Oklahoma

Bible mandate in public schools walked back in Oklahoma

Published

2 months ago

October 16, 2025

Bible mandate in public schools walked back in Oklahoma

The new superintendent of public schools in Oklahoma announced on Wednesday that he is scrapping a mandate imposed by his predecessor that forces schools to place Bibles in classrooms and incorporate Scripture into students’ lesson plans.

Why It Matters

The issue of Bibles in classrooms in Oklahoma has stirred national debate on the role of religion in public education and religious freedom. The decision by new state Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindel Fields to revoke the order represents a victory for supporters of secular public education.

The previous superintendent who imposed the mandate, Ryan Walters, drew condemnation from civil rights groups and triggered a lawsuit from a group of parents, teachers and religious leaders that is still before the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

What To Know

“We…have no plans to distribute Bibles or Biblical character education curriculum in classrooms,” Fields said in a statement on Wednesday.

Fields’ predecessor, Walters, is a conservative Republican and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump who campaigned against what he saw as “woke” ideology and the influence of teachers’ unions in schools. He resigned at the end of last month to join a nonprofit with a focus on education.

In November, less than two weeks after Trump’s election victory, Walters announced that Oklahoma would be the first state in the nation to purchase more than 500 Bibles to be put into classrooms for students in fifth through 12th grades.

A group of Oklahoma parents, teachers and religious leaders challenged the mandate in the courts, arguing that it was unconstitutional, due to forcing Christian beliefs on public school students.

The groups that challenged Walters’ mandate in the courts, including Americans United, the American Civil Liberties Union Oklahoma, Freedom From Religion Foundation and Oklahoma Appleseed, welcomed Fields’ announcement.

“The attempts to promote religion in the classroom and the abuses of power that the Oklahoma State Department of Education engaged in under Walters’ tenure should never happen in Oklahoma or anywhere in the United States again,” they said in a joint statement.

Walters stirred more controversy shortly before resigning, with a plan to open a chapter of Turning Point USA—the conservative student organization co-founded by assassinated group CEO Charlie Kirk—in Oklahoma in every high school to resist “radical leftists … (who) push woke indoctrination.”

What People Are Saying

The groups opposed to Walters’ mandate, in their statement: “The promise of separation of church and state guaranteed by the U.S. and Oklahoma constitutions means that families and students – not politicians – get to decide when and how to engage with religion.”

Walters, in a post to X: “I could not be more disappointed in the decision to move away from empowering our teachers in Oklahoma to use a foundational document like the Bible in the classroom. The war on Christianity is real.”

What Happens Next

The debate over the place of religion in public educational institutions will likely continue in several states across the U.S.

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Oklahoma

Will Josh Cuevas, Jam Miller, LT Overton play against Oklahoma? What Kalen DeBoer said

Published

11 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Press Room

Will Josh Cuevas, Jam Miller, LT Overton play against Oklahoma? What Kalen DeBoer said

Alabama football will be healthier and likely have several starters back for the College Football Playoff.

A handful of starters missed the SEC Championship Game: running back Jam Miller, tight end Josh Cuevas, left guard Kam Dewberry and defensive lineman LT Overton

“I’m optimistic on a lot of these guys,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Sunday.

No. 9 seed Alabama will face No. 8 seed Oklahoma on Friday, Dec. 19 in Norman, Oklahoma in the first round.

“Jam I feel is probably the farthest along, if I really kind of put that in order,” DeBoer said. “I feel really that he’s got a really strong chance of being not just available but ready to go at a level he can compete and do some good things for us.”

Miller leads Alabama with 123 carries for 493 yards and three touchdowns. His pass blocking is also helpful. Miller was seen in a medical boot at the game in Atlanta.

“And Josh would be, he’s on his way,” DeBoer said Sunday. “Kind of just got to keep evaluating with him. I’m holding on to some pretty good hope, but we’ll see. He hasn’t seen our training staff yet today, but every day here now, the next four or five days, they all matter.”

Cuevas became one of quarterback Ty Simpson’s most reliable targets this season before he was injured following the Oklahoma game. He’s missed the past three games with a lower-body injury. Prior to his junior, he caught 30 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Cuevas was also wearing a medical boot during the SEC Championship Game.

“Then we’ll continue to evaluate just where LT’s at,” DeBoer said. “And add Kelby Collins to the mix there too with some of their illnesses and stuff like that, that they’re going through.”

Overton was spotted in normal clothes on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. Overton is second on the team with four sacks this season. He also has tallied 33 tackles.

