Neither side of Bedlam is willing to make the rivalry happen, but college football might revive it sooner rather than later, whether the Sooners and Cowboys want it or not.
With scheduling conflicts for the next decade-plus and neither athletic department actually making moves to change anything; a forced postseason meeting seems like the only way for Bedlam to be renewed on a football field after it ended in 2023, when Oklahoma left the Big 12 for the SEC. But we could get Bedlam in just a few months if both teams’ seasons stay on the same path.
Bowl projections have Oklahoma and Oklahoma State renewing Bedlam
It’s not just one person believing Bedlam could happen in 2026, but multiple bowl experts this week predict that the Texas Bowl will be transformed into the Bedlam Bowl on Dec. 31 in Houston. The projections even came from two separate outlets, with ESPN’s Mark Schlabach and CBS Sports both predicting OU and OSU to meet in the Texas Bowl.
There’s a lot of football still to be played, but a double prediction reveals a lot of belief that the rivalry could actually be renewed during bowl season. It’s also obviously a matchup those in charge would try to create, if possible, to give college football fans a reason to watch, with bowl games becoming nearly unwatchable.
Both teams are already basically out of College Football Playoff contention, with OU sitting at 4-3 and OSU at 5-2 as the No. 24 team in the country.
A CFP clash would create the best version of Bedlam, but hopefully, the bowl matchup reigniting an in-state rivalry that has been dormant for three years would influence more players from both sides to play in the game instead of opting out. It would be a slap in the face to a storied rivalry for it to become a glorified junior varsity game.
The biggest question mark would be OSU quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who has risen to be one of the top quarterback prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft. It’s become almost a guarantee at this point that top draft prospects sit out of their final bowl game to stay healthy and get a jump-start on preparing for a pro career.
Just last year, though, Mestemaker still suited up to lead North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl, even though his head coach, Eric Morris, was already headed to Stillwater, and we all knew Mestemaker would be right behind him. The Cowboys would definitely be vulnerable without their QB1, but the Sooners would want OSU at full strength to obtain true bragging rights.
The Sooners also have some NFL talent on their defense that they would need to stop Mestemaker. Defensive tackles David Stone and Jayden Jackson, linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke, safety Peyton Bowen, and cornerback Eli Bowen could all soon be headed to the NFL from Brent Venables’ loaded defense.
On the other side of the ball, OU probably doesn’t have to worry about its quarterback, John Mateer, preparing for an NFL career, but the Sooners will need wide receiver Isaiah Sategna, center Jake Maikkula, and tight ends Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers for one last go.
All that also doesn’t include the transfer casualties both teams will suffer as soon as the regular season concludes.
Renewing Bedlam during bowl season certainly has pros and cons, but it would still be what’s best for the Sooner State and really all of college football. It would be a bowl game actually worth turning on for college football fans. Bowl games are also just for pride and bragging rights anyway, so the Sooners might as well get the last laugh over a program down the highway instead of someone with no history or care at all.
OU bowl projections after Week 8
Texas Bowl vs. Oklahoma State (ESPN)
Las Vegas Bowl vs. USC (ESPN)
Texas Bowl vs. Oklahoma State (CBS Sports)
Texas Bowl vs. Texas Tech (Sports Illustrated)
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