When It Comes To Ending The Bedlam Football Rivalry Coach Mike Gundy Is Adamant That Oklahoma Has No Part In It.

Athletic directors from both schools told the Action Network on Monday that the streak would officially end when Oklahoma leaves for the SEC. “We don’t have openings to play them,” Oklahoma State’s Chad Weiberg said. “We’re full. If there aren’t significant commitments to make the game happen, it can’t happen.” Weiberg’s counterpart at Oklahoma, Joe Castiglione, said the Cowboys opted not to continue the series. “Oklahoma State has shown no interest in scheduling future games in football, so we’re moving on,” he said. On Tuesday, Gundy told reporters at Cowboys practice that while he likes Castiglione, “we’ve got to stop beating around the bush and call it what it is.” “Bedlam is history, we all know that. We knew it,” Gundy said, “because OU chose to follow Texas and the money in the SEC. That’s okay. So now, we’re having, I think, childish talk, in my opinion me, for something that has been done and I would like to make this last statement that I have because I have no hard feelings. 2 Related “But what’s happening now is almost a situation with a husband and a wife, or a girlfriend and a boyfriend when you know you’re wrong and you’re trying to turn the tables and make them think they’re wrong when Oklahoma State doesn’t has no part in it.” Later Tuesday, Castiglione told ESPN that Oklahoma has slightly more non-conference scheduling flexibility than Oklahoma State, but he hasn’t completely given up on a future Bedlam series. “I think it will come back sometime in the 2030s,” he said. Castiglione added that the Sooners are talking with Oklahoma State officials about competing in other joint sports, but “football is a little different” because they schedule earlier and there are fewer non-conference opportunities and dates than other sports. “It makes perfect sense for us to maintain the rivalry between the two schools,” he said. Gundy said the Cowboys were not part of what he called the months of “multibillion-dollar discussions” between Oklahoma and the SEC, and therefore had no choice in the matter. “So everybody needs to get over it and move on and stop trying to change things,” he said. “It’s kind of comical that they still want to bring us into that equation. Let’s not change the facts. Let’s just say, ‘Hey, look, we chose to go after Texas and take the money and we’re going to the SEC.’” It’s all fine. Let’s stop talking about that. Let’s talk about football.” Gundy was candid about ending the rivalry, which was first played in 1904 with 116 meetings since then. In July, at Big 12 media days, he said the streak was ending. “Bedlam’s future is a year or two away,” he said in July. “I mean, this is the future based on someone else’s decision.” Gundy predicted that most conferences would move to nine conference games, which would make it even more difficult to schedule non-conference games, particularly when the Cowboys’ schedule was already locked in until 2032 or 2033. “You’re talking about contract buyouts and you’re talking about getting the head coaches to play another game, which would be like playing another conference game,” Gundy said in July. “There’s a lot going on. I think most fans would like to do it. I just don’t think it’s possible to happen, in my opinion.” Gundy also said at the time that if he were new Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, he wouldn’t allow Texas and Oklahoma in professional league meetings. “I’m joking,” Goody said. “But I mean, if you’re strategically in a business meeting, if it’s two carriers, I don’t want someone from their company in my company.” ESPN senior writer Heather Dinich contributed to this report.