The roots of Bedlam date back to November 6, 1904. It was well below freezing with heavy winds that Sunday in Island Park (Mineral Wells Park). Guthrie was the future temporary capitol of Oklahoma, three years before it even became a state. It was also the host city of the first recorded matchup between the universities’ football teams.
The ongoing wrestling rivalry between the two schools spilled over into their football programs. A punter had lost the ball due to the powerful winds. The gales pushed it down the field into an icy creek. This was equivalent to a live ball in the endzone, so the players from both teams dove in to get it. The Sooners emerged with the pigskin, and eventually a jaw-dropping 75-0 win. Though it wasn’t the first sport to embrace the rivalry, the school football teams became by far the most popular version of Bedlam.
Gundy’s preemptive strike
On September 21 while surrounded by journalists, OSU‘s Mike Gundy delivered potent words. Clearly frustrated, he beamed at the reporters with eyes painted in red gloss. Gundy pulled a piece of paper from his pocket with words written on both sides. He then held strong opinions for the press about OU regarding Bedlam. He’d planned a preemptive strike of his own, and this was the moment to deliver it.
His statement began by saying “OU’s officials were in negotiations with the SEC for months and months before anybody in this league or the conference knew about it”.
After a count of no objections, he continued. “During those multibillion-dollar conversations, I wonder if Bedlam was ever brought up at that point, instead of the money”.
Lifting his arms to assume no further objections, then a finger to further his point, he continued. “Bedlam is history, we all know that, because OU chose to follow Texas and the money to the SEC.”
Bye-bye, Bedlam
The fact is that this move creates scheduling issues for both teams. Both programs are allowed one non-conference game per season against a Power Five team. Aside from their 2030 season, the Cowboys’ schedules are filled through 2037. Since OU and Texas are leaving the conference, four universities were invited to join in 2023.
OU leads the rivalry with an all-time tally of 90-19-7 over OSU. With that alone, fans could probably understand Gundy’s perspective. In 2025, they’ll be frontrunners to be the class of the Big 12. So, unless a bunch of unwilling executives get together with a proposal backed with a big wallet, it’s over. And he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore. Who could blame him?
And there you have it. After 2025, so much for what is currently the country’s second longest uninterrupted college football rivalry. The fans passion for this rivalry, though, will remain mathematically incomparable.