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Oklahoma Coach Brent Venables Maintains He is 'Not in Control' of Bedlam's Future

OU coach Brent Venables said he'd like to continue the rivalry with Oklahoma State at Big 12 Media Days, but that the decision is out of his hands.

Ryan Chapman

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ARLINGTON, TX — Oklahoma’s last trip to Big 12 Media Days wouldn’t be complete without continued discourse on the future of Bedlam.

Wednesday, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy repeated the Cowboy’s talking points, laying the blame for the end of the rivalry at the Sooners’ feet. 

Brent Venables, taking the podium at AT&T Stadium as Oklahoma’s head coach for the second time, was offered a chance to respond on Thursday.

The OU head coach offered a pragmatic response, as he does not have sole power over the schedule-making process in Norman.

“Look, I'm not in control of whether or not we play Oklahoma State,” Venables said.

If offered the chance to continue the rivalry, Venables didn’t shy away from what he’d like to do.

“I love college football,” he said. “I love the traditions of the game. I love rivalry games.

“Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have played for over 100 years, and Oklahoma has been dang good in those games for a long time.”

The Sooners hold an all time series lead of 91-19-7 over the Cowboys, including a 15-3 record against Gundy as a head coach.

Venables won his only head-to-head meeting against Gundy 28-13 last year, as Oklahoma raced off to a 28-0 lead and held on to secure the victory.

OU’s trip to Stillwater on Nov. 4 will be the last Bedlam football game for the time being, a decision that is well out of Venables’ hands.

“Whether or not we play them in the future, nobody is asking me what I think,” he said. “If they do ask me, I'll tell them what I think. I'd love to play the game.

“But we're going to play the schedule that they put in front of us.”

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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