Oklahoma
Ambiguity Swirls Oklahoma Kicker Battle Inside 10 Days From Season-Opener
NORMAN — Do you know who’s starting at kicker for the Oklahoma Sooners next Friday? If so, pass that information along to Brent Venables’ office.
By Tuesday night, the competition pitting incumbent Zach Schmit against Florida State transfer Tyler Keltner had yielded no more clarity than it did when Keltner arrived in Norman during the spring. All Venables revealed Tuesday was that it had trimmed to the two — no mention of freshman sensation Liam Evans, who was a Kohl’s Kicking 5-star.
“[I] love where we’re at in the kicking game right now,” Venables told media near Memorial Stadium’s south end zone. “Still have a battle there with our placekickers. That’ll go through the end of this week and then we’ll make a decision. Really feel like we would need both guys potentially this season. Zach’s got a really big leg, and he’s really good at the kickoffs. . . Liam Evans has done some good things there.”
SoonerScoop’s George Stoia reported that Venables called Keltner the “odds on favorite” to win the job four weeks ago. It isn’t clear if that has changed.
Schmit hit 15-of-21 field goals last year (71.4 percent), good for sixth best in the Big 12, and hit a long of 46 yards. Fifty of his 93 kickoffs resulted touchbacks. His running streak of 124 made extra point attempts ranks fifth in program history. But — his struggles to connect on crucial kicks prompted the Sooners’ staff to bring on Keltner, a fifth-year senior who cut his teeth at the FCS level for four years, earned first team All-SoCon nods at East Tennessee State each of his last two seasons, then moved home to Tallahassee to back up Ryan Fitzgerald at Florida State.
“The competition will help bring out the best in everybody is my expectation, so Tyler Keltner and Liam Evans will have a chance to come in here and make us better that way,” Venables said in March.
The Sooners open the season Friday, Aug. 30 against Temple. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. If the Sooners kick first, it will likely be by Schmit’s leg. Keltner could be the field goal guy. Oklahoma fans could see a different specialist starting at kickoff, field goal and punt for the first time since Nick Hodgson, Michael Hunnicut and Jed Barnett split duties in 2014. Luke Elzinga appears to be Venables’ Week 1 starter.
In the April 20 Spring Game, Keltner missed his lone attempt from 44 and Schmit hit his only try from 29. All three kickers were 2-of-2 on touchbacks and 2-of-2 on PATs.
Special teams analyst Doug Deakin will be able to coach both at practice and from the sideline under the NCAA’s new rules. Should either kicker struggle — or both — Deakin will be able to consult players directly and make a switch should it become necessary.
“It gives you a chance to really make some improvement in the areas that you need to,” Venables said. “But that’s been a lot of fun. Doug’s incredibly passionate, high energy, really smart, great teacher, inspires and motivates as good as any coach as I’ve been around. The players have tremendous respect for him and he’s just a really effective communicator. So I expect us to improve from where we were.”
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Police are looking to identify a person in reference to a fraud case at Best Buy in the 5800 block of N. May Avenue.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers 405-235-7300, or www.okccrimetips.com and reference case # 25-93839.
A cash reward may be possible.
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Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Oklahoma Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 25, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
4-8-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
23-29-31-37-45, Lucky Ball: 16
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 25 drawing
03-06-19-20-35
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Sign Your Ticket: Please make sure to sign and complete the back of your ticket
- You have 180 days from the draw date to claim your prize.
- Prizes up to $600: Can be claimed at any Oklahoma Lottery retailer or at the Oklahoma Lottery Winner Center, located at 300 N. Broadway in downtown Oklahoma City. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday 7:30 am – 4:00 pm.
- Prizes from $601 to $49,999: These can be claimed at the Oklahoma Lottery Winner Center or by mail. Payments can be issued as a check or direct deposit (ACH). Claiming in person requires a photo of the front and back of the winning ticket, a valid ID, official proof of Social Security number and a completed claim form.
- Prizes of $50,000 or more: These can be claimed in person at the Oklahoma Lottery Winner Center or by mail. Payment options include check or ACH. Bring a photo of the front and back of the winning ticket, proof of Social Security number, a completed claim form, and valid ID.
Mail-in Claims: Mail the original signed ticket and a completed claim form to the Oklahoma Lottery, P.O. Box 548810, Oklahoma City, OK 73154. For direct deposit, include a voided check or bank letter with your account details. Non-winning tickets are not accepted, and Oklahoma Lottery assumes no responsibility for lost or stolen mail.
For additional details, refer to the official Oklahoma Lottery claim page.
When are the Oklahoma Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- MEGA Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily
- Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Pick 3: 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
- Cash 5: 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Oklahoma editor. You can send feedback using this form.
One person was hurt in a crash Wednesday night along Interstate 40 in northeast Oklahoma City, according to police.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says 26-year-old Jada Berry was driving on I-40 near Interstate 35 when her vehicle left the roadway and rolled over twice.
Berry was injured in the crash and taken to a local hospital. Her condition has not yet been released.
OHP says Berry was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. No charges have been filed at this time.
Troopers at the scene say no one else was in the car.
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