On Wednesday Oklahoma coach Brent Venables spoke publicly for the first time since the NCAA announced the Sooners had self reported recruiting violations.
“In situations like these despite the nuances and the particulars we have to take responsibility and move on,” Venables said on the weekly SEC Coaches Teleconference. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
OU running backs coach DeMarco Murray was suspended for a game after he had impermissible contact with 17 recruits over a 16-month period.
“I won’t really comment on whether or not this is the week or not,” Venables said of the timing of the suspension on Wednesday, though a source told Sooners on SI that Murray would serve his suspension this Friday in Oklahoma’s 2024 season opener against the Temple Owls.
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The contact included 65 impermissible phone calls and 36 impermissible text messages, the NCAA said in a press release, and that Murray indicated he was “unaware that a COVID-19 waiver of recruiting rules had expired”.
Per the release, Oklahoma maintained that there was proper training that the COVID-19 waiver had expired.
Despite the Sooners putting the coaching staff through the training, Venables said the entire program can still learn from the situation.
“It’s affirmation for despite all the education that you do, the constant monitoring and reinforcement of, ‘Hey man just follow the rules. These are what they are.’ People can still make mistakes,” Venables said. “And there’s no doubt that I’m incredibly disappointed in what took place. And I do know our staff works to be mindful of the rules and we have perimeters, very clear and strong perimeters that are in place.”
The program’s acceptance of the violation extended to Murray, as the running back coach accepted full responsibility for the mistake.
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“DeMarco knows,” Venables said. “He knows all of that and he’s accepted responsibility like I said. I know who he is but you’ve got to continue — things will still happen despite strong measures in place that try to protect you.”
The Sooners have already served a large portion of the penalties for the mistake after self-reporting and self-imposing violations.
In addition to Murray’s one-game suspension, Oklahoma will be unable to host recruits on unofficial visits for the Temple contest and there will be a three-week ban on “recruiting phone and electronic correspondence for the football program from Dec. 8, 2024 to March 31, 2025,” the NCAA said in the release.
There will be plenty of change for OU’s offense on full display come Friday.
The No. 16-ranked Sooners will have an entirely new offensive line, it will mark the first home start for quarterback Jackson Arnold and it will be just the second game with co-offensive coordinators Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley at the helm, but there are known quantities to help smooth over the adversity at running back.
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Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes were listed as co-starters on Oklahoma’s first depth chart of the year.
Sawchuk took over down the stretch last year, closing the 2023 season with five straight games where he rushed for more than 100 yards, and by all accounts Barnes is ready to bounce back after injuries hampered him last year.
Barnes and Sawchuk both rushed for 100 yards in the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl against Florida State, and have enough experience to keep the running game churning even without Murray on the sideline against Temple.
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The 2025 College Football Playoff is officially underway on Friday when the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide faces the No. 8 Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The SEC programs put on a great show back in November when the Sooners beat the Crimson Tide 23-21 in Alabama. The winner will face the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl.
At a Glance: How to Watch Alabama vs. Oklahoma Playoff Game
Don’t have a way to watch the Alabama vs. Oklahoma playoff game tonight? Read on. Ahead is a quick guide on where to livestream the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game without cable, including ways to watch the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game for free.
How to Watch Alabama vs. Oklahoma Playoff Game Online
The Alabama vs. Oklahoma playoff game is airing on ESPN and ABC. If you don’t have cable, the best way to livestream the game is to get a live TV streaming service that carries either channel. Here are four of the best options:
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editor’s Pick
DirecTV
➤ $39.99/month ➤ Five-day free trial ➤ Up to 185+ channels
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DirecTV carries both ESPN and ABC in a few of its plans. All DirecTV packages start with a five-day free trial, and plans with ABC start at $39.99 a month after that. The service is our favorite overall, offering a range of packages for different budgets and viewing needs.
