Oklahoma

Oklahoma education group: Parents not ‘tuned in’ to school needs

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2024

Oklahoma education group: Parents not ‘tuned in’ to school needs

An activist group has urged lawmakers to kill a bill that would move school-board elections to the November general-election ballot, claiming increased voter turnout would be bad because those additional voters are not “tuned in” to school needs.

House Bill 3563, by state Rep. Chris Banning, R-Bixby, would move school-board general elections to November, placing them on the same ballot as major state and federal elections such as presidential and gubernatorial races, ensuring far higher voter turnout.

But in a Feb. 10 email sent to lawmakers on the House Elections and Ethics Committee, the Parent Legislative Action Committee (PLAC), a group that typically aligns with school administrators, declared, “Many voters in a general election are not tuned in to the needs of the school district and may not have researched the candidates to know their stance on issues impacting our children.”

Many of the voters PLAC says are not “tuned in” to school needs are parents.

Research published by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University in January 2020 reviewed data from four states, including Oklahoma. Among other things, researchers found that “the majority of voters in a typical school board election in each of the four states we examine is ‘unlikely’ to have children.”

That creates political incentives that may not align with the best interests of students, the report suggested.

The working paper noted that “moving school board elections on-cycle, to coincide with higher-turnout national elections, is likely to significantly boost the political representation of households with children and increase the racial diversity of the electorate.”

Oklahoma parents say PLAC is wrong to oppose increased voter-and-parent input in school issues, saying lack of participation is a product of off-cycle elections, not voter disinterest.

“I’m all for the idea of changing it to the general election because a lot of times people don’t even realize there’s an election going on at other times of the year,” said Kelly Shank, a parent of three children in the Norman public school district. “And because of that, they aren’t tuned in. If you don’t know there’s an election coming up, why would you even look into the candidates that are running?”

Oklahoma is one of only 12 states that requires school-board elections to be held “off cycle,” meaning they are not on the same ballot as major races that draw strong voter turnout.

In 2006, the Texas Legislature changed that state’s laws to require 20 percent of school districts to hold on-cycle elections that coincide with major races. Those districts experienced a 16-percent increase in voter turnout, according to research done by Bradley Ward, the deputy state director for Americans for Prosperity–Oklahoma, who holds a Ph.D. in education policy.

Since 2011, four states have moved school-board elections to increase voter turnout: Arizona, Arkansas, New Jersey, and Michigan. Ward found the resulting increase in voter turnout was dramatic in some races in Michigan. Turnout for a school-board race in the Manchester school district in Michigan increased from just four voters in 2008 to 4,775 voters in 2012, an increase of 119,275 percent. In the Chelsea school district, turnout rose from just 21 votes in a 2008 race to 12,730 in a 2012 election, an increase of 60,519 percent.

“There’s not a state that we have researched yet that the school elections have moved and voter turnout has decreased,” said Banning, a father of four children in public school. “There has always been a significant increase at every one we’ve researched.”

Under the definition used by PLAC, less than 1 percent of voters are “tuned in” to school issues, based on turnout in the current off-cycle elections used to select school-board members in Oklahoma.

Although the Lawton school district is among the 10 largest districts in Oklahoma, Ward found an April 5, 2022, school-board election in Lawton drew just 191 votes, which was less than 1 percent of eligible voters. Turnout in all school districts holding school-board elections that day averaged less than 4 percent.

In contrast, the November 2022 elections, which included statewide races such as governor, drew 50.35 percent of voters, and the November 2020 elections, when the presidential race topped the ballot, attracted 69.34 percent of voters.

Scott Hasson, parent of a 13-year-old in the Deer Creek school district, knows more than most how off-cycle elections effectively disenfranchise many voters—because he was a school-board candidate in the district last year.

“People didn’t know,” Hasson said.

He said the “tuned in” voters PLAC touts are disproportionately individuals with vested interests rather than members of the broader community. Hasson’s school-board race was scheduled on Valentine’s Day in 2023, a date few people associate with voting, he noted.

