Oklahoma
COLUMN: Amid Awkwardness, Hurt Feelings, An Oklahoma Early Exit from Big 12 Would Be for the Best
Because the Huge 12 Convention takes heart stage this week, the league’s future — each short-term and long-term — stays cloudier than ever.
Media Days unfold Wednesday and Thursday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, and whereas there can be loads of queries about backup quarterbacks and depth charts and tradition change and NIL, the Huge 12’s simple underlying storylines are about membership.
Ten members in 2022. Fourteen in 2023 and 2024. Twelve in 2025.
And that’s simply what’s on paper in the intervening time.
The June 30 bombshell that pushed USC and UCLA into the Huge Ten Convention created shockwaves that despatched the Huge 12 into scramble mode — a proactive hunt, actually, which is a pleasant change of tempo contemplating the league’s quarter century of reactive conduct.
Quickly after the information broke that the Pac-12 would lose each of its prime properties within the Los Angeles market, Huge 12 management learn the altering panorama, foresaw the necessity for extra growth and went to work discovering the following technology of Huge 12 faculties.
A number of studies had the Huge 12 within the boardroom a number of instances over the last two weeks, exploring a partnership with college representatives from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah.
No transactions occurred, and it appears nothing is imminent after what was mainly a fact-finding mission on the a part of each the faculties and the Huge 12. The SEC and the Huge Ten’s transfer to 16 members, nevertheless, give the Huge 12 motive to imagine extra growth is important, and this time, the Huge 12 acted shortly.
These growth plans hit a possible roadblock when it was reported final week that the Pac-12 and the ACC are discussing a TV partnership that might reanimate the floundering Pac-12 Community and fortify the new-and-growing ACC Community — and sure depart the Huge 12 as an growth bridesmaid.
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What this all means for Oklahoma (and Texas) is the potential of an earlier departure for the Southeastern Convention.
With their media rights contractually obligated to the Huge 12 via the 2024-25 educational yr, Oklahoma and Texas have roughly 40 million causes to stay across the Huge 12 for an additional yr. However that buyout, vital because it sounds, could be negated inside two or three years by new cash from the SEC — and, in Texas’ case, ESPN nonetheless owes UT some $160 million for the Longhorn Community.
Cash isn’t a leash that may maintain the Sooners and Longhorns.
For now, because the Pac-12 desperately tries to remain afloat, its members are little doubt contemplating their choices. Do they stick with a regional footprint, maybe including a Boise State or San Diego State, and kind a profitable scheduling alliance with the ACC? Do they recommit to one another after which attempt to pluck any Huge 12 members who could be getting chilly ft over the league’s continuously shifting membership? Or do they break formation, declare each college for themselves and splinter off into the shelters of the Huge 12 and Huge Ten?
Oklahoma followers desperate to get to the SEC needs to be rooting for an additional spherical of Huge 12 growth — and the earlier the higher.
If the Huge 12 is ready to develop once more and reel in any Pac-12 faculties, that might placate among the Huge 12 angst over shedding two flagship athletic departments, and that ought to permit them to let OU and Texas depart yr early — summer time of 2024.
Emotions within the Huge 12 have been damage for happening a yr now. So long as everybody will get what they’re owed, one other spherical of Huge 12 growth would facilitate an OU and Texas departure in 2024, and that might be good for everybody.
In each phrases and deeds, final summer time’s information has created awkwardness and embarrassment. When OU and Texas performed for the nationwide championship in softball, as an example, nobody from the Huge 12 workplace was in Oklahoma Metropolis representing the league. When OU and Texas brass met with different league members at Huge 12 spring conferences in June, Bob Bowlsby mentioned they sat collectively within the boardroom “as a result of we needed to.”
If the Huge 12 expands once more, it might create the proper alternative for an amicable divorce. Greatest to maneuver on as quickly as potential.
Oklahoma and Oregon softball will meet today at 7 p.m. in the Women’s College World Series.
Fans can watch the game on ESPN2 or stream it on FuboTV, Sling or DirecTV.
