NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will meet one last time as conference rivals in their “Bedlam” series on Saturday.
Oklahoma will leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference after this season, ending the annual matchups in a series that began in 1904 –- three years before Oklahoma became the 46th U.S. state.
Oklahoma leads the series 91-19-7. But Oklahoma State has been competitive enough for stretches in the past 50 years for some to call it a rivalry.
Former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer said Mike Gundy’s current run of success as Oklahoma State’s coach has helped make the series better the past two decades. But though Gundy has a 162-77 overall record, but he is 3-15 against Oklahoma.
“The problem he’s always got is Oklahoma,” Switzer said. “You know, Oklahoma’s is Oklahoma, and good players want to come here because more good things have happened here than there have in Stillwater. Kids want to be a part of championship teams and win national championships.”
Former Oklahoma State coach Pat Jones coached at Oklahoma State from 1984 to 1994 and never beat the Sooners. He coached when Gundy was Oklahoma State’s quarterback and believes the field at Boone Pickens Stadium should bear Gundy’s name.
Even with all that, Jones said the gap in resources has always made competing with Oklahoma difficult.
“Is it a rivalry or a series?” he said. “The numbers attest that it’s a series. I personally think it’ll do Oklahoma State good to get out of it.”
Switzer went 15-1 against Oklahoma State, but he remembers the 1983 win as though it happened yesterday. Oklahoma State led 20-3 in the fourth quarter before “Sooner Magic” happened.
Oklahoma scored two touchdowns and trailed 20-18 in the closing minutes. After Oklahoma’s second touchdown of the quarter, Switzer initially called for an onside kick. He changed his mind, but kicker Tim Lashar didn’t get the memo, so he kicked a line drive that ricocheted off the helmet of Oklahoma State’s Chris Rockins and into the hands of Oklahoma’s Scott Case. Lashar kicked the game-winning field goal with 1:14 remaining.
Oklahoma’s band made its presence felt that day in Stillwater. Director Gene Thrailkill told his band to play the school fight song non-stop to the point that he was escorted off the field for not having a sideline pass. It was so noticeable that Switzer gave the band the game ball.
“They just had to listen to them keep playing, and they never shut up,” Switzer said with a laugh. “And we ended up winning the game.”
Here’s a look back at other memorable games in the series:
1976
Oklahoma State 31, No. 5 Oklahoma 24
Oklahoma was the two-time defending national champion, and Oklahoma State had only beaten the Sooners twice since 1945.
Terry Miller ran for 159 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown run early in the game.
