Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State: A Closer Look at the One-Sided Bedlam Series

In the 99th version of the Bedlam Series, Oklahoma travels to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State, with a Big 12 Championship Game appearance potentially at stake.   The Bedlam Series is often regarded as one of college football’s most one-sided rivalries.  Oklahoma leads the series 80-17-7. 

Although Oklahoma has dominated the series in the win column, I remember a lot of closely-fought games over the years.  Thus I decided to take a closer look into the rivalry, and see how Oklahoma tallied their win total over Oklahoma State.

Going way back to when the series began in 1904, Oklahoma has a 17.6 points per game (ppg) margin over Oklahoma State.  Going back to 1950, Oklahoma’s point margin increases in the series to 19.8 ppg.  Oklahoma has beaten Oklahoma State by thirty points or more on 28 occasions.  

What’s interesting, though, is that there have been 27 games in the series that were decided by one touchdown or less.  On average there is an Oklahoma blowout, as well as a close game every four years in the series.

This year should be a close game based on the law of averages.  The last close game was four years ago, when Oklahoma State lost to Oklahoma 21-27. 

Below are some more interesting facts I discovered about the series.

Four of the last five victories by Oklahoma State in the series were by 10 points or more.

In the last ten meetings in Stillwater, Oklahoma holds a 5.2 ppg margin over Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma State’s 31-24 victory over Oklahoma in 1976 propelled them to a share of the Big Eight Conference Title.