Hasson said the current system protects school officials from having to care what parents think, because parents are effectively disenfranchised by odd-date, low-visibility elections.

“They don’t care about parents,” Hasson said. “And they don’t have to.”

PLAC has history of political stances at odds with parents, local communities

In recent years, officials with PLAC have taken numerous stances that put them at odds with many parents and even the betterment of local schools. And PLAC has often waded into issues with little connection to school policy while claiming to represent the views of school parents.

In April 2023, Sherri Brown, legislative chair for the Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee, spoke in opposition to proposed Oklahoma State Department of Education rules that prohibited school officials from doing anything to “encourage, coerce, or attempt to encourage or coerce a minor child to withhold information from the child’s Parent(s) or guardian(s).” Under the regulations, school officials were also required to disclose to a child’s parents “any information” regarding “material changes reasonably expected to be important to parents regarding their child’s health, social, or psychological development, including Identity information.”

Brown indicated parents should be kept in the dark about student conversations with adults at school unless the child authorizes disclosure.

“Children have the right to privacy when they share thoughts and feelings with a trusted counselor, teacher, or principal,” Brown said.

In 2021, the Tulsa chapter of PLAC was among a group of activist organizations that claimed pending legislation “would drastically destabilize local public school budgets in rural and urban districts across the state.” The bill opposed by PLAC, which ultimately became law, restricted the practice of paying schools with declining enrollment for students who no longer attended the school, a practice informally referred to as “ghost student” funding.

At that time, Oklahoma public schools were being paid for more than 55,000 “ghost students,” which translated into around $195 million in payments to school districts for the education of children who did not exist in those districts.

“Ghost student” funding primarily benefitted the Oklahoma City and Tulsa school districts, which had nearly 6,800 and 3,300 “ghost students,” respectively. Just 22 districts accounted for 30,691 “ghost students” that year, meaning 4 percent of Oklahoma school districts received roughly 55 percent of “ghost student” payments.

Had funding been provided based on actual student counts, most school districts would have received a greater amount of funding overall, including more than 200 mostly rural districts that had declining enrollment.

In 2020, PLAC opposed an election-security measure that required voters to include a photocopy of a form of identification along with a signed affidavit when they voted absentee. PLAC said the law was “a barrier to many without access to a copier.”

Also in 2020, PLAC opposed numerous tax breaks, including bills that would reduce teachers’ out-of-pocket health insurance costs, help pay to improve school security, and support adoption.

In 2019, PLAC endorsed a House Democratic budget plan that not only spent the entirety of that year’s $570 million surplus but also raised taxes on Oklahomans’ incomes and investments by more than $200 million.

Changing school-board election dates would save schools millions

In addition to increasing voter awareness and participation in school affairs, HB 3563 would provide public schools with a multi-million-dollar windfall.

Under state law, schools must reimburse county election boards for the cost of elections conducted when school issues are the only thing on the ballot. By shifting school-board elections to a general-election ballot aligned with state and federal elections, the state would pay the full cost.

Ward found that Oklahoma schools spent $16.8 million on election services in 2023.

Banning noted opponents of HB 3563, such as PLAC, are indirectly supporting the diversion of nearly $17 million per year away from school classrooms to pay for off-cycle elections.

House Bill 3563 passed the House Elections and Ethics Committee on a 6-2 vote and now awaits a vote on the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Similar legislation passed out of the Oklahoma Senate in 2023 with strong support.

Banning said increased voter participation should be viewed as a benefit, not a problem.

“The Oklahoma Constitution is very clear that all elections should be free and very equal,” Banning said. “The Constitution does not say all elections should be free and only for ‘tuned in’ voters.”

Source link

Oklahoma

See what foods will be left out of the cart under the new SNAP benefit change

Published

12 hours ago

February 15, 2026

Press Room

See what foods will be left out of the cart under the new SNAP benefit change

OKLAHOMA –

Beginning Sunday, February 15, grocery carts may be missing some of its favorite items as SNAP benefit changes go into effect. The change places limitations on purchases for many sugary items.

