Bedlam Beyond Belief: The Oklahoma/Oklahoma State Rivalry

The Bedlam Series, a rivalry that goes beyond one or two sports, was originated in 1904. This rivalry refers to two NCAA schools, the Oklahoma Sooners of Norman and the Oklahoma State Cowboys of Stillwater. Both schools are in the Big 12's Southern Conference, and are located only 87 road miles apart. The fans have a very strong hate for one-another, and though I am a huge OU fan I have no hate for Oklahoma State, until they play each other in the Bedlam Series.

So first of all, lets talk about their Football rivalry. The first Bedlam Rivalry game was held in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where the temperatures were beyond the freezing mark, and where Oklahoma dominated 75-0. Since then, things have not changed much as Oklahoma leads the series with a 79-16-7 record over the Cowboys. Can you say pure dominance by OU? Oklahoma State has only won 7 of those in Norman. This series gained corporate sponsors with Ford and the Bank of Oklahoma, which made this rivalry more "formalized."  A points system was adopted in order to award a winner of the all athletic competitions combined between OU and OSU. There is even a crystal ball that is awarded to the winners of each individual game, or dual. This football rivalry has Oklahoma State so far behind that I don't think they will ever catch up.

Other than football there are other sports in the Bedlam Series, Basketball and Football. In Basketball OU dominates with a 124-88 record over the Cowboys. And though you are probably thinking OU dominates OSU in everything, you are wrong. Not too many people care much for wrestling, but the Cowboys have an outstanding program. OSU holds an incredible 124-27-9 record over OU, and holds the record with 34 national titles as the Sooners have only 6. This is a very intense rivalry and the people of Oklahoma all feel it as the fans of these two schools feed on the hate of the one another. The Bedlam Series, beyond belief.  

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