OSU head coach Mike Gundy blames Oklahoma for end of Bedlam

ARLINGTON, Texas – Mike Gundy’s opinion of the future of Bedlam is clear – it’s Oklahoma’s fault. 

The Oklahoma State coach addressed the future of the in-state rivalry between the Sooners and the Cowboys Wednesday at Big 12 Media Days. And Gundy didn’t hold back.

“The Bedlam game is over because Oklahoma chose to leave the Big 12, period,” Gundy said at AT&T Stadium. “It’s got nothing to do with Oklahoma State. Do I like that? No. Do I like that conferences have broken up in the past? No, I don’t.

“But I also know that we have to control what we can control, which is conference realignment is there. It’s probably still going on. Wherever we all end up and whatever schedule they give us to play, we all play it and do the best we can.”

Gundy was later asked if he would be open to playing Oklahoma as a non-conference opponent, with the Sooners needing a Power Five non-con opponent in the SEC. 

“No. We have nine conference games scheduled, and then we have, I think, through 15 years, we’re scheduled all the way up,” Gundy said. “And we’re full for the most part, and we have Power Five teams. I’m going to go back to what I said earlier. Oklahoma State is not going to change what we do because Oklahoma chose to go to the SEC. They need to change what they do because they’re the ones that made their mind up to go to the SEC.” 

Gundy is right – there is a scheduling issue for both schools. Oklahoma State doesn’t have any non-conference openings until 2030. And Oklahoma doesn’t have an opening until 2031. 

Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione told SoonerScoop.com in May that it might be a decade before the two schools play again in football. But he and Oklahoma State athletics director Chad Weiberg want the game to happen and are working on all other sports continuing to play. 

“A lot of people want to characterize it as something it’s not,” Castiglione said. “The real reason relates to out-of-conference games that have already been scheduled and contracts that are in place and liquidated damages to pay those institutions should games be dropped or canceled. Both institutions worked on some non-conference matchups for the future years. For example, we have Michigan in 2025 and 2026. We have the Nebraska series. Oklahoma State has other non-conference games they want to keep… 

“It’s hard to bump somebody off a schedule to make an opportunity to create Bedlam in football. We understand that. Both Chad and I talked about that. So we’ll just have to work to find years that we both have open dates and then schedule it.”

Still, it seems Gundy, who is 3-15 against the Sooners, doesn’t care if he ever faces Oklahoma again. 

“With all the talk from administration and people saying that Oklahoma State needs to do this and that, all Oklahoma had to do was not go to the SEC,” Gundy said. “So it is what it is. We can cut right to the chase.

“For me, I want to listen to the board. I’ll listen to the president. I’ll listen to the AD if that’s something they want to do. I’m good. But I don’t think it’s going to happen based on the way the scheduling is. Everybody needs to realize it didn’t have to happen if they didn’t change leagues.”

Gundy talks Trace Ford

Gundy was also asked about former Oklahoma State defensive end Trace Ford, who transferred to Oklahoma this past spring. He sort of dodged the question but wished Ford the best with the Sooners.

“I think it’s like anything else,” Gundy said. “Nothing surprises me anymore in college football. He was at Oklahoma State and had a good run early in his career. He was hurt the last few years at our place, so we didn’t really get to see him play much. But hopefully, he’s healthy and he can finish his career strong.”