Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: A way we can keep Bedlam alive – Future Sooners schedule idea…

By Brandon Self

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 19: Long snapper Matt Hembrough #53 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys snaps the ball for a field goal with protection from lineman Jake Springfield #61, lineman Caleb Etienne #76, and defensive end Kody Walterscheid #96 against the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter during Bedlam at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 28-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 19: Long snapper Matt Hembrough #53 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys snaps the ball for a field goal with protection from lineman Jake Springfield #61, lineman Caleb Etienne #76, and defensive end Kody Walterscheid #96 against the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter during Bedlam at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 19, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners won 28-13. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Keep the State Divided

With the Oklahoma football program slated to move to the SEC in 2024, it looks like the beloved Bedlam rivalry with Oklahoma State is dead. Nothing beats good old-fashioned neighborly hatred, so how can we keep the Bedlam rivalry alive? We have an idea to keep the State somewhat divided for years.

The SEC will announce the Sooners’ 2024 conference schedule on June 14. This will be temporary due to the enhanced nature of the Sooners and Longhorns’ move to the South; however, there is still an opportunity for Bedlam to occur.

The Sooners will have Temple and Tulane come to Norman in 2024, as these games have already been scheduled. The SEC typically has their schools play an FCS opponent in late November. This leaves one game slot open on a 12-game regular season schedule.

So… here’s our plan. Moving forward, let’s have a Bedlam kickoff each football season. Rivalry week often occurs late in the year, usually during the last week of the season. But, a new tradition could be started in the Sooner state by having the Sooners and Cowboys go at it in week one of every college football season.

Oklahoma’s Brayden Willis (9) leaps over Oklahoma State’s Mason Cobb (0) and Sean Michael Flanagan (18) during a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.Bedlam Football
Oklahoma’s Brayden Willis (9) leaps over Oklahoma State’s Mason Cobb (0) and Sean Michael Flanagan (18) during a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022.Bedlam Football /

It is common to see opening kickoffs for week one’s most significant games occur at a neutral site. LSU-Florida State is neutral in 2024, as has been whoever is slated in the Chick-Fil-A kickoff classic. But what better game environment to have kickoff each season than Bedlam, at each other’s house?

Classic rivalries are at the heart of college football. Ohio State-Michigan, OU-Texas, Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Florida State. Rivalries are everything for college football fans, especially in state rivalries. Classic titles, trophies, and memories are tied to college football rivalries. The Golden Hat, Jeweled Shillelagh, Little Brown Jug, etc., are famous symbols in college football lore. Seeing the fabled Bedlam rivalry vanish from the college football landscape would be a shame.

Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams (18) makes a one hand catch along the sidelines with Alabama defensive back Patrick Surtain II (2) defending during the first half of the Iron Bowl in Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Iron Bowl Alabama Vs Auburn
Auburn wide receiver Seth Williams (18) makes a one hand catch along the sidelines with Alabama defensive back Patrick Surtain II (2) defending during the first half of the Iron Bowl in Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]Iron Bowl Alabama Vs Auburn /

We’ve seen some pretty historic rivalries vanish in recent memory due to college football conference realignment. OU-Nebraska’s consistent rivalry has died, as has Nebraska-Colorado, Texas-Texas A&M, and Missouri-Kansas. However, some of college football’s rivalries have lived on through expansion, like the Holy War (BYU-Utah) and Florida State-Miami.

ANN ARBOR, MI – OCTOBER 17: Michigan State Spartans mascot Sparty pose for a photo prior to the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio)
ANN ARBOR, MI – OCTOBER 17: Michigan State Spartans mascot Sparty pose for a photo prior to the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on October 17, 2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio) /

Let’s see the Bedlam kickoff each college football season. Nothing would get the juices flowing better than some good old-fashioned neighborly hatred. They want it, we want it, and college football wants it. Week one should mean something. Nothing means more to Sooner and Cowboy fans than beating the brakes off the other. Keep Bedlam alive.

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