✌🏽 Happy Friday, friends. There’s a football game tomorrow in Stillwater. Let’s ride.

🏟 Game day details

No. 10 Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) at No. 7 Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1 Big 12)

⏰ 6:30 p.m. CT

📺 ABC (Play-by-play: Chris Fowler, Analyst: Kirk Herbstreit, Sideline: Holly Rowe)

💻 WatchESPN

📻 KRXO-FM 107.7 FM in Oklahoma City

💰 Oklahoma +4 • O/U: 49.5

📕 Oklahoma leads all-time series 90-18-7

📊 Game notes

🏈 Bizarro Bedlam

It’s rare to see a Bedlam week like this. In a special pregame column, I wrote about one of the stranger weeks leading up to an Oklahoma-Oklahoma State game that’s sure to be as entertaining as the pregame fodder.

Eyes on Oklahoma

Column: What a strange week, even by Bedlam's standards

Perhaps my brain is trapped in Dillon, Texas — I just finished rewatching NBC’s “Friday Night Lights” for the upteenth time. But this Bedlam week has felt overly dramatized. None of it tracks with everything that I know about Bedlam and the days that lead up to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State’s annual meeting…

Read more

a year ago · Joe Buettner

🤔 Why they’ll win

• Why Oklahoma will win: The Sooners might be down cornerback DJ Graham, but the defensive unit is as healthy as it’s been all season. OU has looked dominant at times when it’s been at full strength.

  If OU’s offense struggles against Oklahoma State, there’s no need to panic. This OU defense is just as capable of shutting down Oklahoma State’s offense. If it does, OU’s offense doesn’t need to be perfect but it will need to establish its running game and make the game simpler on Caleb Williams.  

  This isn’t a game where OU can overthink too many things. Oklahoma State’s defense won’t allow for it. But OU has the tools to win this game. It should, however, take all four quarters.

• Why Oklahoma State will win: Bedlam is a game known for weird plays that shift the momentum of the game. Oklahoma State has a defense built to give itself plenty of those opportunities to swing the result.

  The Cowboys can make things easier if they can duplicate what they’ve done over the last few weeks. OU’s defense is better than what Oklahoma State’s seen recently, but the likes of Jaylen Warren and Tay Martin have the ability to expose some of the flaws that have plagued OU all season.

🤠 Players to know

• RB Jaylen Warren: The Pokes might be in a much different position if not for Utah State transfer Jaylen Warren. The redshirt senior has 1,078 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns this season. OU passed a major test against Iowa State’s Breece Hall last week, and it will need the same effort again on Saturday to contain Warren.

• LB Malcolm Rodriguez: One of the top players at his position nationally, Rodriguez has a Big 12-leading 96 tackles. He also has 10.5 tackles for loss and forced three fumbles. OU’s offensive line has faced some premier talent at linebacker, but Rodriguez has a case to be the best the Sooners will see all year.

• WR Tay Martin: You might already be familiar with Martin, who kicked off Bedlam week with some lighthearted trash talk. Martin is the Big 12's third-leading receiver in yards with 765. He has six touchdown receptions and is averaging 14.2 yards a catch.

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🎧 New podcast!

My former podcast co-host, Sean Forster (@onikuno), and I reunite to recap Oklahoma-Iowa State, a huge Bedlam matchup and the Sooners’ playoff chances.

Where you can subscribe to the Eyes on Oklahoma podcast:

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📺 Big 12 viewing guide

Friday’s games

Kansas State at Texas (11 a.m. CT, FOX): The Longhorns are somehow a 3-point favorite, despite being 4-7, while the Wildcats are a respectable 7-4. Texas needs a win to avoid a seventh consecutive loss.

TCU at Iowa State (3:30 p.m. CT, FS1): The Cyclones are 15-point favorites entering their home finale. Not sure the Frogs have much left in them after nearly losing to Kansas last week. Can't say I'll be too eager to watch.

Saturday’s games

Texas Tech at No. 8 Baylor (11 a.m., FS1): The Big 12 Championship Game could have its matchup set before Bedlam even starts if the Bears lose. Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon is questionable with a hamstring injury, but the Bears are plenty talented enough to take down the Red Raiders without him.

West Virginia at Kansas (6 p.m. FS1): Kansas was a fun story the last few weeks. Here’s a fun thing: if the Jayhawks win and Longhorns lose this weekend, Kansas will finish ahead of Texas in the conference standings.

No. 10 Oklahoma at No. 7 Oklahoma State (6:30 p.m ABC): One of the biggest Bedlam games in the rivalry’s history. Buckle. Up.

⏰ On this day

Oklahoma has blanked Oklahoma State four times on this date. The Sooners beat the Cowboys 35-0 in 1925, 19-0 in 1938, 41-0 in 1949 and 53-0 in 1955. OU and Oklahoma State also tied 0-0 in 1931.