still years away, and even then, the logistics are tricky.
Oklahoma is navigating an unforgiving SEC schedule, and Oklahoma State is trying to rebuild its program from the ground up.
For fans, the idea of Bedlam returning is a no-brainer. It’s tradition, it’s pride, it’s personal.
But for the programs themselves, the calculus is more complicated. Until the timing, the stakes, and the schedules all align, Bedlam might remain exactly what it is today-a great rivalry that’s been put on pause.