The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry is so heated it goes by one word.
Bedlam. The Sooners and Cowboys have engaged in one of the best in-state rivalries in college football since 1904, which makes it one of the longest running continuous games in college football.
Unfortunately, that's coming to an end. When No. 10 Oklahoma travels to Oklahoma State for Saturday's 3:30 p.m. ET game at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., it will make the late matchup for the foreseeable future.
The Sooners are headed to the SEC in 2024 as part of college football's latest round of realignment. The Cowboys are staying in the Big 12. That will put this rivalry, which has stretched across three conferences, on a break.
Why is Bedlam coming to an end? A closer look at the history, heat and uncertain future of the rivalry between the Cowboys and Sooners:
MORE: Everything to know about college football realignment for 2023
When did the Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State rivalry start?
Oklahoma State – then called Oklahoma A&M – played its first matchup against Oklahoma in 1904. The Sooners won 75-0.
Oklahoma leads the all-time series 91-19-7, and the series has been one-sided throughout the years. Still, the rivalry has been played every year since 1910. That makes it the second-longest continuous rivalry in the FBS behind Minnesota-Wisconsin (1906) and Clemson-South Carolina (1909). Unlike those two rivalries, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State played during the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season.
Why is Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State called 'Bedlam'?
According to The Oklahoman, while accounts vary the term "Bedlam" originated after the matchup between Oklahoma A&M and Oklahoma on Nov. 29, 1917 when the newspaper wrote "bedlam broke loose" after the Aggies beat the Sooners for the first time. Oklahoma had won the previous 12 meetings.
That touched off a celebration that would be considered the 1917 version of a field storming. According to the Dec. 1, 1917 Oklahoman: "Guns were fired. The antique, dust-covered bell in the old Central building belfry chimed for the first time in years."
It's been Bedlam ever since.
Why is Bedlam going away?
Oklahoma is leaving the Big 12 for the SEC in 2024 – a move that means the Sooners and Cowboys will not be in the same conference for the first time.
That will effectively take Bedlam off the schedule.
According to Sports Business Journal, Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg said there are logistical issues with scheduling past 2024. Oklahoma State Joe Castiglione said, "Oklahoma State has shown no interest to schedule any future games in football, so we’re moving on."
On July 12, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy fired back at Big 12 Media Days. "The Bedlam game is over because Oklahoma chose to leave the Big 12. Period," he said.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables did not want to speculate about the future of the rivalry after this season.
"I am focused on winning the state," Venables said. "It's an incredibly important game. There's a long history and tradition over 100 years of playing Bedlam and regardless of however the scores have been or the success of one place or the other, it's important from a foundational standpoint.
Best of Bedlam: 3 memorable matchups
A look at three of the most-memorable matchups between the Sooners and Cowboys, which have featured Heisman Trophy winners and NFL stars:
1988: No. 8 Oklahoma 31, No. 12 Oklahoma State 28
Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders had 215 yards and two TDs for the Cowboys, including a go-ahead TD in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma running back Mike Gaddis rushed for 213 yards and two TDs.
Charles Thompson's TD run allowed the Sooners to retake the lead, and Mike Gundy nearly led a last-minute TD drive in return. A controversial personal call, however, forced a fourth-and-16 and a dropped pass ended the drive.
The 1988 Bedlam rivalry game was one for the history books‼️
— Boomer Sooner (@BoomerSoonerCo) November 1, 2023
Sooners were ranked #8 while OSU came in at #12.
This was arguably OSU's best offense of all time.
Mike Gundy at QB and Barry Sanders at running back wasn't enough to overtake the Sooners.
OU won in a nail biter… pic.twitter.com/5JCiiTynZB
2014: Oklahoma State 38, No. 18 Oklahoma 35
Don't kick to Tyreek Hill twice. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops did just that after an Oklahoma State penalty on a punt. Hill returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown and ESPN's Joe Davis call – "This is Bedlam!" – was perfect. The Cowboys would pull off the upset in overtime.
2017: No. 8 Oklahoma 62, No. 11 Oklahoma State 52
The score alone was the definition of Bedlam. Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield passed for 598 yards, five TDs and two interceptions. Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph had 448 passing yards, 5 TDs and two interceptions.
The teams combined for 1,446 yards of total offense in a wild shootout, and Trey Sermon's 53-yard TD in the final minute clinched the victory for Oklahoma.
Bedlam parting shots
Gundy reflected on the Bedlam rivalry in his first press conference Monday. He coached against his brother Cale, who was an Oklahoma assistant coach from 1999-2022. Mike Gundy recalled an exchange in a game against Oklahoma with Sooners linebacker Brian Bosworth on the field that was not pleasant. "It was actually a rivalry, right?" Gundy said.
Bosworth responded on social media.
Mike Gundy talked a lot about Bedlam / rivalries not being what they used to be.
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) November 2, 2023
The Bosworth part got headlines but not talking about OU vs OSU when his mom was around bc he was OSU & his brother was OU is a good glimpse at what rivalries used to mean to folks. 😪 pic.twitter.com/DFVN0w51bf
Even if they aren't playing after this year, there clearly is no love lost between these rivals.
