Oklahoma
College baseball week in review: Oklahoma keeps rolling, Clemson sweeps South Carolina
Oklahoma is on the rise in its first season in the Southeastern Conference. The Sooners entered The Athletic college baseball Top 25 last week at No. 23 after they beat then-No. 9 Oregon State and then-No. 3 Virginia at the Round Rock Classic.
Oklahoma remained perfect with a weekend sweep over Cal State Northridge in Norman. The Sooners rallied for a 3-2 win on Sunday after they scored 39 runs in four games over the previous five days.
Right-handed junior Kyson Witherspoon, the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week, threw six shutout innings Friday against Northridge. Witherspoon has a 28-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.50 ERA in three starts, coming off an offseason in which he pitched for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Witherspoon gives the Sooners a high-end SEC ace. And his twin brother, Malachi, is a solid No. 2 for the Sooners, posting a 2-0 mark with a 1.88 ERA in three starts. He closed for Team USA last summer. The Witherspoon twins came to OU from Northwest Florida State College ahead of the 2024 season.
The Sooners’ No. 3 starter is Cameron Johnson, a top-15 national recruit in the Class of 2023 who spent his freshman season at LSU. His command continues to be an issue — he has walked 10 in 13.1 innings — but opposing hitters are batting only .204 against him in his three starts.
OU improved to 11-0, its best start since it won its first 16 games in 2011, with the three wins against Northridge. The Sooners visit Dallas Baptist on Tuesday, the most significant obstacle in the way of Oklahoma taking a 16-0 record into its SEC opener at South Carolina on March 14.
The Sooners advanced to the College World Series finals in 2022 but failed to get out of a Regional the last two seasons.
Clemson made a statement in handing rival South Carolina its first three losses of the season, sweeping the Gamecocks 5-3, 5-1 and 8-2. The opening game was played Friday at Clemson, Saturday in Greenville, S.C., and Sunday at Founders Park in Columbia, the Gamecocks’ home stadium.
Ethan Darden pitched seven scoreless innings on Saturday, allowing three hits, to win the Bob Bradley Award as Clemson’s MVP in the annual series. The Tigers are 10-1.
Columbia has enjoyed a rich recent history in baseball. The Lions have won the Ivy League postseason championship five times dating back to 2013.
They took Miami to a winner-take-all seventh game of a Regional in 2015 and won a pair of games at the Blacksburg Regional in 2022.
In Columbia’s not-so-recent history, Lou Gehrig played at the New York school.
Over the weekend, Columbia played at Oregon, the preseason Big Ten favorite. The Ducks swept the four-game series, scoring 55 runs in the first two games. Oregon won 35-1 in the opener of a Saturday doubleheader.
Columbia does not need a pity party. The Lions will be fine. They play at Georgia this week.
But the lopsided scores in Eugene serve as a canary in the coal mine for college baseball.
What is to come of the Division I format, with more than 300 teams vying for the same postseason, as the 11.7-scholarship limit disappears in the wake of the NCAA v. House settlement?
If terms of the settlement are approved next month, the roster limit will drop in 2026 from 40 players to 34. But coaches will no longer be limited by the NCAA in how they distribute scholarship money.
Rich SEC schools and other power-conference programs that invest in baseball can soar past 11.7 scholarships if they choose to pay for it. Scholarship costs will be deducted from revenue revenue-sharing allotment, expected in 2025-26 to be capped at $20.5 million.
Columbia and its Ivy League partners do not award athletic scholarships. Safe to say the Lions also won’t see any part of revenue-share dollars. And while the vast majority of college baseball players will not get rich from the House settlement, its impact and the next wave of NIL payments are sure to tip the scales further in this sport.
In fact, it all may prove to be a death knell in the bids of under-resourced programs to compete with the likes of Oregon and Georgia.
Administrations on both sides of the power structure ought to think twice about scheduling such future series.
Columbia will continue to find and develop good players. Just not enough of them to stay on the field with an elite group of power programs on track to grow more powerful.
Gardner-Webb designated hitter Dale Francis smashed four home runs on Saturday in the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ 16-14 win at Appalachian State.
Francis, a fifth-year senior from Fort Pierce, Fla., drove in 12 runs. After he hit a grand slam in the seventh inning, Francis was denied a chance at his fifth home run when the Mountaineers intentionally walked him in the top of the ninth inning with one out.