Streaming Options
| Streaming Options | Price/Month | Free Trial? | Deal |
|---|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | $84.99 | Yes | $20 off the first month |
| Sling | $45.99 | N/A | N/A |
| DirecTV | $79.99 | Yes | $20 off the first month |
DirecTV and FuboTV both offer free trials and $20 off the first month of your subscription. Sling Orange plans which include ESPN and ESPN2 are $45.99 per month.
Oregon defeated Ole Miss, 6-5 on Friday and Oklahoma was defeated by Texas, 4-2 on Saturday.
The winner of today’s game will advance to play Texas Tech, while the loser will be eliminated from the tournament.
The WCWS best-of-three championship finals will begin on June 5.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 16 Oregon
When: Sunday, June 1
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Oklahoma City
Channel: ESPN2
Oklahoma’s Witherspoon brothers reversed roles this weekend in the NCAA Tournament.
No. 3 starter Malachi Witherspoon, who posted a 1-8 record in SEC play with a 6.08 earned run average, dominated Nebraska on Friday night at the Chapel Hill Regional.
Then ace Kyson Witherspoon, who went 5-3 against the Southeastern Conference with a 2.98 ERA, was rocked for six unearned runs in the first inning against host North Carolina on Saturday.
Baseball can be weird sometimes.
Kyson Witherspoon’s early struggles against the Tar Heels eventually became an 11-5 Sooner loss at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, as the No. 5 national seed Tar Heels rolled to an easy victory.
OU fell to 36-21 on the season, while UNC improved to 44-12.
The No. 2-seed Sooners now face elimination Sunday in an 11 a.m. CT rematch with Nebraska. OU beat the 3-seed Cornhuskers 7-4 in their first-round game on Friday after jumping on top 7-0. The Tar Heels await the survivor of that contest Sunday at 5 p.m. CT. Nebraska eliminated 4-seed Holy Cross 4-1 on Saturday morning.
After OU left a runner in scoring position in the top of the first, North Carolina most certainly did not in the bottom of the first.
Kane Kepley reached on what would become a fatal error by Dawson Willis, but Witherspoon quickly retired the next two hitters.
That would be the Sooners’ only highlight early.
Two-out singles from Gavin Gallaher, Hunter Stokely, Alex Madera and Tyson Bass staked UNC to a 3-0 lead — all unearned due to the error at third base.
That’s when right fielder Sam Angelo broke it open with a three-run home run to left field that made it 6-0.
“Just figuring out what we’re doing,” OU coach Skip Johnson said during a fourth-inning in-game interview with the ESPN broadcast crew. “If we play good catch in the first inning, I think he throws six pitches. They took the momentum and we’ve gotta get some momentum back.”
Witherspoon’s previous season high for runs allowed — for an entire game — was four (twice). The Tar Heels scored six in their first eight batters.
His previous season-high for hits allowed was six (four times), but UNC had seven after loading the bases again in the second inning.
The Sooners were chasing the scoreboard rest of the night, and that was a tough task against Carolina hurler Jason DeCaro, who came into the weekend with a 10-4 record and a 3.42 ERA. DeCaro went six innings, allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out eight while walking none.
UNC added a run in the fourth to make it 7-0 on Gallaher’s RBI single to score Kepley, but things got really out of hand in the fifth.
Bass and Angelo hammered back-to-back solo home runs to extend the Tar Heels’ lead to 9-0 and end Witherspoon’s night.
Witherspoon hadn’t given up more than one home run in a game all season, but he served up three on this night. His four-inning start also tied his shortest outing of the season (he threw four innings at Alabama on March 28).
Witherspoon finished the night yielding a season-high 10 hits and nine runs — three earned — and tied both his season-low with just four strikeouts and his season-high with three walks.
“Kyson’s been really good for us all year,” Johnson said.
The Sooners finally answered with a pair of runs in the sixth on Sam Christiansen’s RBI double and Kyle Branch’s RBI groundout.
But North Carolina answered immediately with a run in the bottom of the inning when Gavyn Jones gave up a hit batter, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Madera to make it 10-2.
