NORMAN — Oklahoma’s sweep of Mississippi State has the Sooners still right in the middle of the SEC fight.
The No. 2-ranked Sooners are tied with No. 3 Texas at 13-5 in league play, trailing only No. 1 Texas A&M (13-4).
No. 4 Tennessee looms just one game back of the Sooners and the Longhorns, and the Red River Rivals will be in Norman to meet for the first time at Love’s Field.
The weekend was far from perfect. OU had to battle out of a pair of 4-0 deficits after the top of the first inning in Sunday’s double header, but Patty Gasso’s team found the offense it needed to take all three wins against the No. 16-ranked Bulldogs.
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Oklahoma third baseman Nelly McEnroe-Marinas / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Friday’s 4-0 victoryover Mississippi State at Love’s Field was comfortable, but it left Gasso wanting more.
Her team put up two runs in each of the first two innings, but there was no further damage inflicted.
To hold pace with Texas and Florida in the coming weekends, the Sooners will have to keep scoring, but Gasso struck a balance between wanting more and continuing to build the confidence of her young lineup.
“This team is going to start clicking at a different cylinder and you’re going to know it. You won’t even have to ask me. You’re gonna see it,” Gasso said on Friday. “I know it’s coming, we’re just working through that right now. And it’s coming. I know it will happen before we finish the end of this season. So that’s where we’re at right now. Wins are great but if we can start clicking in that way, we’re going to be pretty unstoppable.”
Against Tennessee, Gasso said her team has to produce in more than just two spots in the lineup.
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Sunday, the runs came from all over.
Kasidi Pickering hit a homer in the first game of the double header, then Ailana Agbayani and Cydney Sanders helped string together hits to get OU back in the game.
Sunday’s finale was all about the long ball.
Gabbie Garcia struck first, Hannah Coor went yard once, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas homered twice and catcher Isabela Emerling hammered a three-run shot to put the Sooners in front.
Gasso was proud of the team’s response. They didn’t panic, and they slowly chipped away to come from behind twice on Sunday.
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“Not trying to over-swing because it was still early in the game,” Gasso said. “We don’t want to give up runs that way, but if we do it and do it early, we have that time. They started to pull rallies together.”
Oklahoma’s Isabella Smith / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The second option out of the bullpen behind Sam Landry has been a rotating door this season.
Freshman Audrey Lowry excelled in the first SEC series against South Carolina. Kierston Deal won the only contest against Tennessee.
Sunday, it was Isabella Smith’s turn.
Lowry’s day lasted just six batters, and OU pitching coach Jennifer Rocha turned to the Campbell transfer out of the pen.
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Smith has struggled lately, but she settled the game for the Sooners. She pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing three hits, three walks and one run while firing back with a strikeout — a performance that provided a much-needed mental boost.
“Coach Rocha and I have been working really, really hard just getting my mental right,” Smith said on Sunday. “I think that’s probably where I’ve struggled the most. But I came in today and this week I’ve really just been trusting my stuff and trusting the talents that God has given me.”
She was close to getting her swagger back against Alabama last Sunday, but a pair of bunt-singles loaded the bases and ended her day.
“I think I felt I was definitely getting closer too,” said Smith, “and I was allowed to take that into this week for bullpens and keep it going throughout the rest of the season.”
Oklahoma catcher Isabela Emerling and pitcher Sam Landry / NATE BILLINGS/FOR THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Shortly after Smith exited the first game on Sunday, the ball was given to Landry to close.
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She threw 27 pitches and secured the win.
Then she started the series finale.
Landry pitched all seven innings, throwing 123 more pitches, to secure the sweep.
It wasn’t perfect, but Landry bounced back from allowing four runs in the first to enjoy a solid outing.
“I think (she battled) just a little bit of fatigue and she was pushing through it,” Emerling said. “Sam is always mentally in it, is always driven to compete. And I think it was just the physical tiredness that got her a little bit.”
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Gasso doesn’t want to rely on just one pitcher, but Landry has proven against Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi State that she can put OU in a winning position while still pitching 14 innings or more in a series.
The Sooners have to battle through the postseason, but stacking wins will only allow Landry to bank rest in Oklahoma City — a hopeful prospect for a program looking to rewrite the record books again in June.
Oklahoma authorities are investigating multiple bridge strikes that occurred along the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike on Tuesday afternoon.
On December 16, 2025, “an illegally over-height commercial motor vehicle drove this afternoon from Tulsa to near Miami,” causing damage to “multiple county bridges above the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike,” according to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA).
The OTA notes that “it is illegal for trucks taller than 14 feet to travel the state highway system without permits and approved routes. The bridges damaged today range from 14 feet and 11 inches to 15 feet and 4 inches in vertical clearance, well above the legal limit.”
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OTA
“We are continuing to see damage to our state transportation infrastructure from illegal, over-height semi-trucks. This is a critical issue that puts the traveling public at risk and is unacceptable. We are extremely grateful no one was injured in this incident,” OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle said. “We implore truck drivers to follow all Oklahoma laws and work with the state’s Size and Weights permitting office to ensure that all travelers are safe on our roadways and that our infrastructure remains undamaged by these careless acts.”
