Rival Rundown: Lincoln Riley, Jalen Hurts Preview Bedlam 2019

Oklahoma State hosts its in-state rival this weekend and rarely is there any love lost between the Cowboys and that other team from an hour south down I-35.

On Monday, Lincoln Riley and a handful of his players met with media to talk about the upcoming matchup between the 10-1 Sooners and the 8-3 Cowboys. Here’s some of the best, or at least most notable, that was said.

First off, Lincoln Riley talked about the importance of Bedlam in this state and its impact on the Big 12 in recent history.

“I’m excited about Bedlam, always am,” said Riley. “Doesn’t matter when this game falls, where it’s at. It’s obviously always a meaningful football game for this state and it’s been very important in a lot of championship races over the last several years, and this obviously being no different.”

This game will never not be huge in this state, but it has title implications more times than not over the last 10 years with a handful of those matchups being de facto conference title games (back when there wasn’t an actual title game).

“Excited to get out to Stillwater and play,” Riley continued. “Guys are really, really looking forward to this one as always. This is one of the best rivalry games, without a doubt, and being the last regular season game of the year, [it’s] certainly one that we’re very motivated to go play our very best ball.”

When asked about the meaning of this rivalry game, first-year Sooner Jalen Hurts wouldn’t concede any nervousness about playing in BPS. But when asked about OSU’s defense which has specialized in creating turnovers during the second half of the season, the senior QB who’s shown a knack for giveaways as of late, played nice.

“They have a really good scheme and they play it well,” said Hurts. “They got really good players. They get to the ball fast and they play the ball well, so. Another good team and another good defense that we’ve really got to prepare for well and be ready for.”

OU center Creed Humphrey, the Shawnee native, said he’s had an eye on Bedlam all of his life.

“Obviously it’s a huge deal being an Oklahoma kid, growing up watching,” said Humphrey. “There’s been some crazy games. It’s a huge deal for us. It’s gonna be a great atmosphere there and that’s the type of stuff we love so I’m really ready for it, definitely.”

He was asked for his favorite memory from the rivalry, but he couldn’t settle on just one.

“Growing up I went to every Bedlam game every year,” Humphrey said. “I don’t really have any moments that really stick out in my head. No certain game or anything, just the craziness of this game every year is what really sticks out.”

Humphrey, who held an OSU offer before the Sooners scooped him up, then clarified that he only went to those Bedlam games “at OU,” but during his redshirt year, he enjoyed a front-row view of what was an all-time offensive performance from both teams inside Boone Pickens Stadium in 2017.

“It was a crazy night, exciting night to watch. Watching the offense roll the way they did, it was awesome.”

Senior defensive tackle Neville Gallimore who, like Chuba Hubbard and Amen Ogbongbemiga, hails from that country to the north has embraced the rivalry during his time at OU.

“Very intense game, a lot of emotions,” said Gallimore. “A cross-town rivalry. It’s a big game. A game, again, being a part of this culture, a part of this team you look forward to.”