Fubo
➤ $55.99/month ➤ Free trial ➤ Up to 300+ channels
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Fubo is another top cable streaming solution, and it carries ESPN and ABC in all of its packages. Plans start at $55.99 a month, but you get a free trial and a discount on your first month.
Sling
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➤ $45.99/month ➤ Short-term passes available ➤ Up to 46 channels
Sling carries ESPN in its Orange plan, which starts at just $45.99 a month. Even better: Sling offers short-term passes, getting you access for one, three, or seven days, starting at just $4.99. Sling does not offer a free trial, however.
Another way to watch the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game is with Hulu + Live TV. The service delivers access to both ESPN and ABC, as well as more than 90 other channels. Pricing starts at $89.99 a month, but you get a three-day free trial to start.
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Stream Alabama vs. Oklahoma Game for Free
Looking for a way to watch the Alabama vs. Oklahoma game for free? Get a free trial to DirecTV, Fubo, or Hulu + Live TV.
Alabama vs. Oklahoma Playoff Game Date, Start Time 2025
The Alabama vs. Oklahoma CFP game will take place tonight, Friday, Dec. 19. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. ET.
STILLWATER, Okla. — Christian Coleman tallied a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double as Oklahoma State held off Kansas City 91-79 on Thursday night.
Coleman shot 8 of 12 from the field and controlled the paint as the Cowboys improved to 10-1 and stayed unbeaten at home. Oklahoma State shot 58% overall, setting the tone early by opening the game on a 14-4 run before Kansas City settled in offensively.
Oklahoma State led 48-44 at halftime, but the margin remained slim well into the second half as the Roos continued to answer runs.
Kansas City briefly moved in front midway through the half, but Oklahoma State responded with a steady stretch fueled by Coleman and Anthony Roy. The Cowboys regained control with a three-point play by Coleman and pushed the lead to eight with just over seven minutes remaining, then closed the game at the line.
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Roy finished with 18 points, including several baskets late, while Vyctorius Miller added 13 points and three assists. Andrija Vukovic scored 11, and Oklahoma State finished with a 41-29 rebounding edge.
Karmello Branch led the Roos with 18 points, Jayson Petty added 16 and Kasheem Grady II scored 14. Kansas City shot 37% from the field, went 11 of 30 from 3-point range and made 18 of 22 free throws, but could not match Oklahoma State’s efficiency inside late.
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Kansas City closed its nonconference road schedule at 2-11.
Up Next
Oklahoma State hosts Cal State Fullerton on Sunday.
Kansas City returns home to face Austin Peay on Sunday.
Former interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas dies at 93
Big 12 negotiating deal to provide its schools capital infusion of up to $500 million
Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Find more Oklahoma State coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is taking action against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC after alleging the use of deceptive and unfair practices in selling subscription services.
According to the Drummond office, the lawsuit against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC seeks to uncover an alleged variety of unfair operations in selling Uber One subscription services.
On Monday, Drummond, alongside a coalition of 21 other state attorneys general, joined the lawsuit filed initially by the Federal Trade Commission.
Drummond says the lawsuit alleges the following:
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Uber is accused of improperly using negative option marketing tactics when it offered free trial subscriptions – a practice that automatically charges consumers if they do not cancel a free trial.
Uber allegedly misled consumers about the amounts they could save when subscribing to Uber One and made it extraordinarily difficult for consumers to cancel once enrolled.
Uber is also accused of charging consumers before their billing date, including users whose free trial had not yet ended.
“Oklahoma law prohibits deceptive trade practices and I will always fight to hold accountable any company who breaks the law,” Drummond said. “Unless Uber is stopped in court, they are likely to continue cheating and harming hardworking Oklahomans.”
The AG’s office says the lawsuit seeks restitution, penalties, costs, and an injunction against Uber for alleged violations of Oklahoma’s Consumer Protection Act and the U.S. Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.
The lawsuit is currently scheduled for trial on February 2027, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Here is the state coalition list; in addition to Oklahoma, it includes Maryland, Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as the District Attorney for Alameda County in California.
