Bedlam Series becomes latest iconic rivalry destroyed by conference realignment

It is over for the Bedlam Series between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State once the Sooners join the SEC.

The madness that is the Bedlam Series will officially go dormant in 2025 once Oklahoma leaves Oklahoma State behind to join the SEC.

Brett McMurphy of The Action Network reported on Tuesday morning that Bedlam as we know it is coming to an end. Although he is 100 percent a professional, Oklahoma State is this Poke’s alma mater. This is the Cowboys’ biggest rival. While we all expected that Bedlam was going to fall to the wayside with the Sooners leaving for SEC Country with Texas, it sucks that this has to happen.

Here is what Oklahoma State athletic director Chad Weiberg has to say about the end of Bedlam.

"“It (playing Oklahoma) presents logistical issues under our current (scheduling) structure,” said Weiberg. “We don’t have any openings to play them. We’re full. Unless there are significant undertakings to make the game happen, it can’t happen.”"

And here is what Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione had to say on the matter himself.

"“Oklahoma State has shown no interest to schedule any future games in football, so we’re moving on (with filling OU’s future non-conference openings),” said Castiglione."

Oklahoma States plays a nine-game Big 12 schedule, a league that will be gaining four new members in July with Cincinnati, Houston and UCF coming over from The American, as well as national independent BYU joining the conference.

Oklahoma will enter a league that currently plays an eight-game schedule, but that is expected to change once the SEC becomes a 16-team league to include the Sooners and the Longhorns.

All good things must come to an end, but killing a huge college football rivalry is just plain stupid.

Bedlam Series will end once Oklahoma bails on Oklahoma State to join the SEC

Even with impending College Football Playoff expansion keeping the new incarnation of the Big 12 alive, it is never going to be the same conference without Oklahoma and Texas part of it. Oh, it will be competitive as hell and could field multiple teams into the big dance annually once the playoff expands to 12, but you can so feel the bitterness over OU’s departure all the way from Stillwater.

We all know the dynamics of this rivalry. It is the epitome of big brother vs. little brother, and we know what team plays what role in this Bedlam Series. Sadly, big brother is going off to college, leaving little brother at home to take on bigger responsibilities, such as being a flagship for its new league. In time, Oklahoma State will be fine, as will Oklahoma devolving into say another Auburn.

Sadly, Bedlam was always one of those Thanksgiving Weekend games that made college football so special. While the Cowboys were often the nail to the Sooners’ hammer, we still wanted to believe the Pokes had a puncher’s chance every season. They even beat OU last year in Stillwater to reach the conference title bout in Arlington. The Pokes were only one yard short of the playoff…

For as awesome as it was to see the return of the Backyard Brawl between Pittsburgh and West Virginia for the first time in 11 years on the first of the month, not all rivalry breakups are the same. It’s not just Pitt and WVU who had to pick up the pieces entering a new league. Missouri and Texas A&M left many rivalries behind when they departed from the Big 12 to join the SEC in 2012.

Eventually, Bedlam will be back on because the consumer will demand it badly enough. In the meantime, look for other rivalries to strengthen for the Sooners and the Cowboys. Oklahoma still has one with Texas. The Sooners will probably pick up steam with Texas A&M, Arkansas, Missouri and somebody we don’t expect. As for Oklahoma State, K-State and Baylor become bigger games.

If four SEC East teams can maintain annual rivalries with ACC schools, Bedlam can get figured out.

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