Have a day @Too_good_dj ‼️
4 homeruns
12 RBIs
Intentionally walked, with the bases loaded. @KendallRogers @aaronfitt @d1baseball @midmajors_d1 @JoeHealyD1 @Mike_Rooney @Monty2740 @CollegeBaseCNT @Micah_CBC @GWUSports @BigSouthSports @NCAABaseball pic.twitter.com/SolDmwBSxg— Gardner-Webb Baseball (@GWUBaseball) March 2, 2025
He also homered in the first, fifth and sixth innings. Francis transferred after last season to Gardner-Webb from Division II Erskine College, where he hit .405 with 15 homers in 33 games last year. Through 13 games this season, he’s hitting .409 with seven homers, 27 RBIs and a 1.436 OPS.
Marshall McDougall of Florida State owns the NCAA record for home runs and RBIs in a game. McDougall hit six bombs and drove in 16 runs against Maryland in 1999.
Gardner-Webb dropped to 6-7 after a 9-7 loss on Sunday to App State. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Francis, hitting in the cleanup spot, finished 1 for 3 with a single.
Gardner-Webb of the Big South has not appeared in the NCAA postseason since its move to Division I in 2003. For any host school that might draw G-W in a Regional — if the Bulldogs can find a way to win the conference tournament — there’s a big bat in the middle of that lineup to avoid.
Miami won the series finale, 13-7, against Florida on Sunday in Gainesville to hand the fourth-ranked Gators their first loss in 12 games this season.
To say their rivalry has been tightly contested through the years is an understatement.
It’s been all Hurricanes today in Gainesville. They are going to salvage the series and hand the Gators their 1st loss of the season
All-Time series is now back tied up 136-136-1 between the 2 schools pic.twitter.com/WrxTO9eAPf
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) March 2, 2025
Top-ranked Texas A&M, after a 5-0 start, lost four consecutive games but avoided a winless week with a 14-4 victory against Rice on Sunday night in the Astros Foundation College Classic. Also at Dalkin Park over the weekend in Houston, Oklahoma State beat the Aggies 4-0, and Arizona scored twice in the top of the ninth inning for a 3-2 over A&M.
Texas State beat Texas A&M 7-3 on Tuesday in College Station after the Aggies lost the finale of a three-game series against Cal Poly on Feb. 23.
Earlier in the Week, A&M learned that sophomore Gavin Grahovac, their All-America third baseman, will miss the rest of the 2025 season due to a shoulder injury.
Speaking of Arizona, Chip Hale’s team has rebounded nicely after a 0-3 start. The Wildcats, ranked No. 15 in the preseason, won seven consecutive games before losing 5-1 to Tennessee on Sunday in Houston.
Arizona beat Texas A&M on run-scoring infield singles by Easton Breyfogle and Brendan Summerhill in the decisive ninth inning on Friday. On Saturday, Arizona reliever Tony Pluta escaped a two-aboard, no-out jam in the bottom of the ninth as the Cats beat Mississippi State 6-5.
The unbeaten Volunteers were the class of the Astros Foundation College Classic. Defending national champion Tennessee (11-0) swept past Oklahoma State, Rice and Arizona. Four Tennessee relievers shut down Arizona in the de facto championship game of the event over the final seven innings.
Tennessee pitchers allowed five earned runs in three games and recorded 45 strikeouts while holding the opposition to a .204 batting average. Junior second baseman Gavin Killen hit .600 with four homers and seven RBIs in the tournament.
Kansas last played in a Regional in 2014. It’s off to a 10-1 start under third-year coach Dan Fitzgerald and opened its latest series in Lawrence with a bang. Dariel Osoria hit a walk-off grand slam on Thursday as the Jayhawks beat Omaha 12-8. The Mavericks took a two-run lead to the bottom of the ninth inning before Chase Diggins hit a game-tying, two-run shot.
Omaha, which beat then-No. 4 LSU a week earlier on the road, rebounded Friday to win 9-5, but Kansas took three of four games in the series. The Jayhawks are off to their best 11-game start since that 2014 season when they won one game at the Louisville Regional.
KU finished 31-23 overall and 15-15 in the Big 12 last year and had six players selected in the MLB Draft.
Arkansas left-hander Parker Coil hurled an immaculate inning on Sunday in the Razorbacks’ 4-3 win against Charlotte. Coil threw nine pitches in the eighth inning, all for strikes, to fan the side.
Strike three. Strike six. Strike nine.
Sit back and enjoy all nine pitches from @parker_coil‘s immaculate inning 😇 pic.twitter.com/P6p5gcKoYq
— Arkansas Baseball (@RazorbackBSB) March 2, 2025
Even more impressive, Portland’s Ryan Rembisz threw a perfect game — on just 90 pitches! — against Seattle on Tuesday in an 8-0 win for the Pilots. Rembisz, a senior lefty, struck out 12 to complete the 21st nine-inning perfecto in Division I history.
The game at Joe Etzel Field in Portland was attended by 165 people — all of them witnesses of history.