As for Dewberry, the primary starter at left guard this season, DeBoer said postgame he expects Dewberry bak

“So many guys in the last two to three weeks have, even go back to the Oklahoma game, a number of our guys got dinged up,” DeBoer said. “Just grinding through it. Some of the guys, I don’t think, if it was someone else, they probably wouldn’t have played. But our guys wanted to get out there last night and compete and help the team out.”

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Oklahoma

Where Will Oklahoma Land on Sunday’s College Football Playoff Bracket Reveal?

Published

23 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Press Room

Where Will Oklahoma Land on Sunday’s College Football Playoff Bracket Reveal?

Finally, Oklahoma will learn its path on Sunday.

The Sooners sat out conference championship weekend knowing that they’ll be on the bracket when the College Football Playoff field is announced (11 a.m., ESPN).

And after Saturday’s events, OU will likely get to play one more game at the Palace.

Brent Venables’ fourth OU squad — Team 131, he calls them — entered the weekend ranked eighth by the CFP Selection Committee.

The top four teams in the final rankings will each get a bye in the first round of the CFP, and the teams ranked 5-8 will host the lower seeds in a first-round contest.

Nothing happened Saturday to alter OU’s plans to host.

How to Watch the College Football Playoff Bracket Reveal

When: Sunday, Dec. 7
Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Channel: ESPN

BYU was torched by Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game, then Georgia overpowered Alabama in the SEC title game in Atlanta.

The Cougars and the Crimson Tide were the only two teams who had a real chance to jump Oklahoma and force the Sooners to hit the road for their first-round game.

Sunday, OU simply waits to see who they will face in their first College Football Playoff since 2019, and when: the evening of Dec. 19, or sometime on Dec. 20.

The likely opponents come down to Notre Dame, Alabama or Miami, but it is unclear what the committee will do with the Crimson Tide following their emphatic defeat to Georgia.

Five Most Impactful Players During Oklahoma’s ‘Red November’

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2025

Press Room

Five Most Impactful Players During Oklahoma’s ‘Red November’

NORMAN — Before the season, Oklahoma’s November schedule looked daunting.

And though a couple of the games had a bit less bite than they might’ve appeared early in the season, it was still as tough of a closing stretch as there was in college football.

The Sooners rose to the occasion, with road wins over Tennessee and Alabama and home victories over Missouri and LSU.

With the victories, OU is almost certainly heading to the College Football Playoff when the field is announced Sunday.

Here’s a look at the Sooners’ five most impactful players during their November run (in alphabetical order):

Eli Bowen, Cornerback

Bowen and his brother came up huge during the closing run.

The younger of the two had the flashiest play, an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown against Alabama that put the Sooners up 10-0 late in the first quarter.

Bowen also had an interception against Missouri, sealing the game with his pick in the final minute.

Peyton Bowen, Safety

Bowen had interceptions against Tennessee and LSU.

Against the Volunteers, he picked off Joey Aguilar late in the second quarter and returned it 37 yards to the OU 41, helping set up Tate Sandell’s 51-yard field goal that put the Sooners ahead 13-10.

His interception against LSU might’ve been even bigger.

Just after John Mateer was intercepted in the first quarter, then made a touchdown-saving tackle at the OU 4, Bowen picked off Michael Van Buren Jr. in the end zone.

The Sooners wound up having to punt the ball away on the drive but keeping the Tigers without a score there was huge.

Bowen also blocked a field goal in the second quarter against Missouri, with OU trailing 3-0.

Moments later, Isaiah Sategna’s 87-yard touchdown reception but the Sooners on top.

Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Peyton Bowen (22) closes in to make a hit on Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks (17) at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 23-21. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Gracen Halton, Defensive Tackle

There were plenty of candidates among the defensive line — R Mason Thomas had the incredible fumble return against Tennessee, but was hurt on the play and didn’t play again the rest of the regular season, and Taylor Wein was excellent during the month helping the Sooners not skip a beat without Thomas. But Halton’s disruption stood out among the group.

The stats don’t do justice to how good Halton was during the month, but his 82.8 PFF grade against LSU gives plenty of insight into his value during the month.

Tate Sandell, Kicker

Sandell might be the Sooners’ Most Valuable Player for the season, and certainly showed his worth during November.

He went 9 for 9 on field goals and 9 for 9 on extra points. Four of Sandell’s field goals during the month came from more than 50 yards.

Sandell was particular impactful against Tennessee, when he hit three second-quarter field goals — two longer than 50 yards — to send OU into the half with a 16-10 lead.

At this point, it would be a surprise if Sandell didn’t become the Sooners’ first Lou Groza Award winner after making 23 consecutive field-goal tries after his first try of the season missed and going 32 of 32 on extra points.