Ayrton Oneill
The Bedlam Series is the name given to the athletics rivalry between Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. The rivalry dates back to 1900 and includes basketball. Since 1916, Oklahoma has led the all-time series record in men's basketball, with a record of 135-106. However, Oklahoma State has won two national championships in basketball ('45 and '46). The two schools have competed annually in the Bedlam Series for basketball, with Oklahoma winning the most recent game 80-65.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the rivalry series | Bedlam Series |
| Teams involved | Oklahoma State University Cowboys and Cowgirls, University of Oklahoma Sooners |
| Sports involved | Wrestling, football, basketball |
| First Bedlam football game location | Island Park (now Mineral Wells Park), Guthrie, Oklahoma |
| First Bedlam basketball game | January 1, 1908 |
| All-time men's basketball series record | Oklahoma leads 135-106 |
| All-time wrestling record | Oklahoma State leads 152-27-10 |
| All-time baseball record | Oklahoma State leads 189-160 |
| All-time series record | Oklahoma State leads 13-11-1 |
| Number of national wrestling championships | Oklahoma: 7, Oklahoma State: 34 |
| Number of individual NCAA wrestling titles | Oklahoma: 67, Oklahoma State: 145 |
| Number of All-American honors in wrestling | Oklahoma: 278, Oklahoma State: 492 |
| Conference | Oklahoma State: Big 12, Oklahoma: Southeastern Conference (SEC) |
| 2024 non-conference basketball game location | Paycom Center, Oklahoma City |
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What You'll Learn
The Bedlam Series rivalry
The football rivalry has been dominated by Oklahoma, which won the first 11 meetings and has consistently been the dominant team. The first Bedlam football game was held at Island Park in Guthrie, Oklahoma, on a freezing cold and windy day. The ball was punted backwards by the wind and rolled down a hill into a half-frozen creek, with members of both teams diving in to recover it. OU won that game 75-0. The football rivalry has been played without interruption since 1910, alternating between the two campuses. The rivalry concluded as an annual conference matchup after the 2023-24 season, and scheduling issues will prevent its resumption until 2031.
The men's basketball rivalry dates back to 1927-28, with the teams playing at least once every season since then. Oklahoma leads the all-time series record with a 135-106 record, although Oklahoma State has had more success recently, going 11-6 against Oklahoma since the end of Travis Ford's tenure as head coach. The teams have met seven times in the Big 12 tournament, with Oklahoma State holding a 6-1 advantage. The rivalry will continue as a non-conference matchup from the 2024-25 season onwards, with a neutral venue game held at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
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OSU and OU basketball history
The Bedlam Series is the name given to the Oklahoma–Oklahoma State rivalry, which includes basketball. The term "Bedlam" refers to the rivalry between the schools' wrestling programs and the rowdy crowds that attended the matches held at Oklahoma State's Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Bedlam Series began in 1900, and for 40 years, the rivalry's games were played without the teams sharing a conference. Both schools were members of the Big Eight Conference before the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball team has a rich history of success, having won back-to-back national championships in 1945 and 1946. They have made six Final Fours, 11 Elite Eight, and Sweet Sixteen appearances over 29 NCAA tournaments. Oklahoma State has also won a combined total of 23 conference titles, with their most recent title in the 2005 Big 12 tournament. In 2020, CBS Sports ranked Oklahoma State the 25th best college basketball program of all time.
The University of Oklahoma Sooners basketball team has also enjoyed success, leading the all-time series record in men's basketball since 1916 with a record of 135–106. The Sooners have won 20 of the last 37 meetings, including seven Bedlam sweeps since 2006. Oklahoma has won seven team national championships in its history, compared to Oklahoma State's record of 34 team national titles.
The Cowboys and Sooners have played at least one basketball game every season since 1927-1928. The Bedlam Series will continue for basketball as a non-conference game for the 2024-2025 season, even though Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024.
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The Cowboys vs the Sooners
The Cowboys and the Sooners are two college sports teams with a long history of rivalry. The Cowboys represent Oklahoma State University, while the Sooners represent the University of Oklahoma. The rivalry between the two universities is called the Bedlam Series, which began in 1900 and includes a variety of sports, with football and basketball being the marquee events. Both schools were members of the Big Eight Conference before the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, and both were divisional rivals in the Big 12 South Division prior to 2011.
The Cowboys wrestling program has been extremely successful, currently holding a 152–27–10 record against the Sooners. Oklahoma State's wrestling program has won a record thirty-four team national titles and their athletes have earned 145 individual NCAA titles and 492 All-American honours. In comparison, the Sooners have won seven team national championships and their athletes have won 67 individual championships and 278 All-American honours.