OTA
Officials say that the following bridges were struck:
E. 530 Rd. – closed between S. 4130 Rd. and Lakeway Rd.
S. 4220 Rd. – closed between E. 460 Rd. and E. 470 Rd. east of Claremore
N. 429 Rd. – closed between E. 390 Rd. and SH-28
N. 4300 Rd. – closed between E. 380 Rd. and W. 390 Rd.
N. 4310 Rd. – open
W. 370 Rd. – open
The Will Rogers Turnpike is open, but drivers should expect temporary delays as crews continue to inspect the damaged bridges.
“OTA is working closely with officials from Rogers County, City of Claremore, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and ODOT in response to this incident,” the agency said.
For the second time this year, we’ll see Oklahoma and Alabama face off in a pivotal showdown.
The Sooners (10-2) will host the Crimson Tide (10-3) for a College Football Playoff showdown Friday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The last time these teams faced off, Oklahoma came away with a 23-21 win over Alabama on the road.
Will Oklahoma once again topple Alabama? Here’s everything fans should know about Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP:
How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP
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When: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19
Where: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, Oklahoma)
TV: ABC/ESPN Streaming: ESPN app
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A prime-time showdown
None of the four first-round College Football Playoff games overlap, but Alabama-Oklahoma really takes center stage.
With the other three games on Saturday, including Texas A&M-Miami, this game is the only one on Friday night and doesn’t overlap with any of Saturday’s NFL action like Tulane-Ole Miss and James Madison-Oregon do.
It shouldn’t be as cold as it has been lately in Norman, Okla., as early forecasts are expecting temperatures in the lower-50s and upper-40s on Friday. Combine that with a 7 p.m. kickoff that gives Oklahoma fans plenty of time to tailgate and get riled up for the game, and “The Palace on the Prairie” should be a sight to behold as it hosts its first CFP game.
Oklahoma-Alabama head-to-head
Oklahoma and Alabama have faced off eight times in the past. The Sooners lead the all-time series 5-2-1. As we mentioned above, Oklahoma won the latest matchup in the 2025 regular season.
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Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Moccasin Bend Ranch, a residential treatment program in Wyandotte, has reopened after a remodel, expanding access to specialized mental health services for children ages 5 to 12. Leaders say the program fills a critical gap in Oklahoma, where options for young children needing higher levels of care remain limited.
A unique approach for younger children
Moccasin Bend Ranch is a 28 bed psychiatric residential treatment facility set on 12 wooded acres. The unlocked campus is designed to give children access to outdoor play and nature, something leaders say is essential for younger patients.
“This setting allows our kids to act like kids,” said Christina Holum, interim chief executive officer at Willow Crest Hospital and Moccasin Bend Ranch. “Watching them play gives us a renewed sense of purpose. We are confident this change will lead to better outcomes and happier, healthier children.”
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The ranch focuses exclusively on children, a distinction that sets it apart from many other programs across the state.
Why early treatment matters
Mental health leaders say many children referred to Moccasin Bend Ranch have already tried outpatient therapy and medication management without success. By the time families seek residential care, behaviors are often increasing in both frequency and intensity.
“If outpatient services are not working, families need somewhere to turn,” said Grant Linihan, vice president of business development for Vizion Health, which owns the facility. “If our program was not available, these, kids, where are they going to go to get treated?”
Linihan and Holum say early intervention can help children develop coping skills and emotional regulation before problems follow them into adolescence and adulthood.
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Inside the treatment program
Children at Moccasin Bend Ranch receive a full schedule of therapeutic services, including individual therapy, family therapy and group sessions. The program also emphasizes recreational and expressive therapies to help children process trauma and build skills in a developmentally appropriate way.
Staff members work with families to plan for discharge, aiming to ensure continuity of care once a child returns home.
Making the holidays feel normal
For some children, the holiday season can be especially difficult. Leaders say the ranch makes a point to celebrate milestones and traditions, even while children are in treatment.
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The facility hosts holiday meals, seasonal activities and visits from community volunteers, including a volunteer Santa. Children are also taken to see nearby holiday light displays.
“We try to get them to reshape their minds,” Linihan said. “Even though you’re with us, this is still going to be a joyous time for you.”
A broader mental health need in Oklahoma
Mental health providers say the need for pediatric services is tied to broader challenges across the state, including limited funding and access to care. They note that untreated mental health issues in childhood can contribute to long term struggles later in life.
“There will always be a need for this type of service for a certain group of children,” Holum said. “If they cannot get help early, their prognosis becomes much worse.”
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How families can get help
Families who are concerned about a child’s mental health can contact Willow Crest Hospital or Moccasin Bend Ranch for a free phone intake. Staff members can help parents determine whether residential treatment is appropriate or if outpatient care may still be an option.
Willow Crest Hospital, also operated by Vizion Health, is a 50 bed acute inpatient psychiatric facility in Miami serving adolescents ages 9 to 17. Together, the programs serve families from across Oklahoma, including hundreds of children from Tulsa County each year.
For more information, families can call (918) 542-1836 to speak with an intake specialist. You can also find their website here.