This push is something Oklahoma Human Services said is meant to encourage healthier food choices and improve nutrition for families across the state.
In a statement, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said, “We are prioritizing healthy lifestyles, and that starts with nutritious food.”
“By ensuring SNAP benefits go toward foods that support good health, I am proud that we’re taking real steps to make Oklahoma healthy again and better stewarding taxpayer dollars along the way.”

Here is a list of some food items no longer eligible for purchase with SNAP.

Some candy items are no longer included

Chocolate bars
Hard Candies
Gummies
Caramels
Taffy
Licorice
Mints
Gum

Some drink items are no longer included

Soda
Energy drinks
Sweetened teas
Lemonades
Flavored or sweetened water

Most foods will be eligible for purchase with SNAP.This list includes the following:

Fruits & Vegetables
Meats
Dairy
Grains
Eggs
Plant-based proteins
100% juice
Plain water
Coffee or tea prepared at home

Source link

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Crushes OSU 10-1 At 2026 College Baseball Series In Texas – FloBaseball

Published

1 day ago

February 14, 2026

Press Room

Oklahoma Crushes OSU 10-1 At 2026 College Baseball Series In Texas – FloBaseball

The Oklahoma baseball team combined spectacular pitching with explosive offense Saturday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, to improve to 2-0 on the season and pick up another memorable win against in-state rival Oklahoma State.

The Sooners routed the Cowboys for the second consecutive year, this time, with a 10-1 performance in the midday game at the 2026 Shriners Children’s College Showdown.

The Shriners Children’s College Showdown is the first of three events at the 2026 College Baseball Series, which will bring 18 top-tier teams to GLF between now and March 1, and all of the action will unfold live on FloCollege and the FloSports app.

UNLV transfer LJ Mercurius was dominant in his Oklahoma pitching debut, tying a career-high with 12 strikeouts in just 5 1/3 innings of work. He gave up one run on three hits and left the game after 99 pitches.

Offensively, the Sooners reached the 10-run plateau for the second straight day, and it was senior outfielder Trey Gambill leading the way with three of Oklahoma’s 12 hits, including a three-run homer with two outs in OU’s four-run fifth inning.

Over the first two games of the season, the Sooners have outscored their opponents 20-4 and combined for 30 strikeouts (23 by the starters). Junior left-hander Cameron Johnson fanned 11 in Oklahoma’s 10-3 win over Texas Tech in Friday’s season opener.

Oklahoma State’s lone run Saturday came on a fifth-inning double from junior Kollin Ritchie, which followed a base hit up the middle from junior shortstop Avery Ortiz.

The pitching duties against OU were shared by four Oklahoma State pitchers, three of whom tossed more than two innings.

The Cowboys were held to four hits on the day and stranded eight runners on base. They’re now 0-2 in 2026, which includes a 12-2 run-rule loss to No. 7 Arkansas on Friday night.

Despite their proximity and long history, Oklahoma and OSU only played one time in 2025, due in part to the Sooners’ move to the ultra-competitive Southeastern Conference, while the Cowboys remained in the Big 12.

Oklahoma won that meeting 11-1 in eight innings on OSU’s home turf, and it ended a two-game winning streak in the series for the Cowboys.

In the final Big 12 conference baseball game between the two schools, Oklahoma State defeated Oklahoma 9–3 to win the 2024 Big 12 Championship, also held at Globe Life Field.

Saturday’s showdown at GLF, home of the 2023 World Series-winning Texas Rangers, was a milestone game in the OU-OSU rivalry, as it was their 350th all-time meeting in Division I play and 386 clash all-time. And the first at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.

Since their first official faceoff in 1935, Oklahoma State leads the series 189-161. If you count all the times they met at the club level, it’s a 204-183 OSU advantage.

It’s actually the most-played game in Oklahoma State baseball history and part of an even bigger and deeper rivalry between the two schools.

It is known as the Bedlam Series, and the moniker spans beyond just the baseball diamond. It encompasses all athletic competition between the in-state rivals.

Whether they’ve played in the same conference or not over the years, the Bedlam Series has been alive and well since being established in track and field in 1900.

