Bedlam football is dead, and it’s not returning from the grave as a non-conference matchup anytime soon.
Oklahoma State has recently made some Power 4 schedule additions that rule out a non-conference Bedlam matchup against Oklahoma within the next decade, if not longer, unless the two former longtime rivals meet in the postseason. The in-state rivalry vanished on the gridiron after the 2023 season, when OU left the Big 12 for the SEC.
Bedlam likely tabled until 2036 for Oklahoma Sooners
The Cowboys aren’t dodging SEC competition, but they are lining up the usual bottom dwellers of the conference: Mississippi State and Arkansas. On Wednesday, Oklahoma State announced a home-and-home series against Mississippi State for 2030 and 2031. The Bulldogs are on the rise right now, but there’s no way that Jeff Lebby is still leading the way in four years if he continues to succeed in Starkville.
According to FBSchedules, 2031 was the earliest that OU and OSU both had an open slot to fill with a future Power 4 opponent. Now, between the two of them and what the programs already have planned, Bedlam doesn’t appear to be a possibility until after 2036.
When the SEC expanded to nine conference games for this season, the move also required members to schedule a non-conference matchup against another Power 4 team or Notre Dame. OU has that requirement met until 2031. With nine SEC games already guaranteed, there’s really no need for the Sooners to endure more, unless the CFP selection committee at some point really does put an emphasis on strength of schedule.
Here’s what the Sooners currently have scheduled for non-conference matchups:
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
Based on that slate, if the Sooners were to add a Power 4 matchup, it would be for 2031, when OSU just scheduled the second year of its home-and-home with Mississippi State. If the Cowboys hadn’t just locked in that series, there was an opening for Bedlam that year, but a home-and-home series still looked impossible, and there’s no viable option in Oklahoma for a neutral site.
The Sooners still have availability for three more years between 2032 and 2034, but it’s Oklahoma State that’s all booked up. The Cowboys play Arkansas in 2032 and 2033, then have a home-and-home with Nebraska in 2034 and 2035.
Unless the Cowboys have a cancellation by 2036, that’s the earliest Bedlam could return to a football field. There’s no doubt OU athletic director Roger Denny will also start filling the Sooners’ openings soon, so even if the Cowboys’ plans do change, it could already be too late.
There’s been talk from both sides about wanting to reignite Bedlam. New OSU football coach Eric Morris proclaimed during his introductory press conference that he would “Welcome it with open arms.” Denny also said over the spring that reviving the rivalry is important.
"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."
The actions clearly haven’t matched the words being said, though. Morris wants Bedlam, but his department has scheduled Michigan State and Mississippi State instead since his statement. Denny had dates available, but still didn’t make something happen.
Who’s really avoiding who won’t ever actually be known, although the Sooners have no reason to, with a 91-19-7 lead in the all-time series. The truth, though, is that neither side is probably doing its part, as Bedlam gets further into both the past and the future.
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