OU plated another run when Drew Dickerson opened the seventh with a single, advanced on back-to-back ground-ball outs and came home on Trey Gambill’s RBI single up the middle to cut it to 10-3.
Again, however, the Tar Heels answered when Beau Sampson walked Angelo to lead off, then misfired a pair of wild pitches and eventually gave up an RBI single to Carter French for an 11-3 lead.
OU made it 11-4 in the eighth when Christiansen drew a one-out walked, took second on a passed ball and scored on Dasan Harris’ RBI single to left.
Jaxson Willits make it 11-5 in the ninth when he delivered an RBI single to score Jason Walk.
Left hander Cameron Johnson came in to pitch the eighth for OU. Johnson, a weekend starter over the first seven weeks of the season after transferring from LSU, hadn’t made an appearance on the mound since April 13 and had only thrown 20 innings total in 2025.
How the SEC’s softball dominance could carry it through to the Women’s College World Series
The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson shares the top storylines she’s following through the NCAA softball tournament, starting with the SEC’s biggest strengths.
It’s Red River Rivalry time in the 2025 Women’s College World Series.
No. 6 Texas and No. 2 Oklahoma will square off in the winner’s bracket of the WCWS from Devon Field in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, presenting a rematch of the 2024 championship series. With a win, either team would move that much closer to booking a return to the end-of-tournament series to determine the national champion.
The Longhorns used a dominant start from Teagan Kavan to earn a 3-0 victory over No. 3 Florida, while Ella Parker delivered a three-run walk-off home run off Karlyn Pickens and No. 7 Tennessee to steal a win. Patty Gasso and the Sooners are looking to earn a fifth straight championship.
Here’s what you need to know about Saturday’s WCWS winner’s bracket game between rivals Texas and Oklahoma:
Stream Texas vs. Oklahoma with ESPN+
What channel is Texas vs Oklahoma softball on today?
- TV channel: ABC
- Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+
Texas and Oklahoma’s winner’s bracket game will air on ABC. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a cable login) and ESPN+, the latter of which is ESPN’s subscription service. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Jessica Mendoza (analyst) and Michele Smith (analyst) will be on the call, with Holly Rowe serving as the sideline reporter.
Texas vs Oklahoma softball start time
- Date: Saturday, May 31
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
First pitch for Texas and Oklahoma’s winner’s bracket game is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET from Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Texas softball schedule 2025
Below is Texas’ postseason schedule. For the Longhorns’ full schedule, click here.
Austin Regional
- Friday, May 16: No. 6 Texas 10, Eastern Illinois 2
- Saturday, May 17: No. 6 Texas, Michigan 4
- Sunday, May 18: No. 6 Texas 9, UCF 0
Austin Super Regional
- Thursday, May 22: No. 11 Clemson 7, No. 6 Texas 4
- Friday, May 23: No. 6 Texas 7, No. 11 Clemson 5
- Saturday, May 24: No. 6 Texas 6,No. 11 Clemson 5
Women’s College World Series
- Thursday, May 29: No. 6 Texas 3, No. 3 Florida 0
- Saturday, May 31: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma (3 p.m.)
Oklahoma softball schedule 2025
Below is Oklahoma’s postseason schedule. For the Sooners’ full schedule, click here.
Norman Regional:
- Friday, May 16: No. 2 Oklahoma 8, Boston College 0
- Saturday, May 17: No. 2 Oklahoma 11, Cal 2
- Sunday, May 18: No. 2 Oklahoma 12, Cal 1
Normal Super Regional:
- Friday, May 23: No. 2 Oklahoma 3, No. 15 Alabama 0
- Saturday, May 24: No. 2 Oklahoma 13, No. 15 Alabama 2
Women’s College World Series:
- Thursday, May 29: No. 2 Oklahoma 4, No. 7 Tennessee 3
- Saturday, May 31: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Texas (3 p.m.)
Women’s College World Series schedule
- Women’s College World Series: May 29-June 6
- WCWS finals: June 4-5/6
The Women’s College World Series will run from May 29 through June 6, with the three-game WCWS finals taking place from June 4 through June 5 or June 6, depending on whether teams need the “if necessary” game.
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