Heather Dinich, ESPN Senior Scribbler
ARLINGTON, Texas — With Large 12 co-founders Oklahoma and Texas making ready to play games their ultimate seasons within the league ahead of shifting to the SEC, Oklahoma State schoolteacher Mike Gundy on Wednesday stated he thinks that is the overall season for the Bedlam contention — and he’s now not glad about it.
“In football, Bedlam is history in my opinion,” Gundy informed ESPN at Large 12 media days at AT&T Stadium. “OU chose to go to the SEC. When they did, they took Bedlam with them. … [Oklahoma athletic director Joe] Castiglione is a friend of mine, but when he and their president decided to go to the SEC, they took Bedlam with them. Do I like it? No. I like tradition.
“I love Large 12, I appreciated the impaired Large 8,” he said. “I love rivalries. I just like the issues in university soccer which were round endlessly, however that’s now not moving to subject anymore. All the ones issues are historical past.”
Gundy stated Oklahoma Circumstance’s agenda is ready via 2037, and recommended that if the SEC ever strikes to a nine-game convention agenda, it wouldn’t be impish “from a trade viewpoint” for the SEC to schedule another Power 5 opponent.
“No person likes it,” he said, “however Bedlam’s out the window.”
The Big 12’s most-played rivalry — in terms of current Big 12 teams — will remain intact in 2024, as Kansas and Kansas State have played 120 times, the most in an All-Big 12 rivalry, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Texas and OU would be next at 117 games, followed by Bedlam at 117.
According to the NCAA’s record book, when OU and Oklahoma State stop playing, it will end what is tied for the second-longest uninterrupted series in FBS history, only behind Minnesota–Wisconsin.
Still, Gundy conceded it’s possible the two rivals meet again in a bowl game, and he said the Big 12 will remain “on forged field” even with out OU and Texas. He pointed to the hot additions of BYU, Houston, Cincinnati and UCF, which officially joined the Big 12 this month, as suitable replacements.
“Ultimate moment clearly TCU made it to the [CFP] finals and Texas has been nowhere akin there,” he said. “… There’s groups which are in our league that experience carried out at an overly prime degree over the terminating alternatively a few years and it hasn’t all the time been [OU and Texas]. I don’t assume any one is ever announcing them departure doesn’t impact the Large 12, however I feel that with how it’s shifting and the 4 groups which are coming in … we had been very lucky we had been in a position to pick out those groups as much as build up for them departure.”
This year, the Big 12 will have 14 total teams because of the four additions, plus the final season with OU and Texas. In 2024, the league will shrink to 12, but Gundy said “it’s now not unreasonable to assume we might be at 16 once more actual fast.”
Gundy said he believes conference realignment will continue because of TV revenue as a driving factor. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark didn’t specifically say what the league’s plan is — other than there is one.
“We do have a plan and with a bit of luck we will be able to blast that plan faster than upcoming,” Yormark said. “However as I’ve all the time stated, I really like the composition of this convention at this time. The thrill the 4 brandnew individuals have dropped at this convention has been implausible, and if we keep at 12, we’re completely high quality with that. If the chance items the place there’s one thing that creates price and aligns smartly with our targets and targets origination with the board, next we’re indubitably moving to pursue it.”
The realignment landscape has been mostly quiet as leaders throughout college athletics await the Pac-12’s announcement of a new TV deal. When asked what schools he thinks would be a good fit for the Big 12, Gundy mentioned the four schools that have for months created the most speculation — Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State — however stated it was once just a supposition.
“Colorado is correct unwell the street,” he said. “They impaired to be in our league. They build sense, proper? , for those who’re considering location, a minute little bit of tv marketplace, the 2 Arizona faculties snatch the West Coast a minute bit. , Utah sitting proper there. I’m guessing they’ve a contention with BYU, so that you carry some other contention in.”
The one factor Gundy turns out certain of about realignment, is the Bedlam contention is on its approach out.