(Photo of Kyson Witherspoon: Alonzo Adams / Imagn Images)
PRYOR, Okla. — Through tiny brushstrokes, Traci Rabbit is honoring her hometown, her heritage, and her father.
The professional artist and Cherokee National Treasure is restoring a landmark mural on the Mayes County Courthouse in Pryor — and she’s doing it for free.
“I’m not only doing this for my community — I’m doing this for my family,” Rabbit said.
KJRH
The mural is the largest work Traci completed alongside her father, famed artist and Cherokee National Treasure Bill Rabbit. The two spent a year hand-painting it in 1999. It stands on a wall between shade trees in front of the Mayes County courthouse.
Traci’s love of art traces back to childhood, watching her father work.
“He was internationally known, but he was so proud to be from Pryor and his art was viewed internationally. You know, from the White House to the Vatican and just all over,” Rabbit said.
Bill Rabbit passed away in 2012. Traci described him as more than a celebrated artist.
“He was an exceptional human being as well as an exceptional parent,” Rabbit said.
Former Pryor Mayor Jimmy Tramel said the mural has been a gathering place for the community for decades.
“This is a landmark for the city of Pryor, there’s no doubt,” Tramel said.
While the mural’s paint has faded over time, Tramel said the mural’s meaning is still vibrant.
“It’s God and Country! It’s Native American! This is the spirit of Oklahoma,” Tramel said.
Traci began the mural restoration in May, working on it in her spare time alongside running Rabbit Gallery and preparing for major national art shows. She even skipped one show to get started. Oklahoma’s wet June has pushed back her timeline, and she is now about 75% finished. She plans to touch up both sides of the mural.
“The hardest part honestly was recreating the people because they were gone, they were gone, so I was working from reference photos. And there were times I would be working down here, and sit under the shade tree and say, ‘OK, Dad, what’s the next step? You’re going to have to help me because it’s gone,’ and without a doubt, I’d take a break and come back and know where to start — so I know he was spiritually helping me out on the other side. I have no doubt,” Rabbit said.
The last element Traci will restore is the original signature that reads — “Bill and Traci 1999.”
Tramel said Bill Rabbit would have been proud to see his daughter carry on their shared work.
“He’d be tickled. That’s the best way to put it — he’d be tickled looking down, saying ‘that’s my daughter,’” Tramel said.
Traci said she feels her father’s presence every time she picks up a brush.
“I just… know he’s proud,” Rabbit said.
Traci’s art is featured in numerous national parks, and she is also honored as a Cherokee National Treasure. She hopes to have the mural complete by spring. You can find the mural at 1 Court Place in Pryor.
Here’s a link to Rabbit Gallery and Studios to learn more about the Rabbit’s story and their work: https://billandtracirabbit.com/.
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Since the return of EA Sports’ iconic college football game, its release has become a summer rite of passage.
It’s not just because gamers like the game or because players like the game. Since its return post-NIL, players can be themselves in the game. They get a small cut through an NIL agreement, and they can play the game with them and their teammates in it. Plus, EA Sports has made a commitment to making its player ratings as realistic as possible.
For those reasons and a host of others, the game’s popularity has soared far beyond an initial surge over pent-up demand when the game was shelved.
But it isn’t just the stars that get player ratings. Yes, those players get plenty of attention. But now every player that agrees to be in the game is in the game and gets a player rating. For Oklahoma State, that’s more than 70 players that are in the game and have player ratings.
With the game in wide release on Thursday, let’s dive into how each player is ranked.
Every OSU Player’s CFB 27 Player Rating
EA Sports gives every player that is in the game an overall score, which is from 0 to 100. Those scores are based in part on six separate categories that also receive scores — speed, strength, agility, awareness, change of direction, injury and awareness. Those individual scores don’t add up to 100 and other factors go into the overall scores.
Going into the season just two Oklahoma State players have overall player ratings of 90 or better — running back Caleb Hawkins (91) and wide receiver Wyatt Young (90). Quarterback Drew Mestemaker is just outside that percentile at 89. Those scores can change during the season based on a variety of factors, including actual game play.
