Where Bedlam 2018 Ranks Among Most Thrilling in Mike Gundy Era

We witnessed an all-timer played in Norman on Saturday. A tabbed three-TD underdog came this close to upending a CFP contender. Had one or two plays gone the other way, we would likely view that game as Mike Gundy’s Bedlam magnum opus.

There have been plenty of tightly-contested Bedlams during Gundy’s 14-year tenure. Despite the 2-12 record, six of the last nine have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

I’ve been commissioned to come up with what I deem the “best games” of the Bedlam ilk during Gundy’s tenure, and this latest one is surely in it. But first let’s go over some ground rules.

What is a “good game?” Gundy called this recent edition “a hell of a college football game.” He was right. That’s what we’re going for here. Would you be glued to said game for four-plus hours if you had no dog in the fight? Which games would a Florida State or Oregon or Georgia fan flip over to and not be able to stop watching?

Let’s get started.

6. 2010: No. 13 Oklahoma 47 |No. 9 Oklahoma State 41

The 7-3 Cowboys welcomed the 8-2 Sooners to BPS. Dana was chugging Red Bulls and calling plays, Josh Cooper was knifing through the OU defense and a hobbled Justin Blackmon still managed eight catches for 105 and a score.

The Pokes were able to hang around all game aided by a couple Landry Jones interceptions including a pick-6. But OSU wasted too much clock down 10 late and settled for a Dan Bailey field goal with 36 seconds left. The on-side kick was unsuccessful and the game ended there.

Overall, it was a classic Bedlam with plenty of momentum swings and highlight reel plays, and even more what-ifs. The Pokes would finally get it done a year later.

5. 2018 — Oklahoma State 47 | No. 6 Oklahoma 48

This one is obviously fresh on our minds, but I think it will go down as one of the all-time Bedlam games. It had all the drama you would expect with several lead changes, even more big plays and a last-minute finish.

What makes this game different than most is that the losing team came out looking better than before kickoff and the winner’s resume’ was a little worse for the wear. OU’s already suspect secondary was put on primetime blast by Tylan Wallace, Tyron Johnson and an all-time game from Taylor Cornelius. That display has cast doubt on the Sooners’ prospects when they head to West Virginia for the first of potential consecutive meetings with Will Grier ahead of a vaunted Mountaineer passing game.

It wasn’t the only time Oklahoma State has gone to Norman as a three-TD underdog, but this was the best Sooner team they played in that scenario. It’s still tender, I know. Moving on.

 4. 2012 — No. 21 Oklahoma State 48 | No. 13 Oklahoma 51 (Overtime)

This was one of the better games if you were an unbiased spectator, which made it one of the more gut-wrenching losses for OSU fans.

Following his dominant dramatic Big 12 title win that was Bedlam in 2011, Mike Gundy had a chance to put together consecutive in-state rivalry Ws for the first time as a head coach.

Clint Chelf stood toe-to-toe will all-time Big 12 passer Landry Jones and produced 253 passing yards to Jones’ 500, in half as many attempts, literally. Chelf was 19-of-37 while Jones threw the ball an Oklahoma and Bedlam record 71 (!) times.

OSU leaned on Joseph Randle who chewed up 113 yards of grass on Owen Field and found pay dirt four times. Josh Stewart had a 75-yard touchdown that added into his 150-yard day.

Speaking of what-ifs — we’ve done a lot of that lately — if Gilbert successfully breaks on that ball in the waning seconds of the second quarter, he’s probably got a 98-yard pick 6 as the clock runs out. OSU would have taken a 14-point lead into halftime instead of going in tied.

But OSU still had ample opportunities to seal up the win the second half. The Cowboys never trailed and held the lead until Blake Bell forced overtime and etched his name into Bedlam lore with four ticks remaining on the clock. The Pokes traded a FG for a Brennan Clay touchdown in OT and the rest, as they say, is misery.

3. 2013 —  No. 18 Oklahoma 33 | No. 6 Oklahoma State 24

This one was by far the most heart-breaking loss to me. Talk about what-ifs. The Dez Roland TD that was called back, the Justin Gilbert INT that could have been. Oklahoma State had no business losing that game, but found a way late.

Another Blake Bell TD, this time with 19 seconds remaining, followed by the scoop and score as the clock expired introduced me to what they call a stress-induced migraine.

2. 2017 — No. 8 Oklahoma 62 | No. 11 Oklahoma State 52

This, like the 2018 version, was not for the faint of heart among defensive-minded folks. There are a lot of similarities between the 2017 and 2018 iterations of Bedlam. Each had significant late turnovers. Each featured would-be lead-changing drives by OSU. Each saw Tyron go into #Freak mode. Most importantly, Mike Gundy shook a little of his coaches scared in Bedlams persona by appearing to actually coach to win.

There was more talent on the field in 2017, definitely for Oklahoma State. And the stakes were infinitely higher than in 2017 since both teams still had a trip to Arlington in front of them.

1. 2014 — Oklahoma State 38 | No. 18 Oklahoma 35

What if Daxx Garman doesn’t get sacked into concussion protocol by Texas two games earlier? What if Semaje Perine doesn’t go down early with injury? What if Bob doesn’t re-punt and Michael Hunnicutt doesn’t miss the overtime field goal? All the Sooner what-ifs make this my No. 1.

This game not only was an all-timer because it was an all-timer. It kick-started the Mason Rudolph era and provided a much-needed boost for a reeling Oklahoma State program and a not so rosy scene in Stillwater.