Oklahoma and Oklahoma State both will be back in action Sunday for the final day of the 2026 Shriners Children’s College Showdown.

Oklahoma State will kick off the day against 1-1 Vanderbilt, a big winner over Texas Tech on Saturday. The Cowboys and Commodores will get underway at 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

Oklahoma will help close out the event with a 7:30 p.m. EST nightcap against TCU. The Horned Frogs defeated Vanderbilt on Friday and are taking on Arkansas on Saturday night.

The 2026 season marks the sixth consecutive year of college baseball at Globe Life Field and the third straight year the action spans three weekends.

The schedule includes the Shriners Children’s College Showdown (Feb. 13-15), Amegy Bank College Baseball Series – Weekend 2 (Feb. 20-22) and Amegy Bank College Baseball Series presented – Weekend 3 (Feb. 27-March 1), all of which will bring 18 teams to Arlington.

How To Watch The Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Baseball Replay From The College Baseball Showdown

The Bedlam game was the middle game of the 2026 Shriners Children’s Showdown on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14).

Replays, highlights and breaking news from the event will be on both platforms.

Box Score: Oklahoma 10, Oklahoma St. 1

Here are all the details:

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E	L
OSU	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	4	0	8
Oklahoma	2	1	0	1	4	0	0	2	X	10	12	1	4

Final: Oklahoma Defeats Oklahoma State Baseball 10-1

Oklahoma goes to 2-0 on the year, while OSU falls to 0-2.

Oklahoma has outscored its opponents 20-4 so far this season.

Top of 9th | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 10

Sixth-year senior Reid Hensley (RHP) takes the mound for Oklahoma in the top of the ninth. He previously was the setup man for the Sooners and is looking to establish himself as the closer.

Hensley starts with a strikeout, the 17th of the day for OU.

Hensley retires the Cowboys in order, and this one is in the books.

Bottom of 8th | Oklahoma Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 10

A pair of singles to start the inning puts runners on the corners for Oklahoma.

An infield single from senior Dayton Tockey brings around a run for the Sooners and puts the winning run (by run-rule) on first base.

On the play, Ortiz, the OSU shortstop is injured and leaves the game with assistance.

The Cowboys make some defensive changes, and we’re back underway.

A sac fly moves Gambill to third base, and OU has runners on the corners one more time.

Pinch hitter Alec Blair delivers an RBI base hit and proceeds to second base as Tockey is thrown out trying to take third.

Fyke leaves the game for OSU after 2 2/3 innings. JuCo transfer Bryce LeBlanc, a sophomore southpaw, comes on to pitch for the Cowboys with two outs and a runner on second.

LeBlanc throws four pitches and ends the inning.

Top of 7th | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 8

Catalano maintains his edge in relief and records another 1-2-3 inning. The Cowboys scored their lone run in the fifth inning.

Bottom of 7th | Oklahoma Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 8

Fyke is operating on another level so far and retires Oklahoma in order for the second consecutive inning, including his first strikeout.

Top of 7th | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 8

The Cowboys get multiple baserunners for the first time since the third inning after a single and a walk, but junior Avery Ortiz hits into a 6-3 double play to kill the momentum.

OSU has a runner on third base with two outs.

Junior outfielder Kollin Ritchie strikes out to end the inning.

Easy work, Jaxon Willits.
📺: https://t.co/0XpO9pV4rX #CollegeBaseballSeries | @CBS_Arlington
| @OU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/FBQsSxgqEi
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) February 14, 2026

Bottom of 6th | Oklahoma Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 8

Junior right-hander Kai Fyke comes on to pitch for Oklahoma State and retires the Sooners in order.

Short and sweet for the OSU newcomer in his debut.

Top of 6th | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 8

LJ Mercurius is at 85 pitches on the day with 11 Ks. That’s 22Ks in two games for OU starters.

That’s 12 Ks for Mercurius now.

Sebastian Normal walks for OSU. One on, one out.

Two walks, 12ks and just three hits. What a debut for Mercurius. Michael Catalano takes over on the mound for Oklahoma.