The Cowboys and Sooners men's basketball teams have also had a long history of competition, with over 250 meetings since the first game in 1927. Since 1916, the Sooners have led the all-time series record with a score of 135–106. However, the Cowboys have been more successful in recent years, going 11–6 against the Sooners since the end of Travis Ford's tenure as head coach. In 2024, the Sooners swept the Cowboys in both meetings, with the most recent victory decided by a buzzer-beater three-pointer.
The Cowboys and Sooners football teams have played each other over 100 times, with the Sooners holding a commanding 91-19-7 advantage in the overall series. The rivalry between these two teams concluded as an annual conference matchup after the 2023–24 NCAA Division I FBS season, as the Sooners moved to the Southeastern Conference (SEC). However, due to scheduling issues, the Bedlam Series for football will not resume until the 2031 season.
Despite the Cowboys and Sooners being intrastate rivals, there is some crossover between the two teams. The Dallas Cowboys, an NFL franchise, have a large fan base in Oklahoma and have signed several players and coaches who were previously associated with the Sooners.
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The Gallagher-Iba Arena wrestling rivalry
The Bedlam Series is the name given to the Oklahoma–Oklahoma State rivalry, which includes wrestling. The term "Bedlam" is said to have originated with the rivalry between the schools' wrestling programmes, specifically the raucous crowds that attended the matches held at Oklahoma State's Gallagher-Iba Arena.
The Gallagher-Iba Arena, named the best college gymnasium by CBS SportsLine.com in 2001, has been home to Oklahoma State Wrestling for over 60 years. The arena was named after Edward Clark Gallagher, the Oklahoma A&M wrestling mentor and coach. The first wrestling match in the arena took place on February 3, 1939, when Oklahoma A&M defeated Indiana 18-6. The Cowboys have had a dominant run in the arena, winning 34 NCAA titles and having 34 unbeaten and untied campaigns at home. On February 19, 2017, the wrestling team set the All-Time Gallagher-Iba Arena Attendance Record when they hosted 14,059 spectators for their dual with Penn State.
Oklahoma State has a strong wrestling programme, having won a record 34 team national titles. In contrast, Oklahoma has won seven team national championships. Oklahoma State's dominance in the wrestling series, which began in 1920, has been a source of pride for its fans. The Cowboys own an impressive 152-27-10 record against the Sooners through the 2023-24 season.
Oklahoma State's wrestling success is not limited to its rivalry with Oklahoma. The Cowboys were at their peak from 2003 to 2006, winning four straight national championships. In 2024-2025, under the leadership of coach David Taylor, the Cowboys secured a 13-1 dual meet record, won the Big 12 Conference title, and finished 3rd in the National Championship. Oklahoma State wrestling is known for its consistent success in the annual Big 12 championship tournament, having earned 20 of the 31 trophies won throughout the tournament's history.
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The 2024-25 season
Despite this change, the Bedlam Series, the name given to the intense athletics rivalry between OSU and OU, will continue for basketball as a non-conference game for the 2024-25 season. This series has highlighted the competitive spirit between the Cowboys and Sooners across a wide range of sports, with basketball and football being the marquee events.
In preparation for the upcoming season, OSU and OU have announced a new title sponsor for the Bedlam Rivalry Series. The people of Oklahoma Oil and Natural Gas will support the historic rivalry games, fostering a renewed sense of anticipation and engagement among fans.
While specific game schedules for the 2024-25 season are yet to be released, OU's men's basketball team has already experienced a busy year. They participated in the 2025 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament, facing off against Georgia and Kentucky, and also competed in the NCAA Tournament, where they faced Connecticut. These early competitions have provided valuable preparation for the upcoming season's matchups against rivals OSU.
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Frequently asked questions
The Bedlam Series is the name given to the Oklahoma–Oklahoma State rivalry. It refers to the athletics rivalry between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys and Cowgirls and the University of Oklahoma Sooners.
The Bedlam Series includes football and basketball games as the marquee events. However, the term "Bedlam" actually began with the rivalry between the schools' wrestling programs.
The basketball rivalry between OSU and OU has been ongoing for more than 100 years, with the Sooners leading the all-time series record in men's basketball. The Cowboys have a better record in baseball, holding a 189-160 lead over the Sooners.
The Bedlam Series began in 1900, but the all-sports series, including basketball, did not come into existence until the 1999-2000 academic year.
The OSU vs OU basketball game is usually broadcast on ESPNU and can be streamed on ESPN+.
