Gundy: Bedlam rivalry with Oklahoma is ‘history’

ARLINGTON, Texas — With Huge 12 co-founders Oklahoma and Texas making ready to play their closing seasons within the league earlier than shifting to the SEC, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy on Wednesday mentioned he thinks that is the ultimate season for the Bedlam rivalry — and he isn’t glad about it.

“In soccer, Bedlam is historical past for my part,” Gundy instructed ESPN at Huge 12 media days at AT&T Stadium. “OU selected to go to the SEC. Once they did, they took Bedlam with them. … [Oklahoma athletic director Joe] Castiglione is a buddy of mine, however when he and their president determined to go to the SEC, they took Bedlam with them. Do I prefer it? No. I like custom.

“I like Huge 12, I preferred the previous Huge Eight,” he mentioned. “I like rivalries. I just like the issues in faculty soccer which were round endlessly, however that is not going to matter anymore. All these issues are historical past.”

Gundy mentioned Oklahoma State’s schedule is ready by 2037, and urged that if the SEC ever strikes to a nine-game convention schedule, it would not be sensible “from a enterprise perspective” for the SEC to schedule one other Energy 5 opponent.

“No person likes it,” he mentioned, “however Bedlam’s out the window.”

The Huge 12’s most-played rivalry — when it comes to present Huge 12 groups — will stay intact in 2024, as Kansas and Kansas State have performed 120 instances, essentially the most in an All-Huge 12 rivalry, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Info. Texas and OU can be subsequent at 117 video games, adopted by Bedlam at 117.

In line with the NCAA’s document ebook, when OU and Oklahoma State cease taking part in, it would finish what’s tied for the second-longest uninterrupted collection in FBS historical past, solely behind Minnesota–Wisconsin.

Nonetheless, Gundy conceded it is attainable the 2 rivals meet once more in a bowl recreation, and he mentioned the Huge 12 will stay “on stable floor” even with out OU and Texas. He pointed to the current additions of BYU, Houston, Cincinnati and UCFwhich formally joined the Huge 12 this month, as appropriate replacements.

“Final 12 months clearly TCU made it to the [CFP] finals and Texas has been nowhere close to there,” he mentioned. “… There’s groups which are in our league which have carried out at a really excessive stage during the last nonetheless a few years and it hasn’t at all times been [OU and Texas]. I do not suppose anyone is ever saying them leaving would not have an effect on the Huge 12, however I believe that with the best way it is shifting and the 4 groups which are coming in … we have been very lucky we have been capable of decide these groups as much as make up for them leaving.”

This 12 months, the Huge 12 could have 14 whole groups due to the 4 additions, plus the ultimate season with OU and Texas. In 2024, the league will shrink to 12, however Gundy mentioned “it is not unreasonable to suppose we could possibly be at 16 once more actual fast.”

Gundy mentioned he believes convention realignment will proceed due to TV income as a driving issue. Huge 12 commissioner Brett Yormark did not particularly say what the league’s plan is — apart from there may be one.

“We do have a plan and hopefully we are able to execute that plan before later,” Yormark mentioned. “However as I’ve at all times mentioned, I really like the composition of this convention proper now. The joy the 4 new members have dropped at this convention has been unbelievable, and if we keep at 12, we’re completely nice with that. If the chance presents the place there’s one thing that creates worth and aligns properly with our targets and targets beginning with the board, then we’re definitely going to pursue it.”

The realignment panorama has been principally quiet as leaders all through faculty athletics await the Pac-12’s announcement of a brand new TV deal. When requested what colleges he thinks can be an excellent match for the Huge 12, Gundy talked about the 4 colleges which have for months created essentially the most hypothesis — Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State — however mentioned it was solely a guess.

“Colorado is true down the highway,” he mentioned. “They was in our league. They make sense, proper? You recognize, should you’re considering location, a little bit little bit of tv market, the 2 Arizona colleges seize the West Coast a little bit bit. You recognize, Utah sitting proper there. I am guessing they’ve a rivalry with BYU, so that you carry one other rivalry in.”

The one factor Gundy appears positive of about realignment, is the Bedlam rivalry is on its approach out.