Catalano gets a K for the second out. And he gets Shull.

Bottom of 5th | Oklahoma Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 8

Will Oklahoma answer OSU’s score? Brennan Philips is back on the mound.

Good news: Philips get a k.

Bad new: It was a wild pitch and Camden Johnson is at first.

Then another wild pitch puts him on second.

Jaxon Willits drives another run in, OU adds another run. Brendan Brock singles. There’s two on, two outs.

And this game is blown open. Philips hangs a pitch and Trey Gambill sent it into the seats for a three-run home run.

TREY DID IT AGAIN!
📺: https://t.co/0XpO9pUwCp #CollegeBaseballSeries | @CBS_Arlington
| @OU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/2L4kkUctoz
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) February 14, 2026

The inning is finally over for OSU. On to the sixth.

Top of 5th | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 1, Oklahoma 4

Can the Pokes answer in the fifth?

That’s four straight Ks now by LJ Mercurius. My goodness.

That streak is snapped with a Avery Ortiz single and Ritchie Kollin RBI double.

Mercurius ends the inning with another K to limit the damage.

Ritchie Kollin puts the Pokes on the board.
📺: https://t.co/0XpO9pUwCp#CollegeBaseballSeries | @CBS_Arlington | @OSUBaseball pic.twitter.com/mi4SMndAPL
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) February 14, 2026
Advertisement

Bottom of 4th | Oklahoma Batting

Oklahoma State 0, Oklahoma 4

Can OU add some runs?

Brendan Brock starts with a big double.

No outs, runners on the corner. Pesca’s day is over in the fourth. OSU is headed to the bullpen.

Oklahoma gets the runner in from third with a Dayton Tockey sac fly.

Brennan Philips gets out of the inning with liner. On to the fifth.

Sooners get another run.
📺: https://t.co/0XpO9pUwCp
#CollegeBaseballSeries | @CBS_Arlington | @OU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/BhpOHyGuBx
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) February 14, 2026

Top of 4th | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 0, Oklahoma 3

LJ Mercurius has cruised so far with six Ks and one walk so far.

Mercurius is rolling two more Ks. Another 1-2-3 inning.

Easy work for LJ Mercurius.
Six punch outs through three. #CollegeBaseballSeries | @OU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/0nFFC8dtCt
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) February 14, 2026

Bottom of 3rd | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 0, Oklahoma 3

Mario Pesca is back on the mound and he gets a fly out of Camden Johnson to start.

Deiten Lachance doubles down the left field line. Runner in scoring position.

Jaxon Willits nearly had a home run. He gave it a ride to the right field gap but it was caught at the wall. Lachance moves to third.

Pesca and the Cowboys avoid runs and get out of the inning.

Top of 3rd | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 0, Oklahoma 3

LJ Mercurius back on the mound.

He picked up two Ks after a lead off single.

Mercurius induces a ground out and gets out of the inning.

Bottom of 2nd | Oklahoma Batting

Oklahoma State 0, Oklahoma 3

OK. Mario Pesca is back on the mound.

Oklahoma picks up another run on a Kyle Branch single that drives in Trey Gambill. There’s one out.

Pesca gets out of the inning with a big K.

Top of 2nd | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 0, Oklahoma 2

LJ Mercurius back on the mound. He was impressive in the first inning.

He walks Aidan Meola to start the game.

Two are now after Colin Brueggemann gets an infield hit and Meola moves to third.

Oklahoma gets out of the inning with Mercurius getting back-to-back Ks.

The Cowboys are back in business!
📺: https://t.co/0XpO9pUwCp#CollegeBaseballSeries | @CBS_Arlington | @OSUBaseball pic.twitter.com/UxltAbdaUD
— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) February 14, 2026

Bottom of 1st | Oklahoma Batting

Oklahoma State 0, Oklahoma 2

Mario Pesca takes the mound against an Oklahoma team that hit three home runs on Friday and scored 10 runs.

Jason Walk… walks to start the game.

And other walk with one out puts two on for Jaxon Willits.

Runners are no on third and second.

Willits doubles to drive in two runs.