For now, here is the rating for every OSU player in the College Football 27 game:
RB Caleb Hawkins: 91
WR Wyatt Young: 90
QB Drew Mestemaker: 89
LB Ethan Wesloski: 87
CB Mo Horn: 86
EDGE James Williams: 84
WR Justin Bowick: 83
RB Ayo Adeyi: 82
WR Chris Barnes: 82
WR Miles Coleman: 82
OG Johnny Dickson III: 81
OT Braydon Nelson: 80
TE Donovan Green: 80
LB Isaiah Chisom: 80
WR Israel Polk: 80
FS Christian Bodnar: 79
OG Jacob Sexton: 79
SS Evan Jackson: 78
DT Jerry Lawson: 78
WR Rodney Harris II: 78
EDGE Braylon Rigsby: 77
DT Enai White: 77
DT Fatafehi Vailea II: 77
EDGE Jaleel Johnson: 77
TE Oscar Hammond: 77
DT Saadiq Clements: 77
OT Joseph Hanson: 76
WR Kam Powell: 76
CB LaDainian Fields: 76
EDGE Landon Dean: 76
OG Louie Canepa: 76
FS Mose Phillips III: 76
SS Cameron Epps: 75
RB KD Jones: 75
RB Tre Page III: 75
FS Vincent Holmes: 75
OT Ashton Lepo: 74
EDGE DeSean Brown: 74
DT Dominic Macon: 74
CB Kollin Lewis: 74
EDGE Malik Charles: 74
EDGE Rashod Bradley: 74
EDGE Billy Walton III: 73
EDGE Keviyan Huddleston: 73
SS Quinton Hammonds: 73
K Sam Keltner: 73
CB Trudell Berry: 73
RB William Mason: 73
LB Carl’veon Young: 72
CB Kobi Foreman: 72
LB Tate Romney: 72
LT Shaun Torgeson: 71
WR Terrence Lewis: 71
TE Bodie Boydstun: 70
LB Jack Puckett: 70
LB Trip White: 70
LB Dallas Winner-Johnson: 69
OG Desmond Magiya: 69
WR Jabarie Thornton: 69
P Lachie Pozzobon: 69
CB Marrel Davis III: 69
OG Miguel Chavez: 69
C Tyler Mercer: 69
QB Grant Jordan: 68
C Jakobe Sanders: 68
OT Kai Holec: 68
LB Taurean Davis: 68
SS Braeden Presley: 67
QB Broderick Vehrs: 66
EDGE DJ Jackson Jr.:65
TE Caden Yates: 64
LB Gunnar Wilson: 64
C Isaiah Bowman: 56
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The Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. have announced the preseason watch list for the 2026 Dodd Trophy, recognizing 20 college football head coaches from across the Power Four conferences, the Pac-12 and one independent program.
The annual award honors the head coach whose program exemplifies success on the field while promoting scholarship, leadership and integrity, the three principles that defined legendary coach Bobby Dodd’s philosophy.
Oklahoma’s Brent Venables among nominees
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables is one of six Southeastern Conference coaches included on this year’s watch list. Coaches became eligible after leading their current programs for at least two seasons and maintaining an Academic Progress Rate (APR) above the national average of 971.
The selection committee also considered each program’s Graduation Success Rate, community service efforts and projected performance during the 2026 season.
| Coach | School | Conference | APR (2024-25) |
| Bret Bielema | Illinois | Big Ten | 988 |
| Jeff Brohm | Louisville | ACC | 972 |
| Curt Cignetti | Indiana | Big Ten | 989 |
| Mario Cristobal | Miami (FL) | ACC | 993 |
| Spencer Danielson | Boise State | Pac-12 | 985 |
| Ryan Day | Ohio State | Big Ten | 1000 |
| Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | SEC | 1000 |
| Sonny Dykes | TCU | Big 12 | 987 |
| Mike Elko | Texas A&M | SEC | 1000 |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | Big Ten | 997 |
| Jedd Fisch | Washington | Big Ten | 991 |
| Marcus Freeman | Notre Dame | Independent | 1000 |
| Willie Fritz | Houston | Big 12 | 989 |
| Josh Heupel | Tennessee | SEC | 993 |
| Brent Key | Georgia Tech | ACC | 997 |
| Dan Lanning | Oregon | Big Ten | 988 |
| Lincoln Riley | USC | Big Ten | 993 |
| Steve Sarkisian | Texas | SEC | 990 |
| Kirby Smart | Georgia | SEC | 981 |
| Brent Venables | Oklahoma | SEC | 997 |
Key facts
- Twenty coaches were named to the preseason watch list.
- Oklahoma’s Brent Venables included with a program APR of 997.
- The Big Ten leads all conferences with seven coaches on the list.
- Four previous Dodd Trophy winners are included.
- Watch list coaches have combined for four national championships, 31 conference titles and 1,841 career victories.
What’s next for the award?
A midseason watch list will be released this fall and could expand or narrow the field. Finalists will be selected after the 2026 regular season by a panel that includes previous winners, national media members, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame representative.
The 2026 Dodd Trophy winner will be announced in Atlanta during the week of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
We used AI tools to help with editing and formatting this story. A human journalist reviewed everything before publication.
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