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That’s all she wrote for the Bedlam rivalry, at least as conference rivals.
The conclusion of the 2023-24 sports year meant Oklahoma’s (and Texas’) exit from the Big 12 for the SEC, squashing conference implications and regular scheduling for the in-state rivalry between Oklahoma State and OU. That move became official Monday.
With Bedlam closing a chapter, it’s a good time to look at how recent OSU coaches have fared in the rivalry. New basketball coach Steve Lutz and wrestling coach David Taylor haven’t experienced Bedlam yet, so for those sports I looked at Mike Boynton and John Smith’s records. Other than that, I used current coaches that competed in sports with head-to-head matchups, which included football, soccer, basketball, wrestling, tennis, baseball and softball. And overall, the 2023 group of OSU coaches was 149-92-7 in Bedlam altogether, a 61.49% winning percentage in the rivalry.
Mike Gundy, Football: 4-15
Gundy has one of the most impressive resumes in all of college football, but if he was making a real resume to actually apply for a job, his Bedlam record would be omitted. That monkey has leapt off Gundy’s back now, though. As other sports are scheduling nonconference matchups with the Sooners as soon as next year, that can’t happen for football, even if Gundy wanted to. And fortunately for Gundy, he won two of the last three Bedlam meetings, including the final one this past season, 27-24 at Boone Pickens Stadium. Gundy’s other Bedlam wins came in 2011 and 2014.
Colin Carmichael, Soccer: 25-9-4
Carmichael has a lot of experience with Bedlam, and most of it has been good. Although OU ended the Cowgirls’ season in the first round of the Big 12 tournament last season, that was the Sooners’ first win in Bedlam since 2018. OSU hadn’t lost to OU in nine-straight meetings before then. And that’s not even Carmichael’s best run in the rivalry. After dropping his first Bedlam as a head coach in 2005, Carmichael then won seven in a row and went 11 meetings without losing, with a tie separating a pair of winning streaks. Carmichael’s Bedlam participation won’t end with that loss, though, as the two teams will still meet early in 2024 in Stillwater.
Mike Boynton, Men’s Basketball: 9-7
Boynton’s tenure as OSU’s basketball coach ultimately came to an end this year because of a lack of success, but the guy knew how to get his teams ready for Bedlam. Just remember Mitchell Solomon out-hustling Trae Young, poking the ball out of Young’s hands and diving on the court at GIA to get the ball. Boynton’s record in the rivalry looked even better before a disappointing final season that included going 0-for-2 against OU. Before the 2023-24 season, Boynton had won seven of the last eight against the Sooners. Steve Lutz will also still get a shot at OU, as he said the teams plan to play this season in Oklahoma City.
Jacie Hoyt, Women’s Basketball: 0-4
It’s been only two seasons, but Hoyt is still looking for her first Bedlam win since taking over the program before the 2022-23 season. Most recently, Hoyt suffered her worst loss since arriving in Stillwater when OU thumped the Cowgirls 91-56 in Norman in the last meeting. As of now, it’s unknown when Hoyt will get her next chance at that first Bedlam win.
John Smith, Wrestling: 58-6-3
Smith emphasized the importance of Bedlam throughout his coaching career, and his teams’ actions backed up his words. Smith owned a final 88.8% winning percentage against the Sooners in his 33-year coaching career, which ended with his retirement after last season. His run as OSU’s coach concluded with the Pokes on a 19-match winning streak against OU. And unlike most sports, fortunately for the Cowboys in their most dominant sport, OU is staying in the Big 12 as an affiliate member so the rivalry will proceed as normal under new coach David Taylor.
Dustin Taylor, Men’s Tennis: 1-3
Just finishing his third season leading the Cowboys, Taylor has struggled recently against the Sooners. After beating OU 4-2 in his Bedlam debut, Taylor’s teams have lost three straight to OU since.
Chris Young, Women’s Tennis: 11-10
A Norman native, Young finally got over the .500 mark last season against his former hometown team. After losing his first five meetings against OU, Young didn’t get his first Bedlam win until 2013 after taking over the program in 2009. Most of his Bedlam wins came during an eight-match winning streak from 2015 until 2019. The Cowgirls then lost four in a row before snapping that losing streak with a Bedlam win last season.
Josh Holliday, Baseball: 37-14
Holliday, an OSU alumni, has always made the most of Bedlam with a 72.55% winning percentage in the rivalry. The Cowboys went 4-1 against the Sooners last season in their final Big 12 campaign. Even better, in the last Big 12 meeting ever between OSU and OU teams (besides wrestling), the Cowboys beat OU in the Big 12 Baseball Championship final to steal the conference title from the exiting Sooners. The rivalry will likely continue on the baseball diamond with nonconference matchups.
Kenny Gajewski, Softball: 4-24
Like Gundy, Gajewski had a rough go in Bedlam overall but got the last laugh. Gajewski took over OSU in 2016, and even then, he had to go up against a national powerhouse down the highway. It took until 2021 for Gajewski to beat OU and snap a 14-game losing streak against his alma-mater. It wasn’t until last season when the Cowgirls finally beat OU in a series for the first time under Gajewski and first time since 2010. And that happened to likely be the final series between the two for the foreseeable future, however, OU coach Patty Gasso said they plan to play one game next season in Oklahoma City.
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