OSU gets a second out on a sacrifice that moves Willits to third. Brendan Brock now at plate. He hit a grand slam on Friday.

But he pops out this time. Inning over.

get us started 7️⃣
B1 | OU 2, OSU 0 // @JaxonWillits pic.twitter.com/2vll1bFvVV
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) February 14, 2026

Top of 1st | Oklahoma State Batting

Oklahoma State 0, Oklahoma 0

LJ Mercurius begins his OU career.

He has an easy 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. Did it on 10 pitches.

10 pitches, three outs. Effective.
📺: https://t.co/0XpO9pUwCp#CollegeBaseballSeries | @CBS_Arlington | @OU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/H7TN1Rg4Dg
Advertisement

— FloCollege | Baseball (@FloCollegeBSB) February 14, 2026

First Pitch Movements Away. Let the Bedlam Begin

It’s Oklahoma State and Oklahoma at Globe Life Field. Follow here for the latest news and highlights.

Almost Time For Baseball. OSU To Bat First

LJ’s debut ⏳ pic.twitter.com/JW3Hv0LN16
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) February 14, 2026

SEC Baseball vs. Big 12 Baseball At Globe Life Field So Far

The SEC is 3-1 so far this season at the College Baseball Showdown. The only loss was Vanderbilt falling to No. 9 TCU in the afternoon game on Feb. 13.

2026 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

LSU (9) 231
Texas (1) 214
Mississippi State (4) 205
Arkansas (2) 203
Auburn 175
Tennessee 162
Florida 156
Vanderbilt 151
Georgia 133
Ole Miss 110
Kentucky 99
Alabama 87
Texas A&M 86
Oklahoma 84
South Carolina 49
Missouri 31

2026 Coaches Preseason All-SEC Baseball Team – First Team

C Ryder Helfrick Arkansas
1B Gavin Grahovac Texas A&M
2B Chris Rembert Auburn
2B Camden Kozeal Arkansas
3B Ace Reese Mississippi State
SS Justin Lebron Alabama
SS Tyler Bell Kentucky
OF Derek Curiel LSU
OF Caden Sorrell Texas A&M
OF Henry Ford Tennessee
DH/Util. Noah Sullivan Mississippi State
SP Hunter Elliott Ole Miss
SP Casan Evans LSU
SP Liam Peterson Florida
SP Dylan Volantis Texas
RP Zac Cowan LSU
RP Brandon Arvidson Tennessee
RP Luke McNeillie Florida

2026 Coaches Preseason All-SEC Baseball Team – Second Team

C Chase Fralick Auburn
C Carson Tinney Texas
1B Levi Clark Tennessee
1B Will Furniss Ole Miss
2B Ethan Mendoza Texas
3B Brendan Lawson Florida
SS Steven Milam LSU
OF Kuhio Aloy Arkansas
OF Bub Terrell Auburn
OF Jake Brown LSU
DH/Util. Braden Holcomb Vanderbilt
SP Gabe Gaeckle Arkansas
SP Connor Fennell Vanderbilt
SP Ben Cleaver Kentucky

2026 Big 12 Baseball Preseason Poll

1. TCU (13) 169
2. Arizona (1) 157
3. West Virginia 137
4. Arizona State 128
T5. Kansas 112
T5. Oklahoma State 112
7. Kansas State 87
8. Cincinnati 85
9. Texas Tech 78
10. UCF 66
11. Baylor 54
12. Houston 42
13. BYU 29
14. Utah 18

2026 Big 12 Baseball Preseason Team

C Jack Natili Cincinnati
IF Landon Hairston Arizona State
IF Austen Roellig Arizona State
IF Travis Sanders Baylor
IF Brady Ballinger* Kansas
IF Robin Villeneuve Texas Tech
OF Andrew Williamson UCF
OF Chase Brunson TCU
OF Sawyer Strosnider* TCU
OF Logan Hughes Texas Tech
DH Dariel Osoria Kansas
UTL Noah Franco TCU
SP Owen Kramkowski Arizona
SP Nathan Taylor Cincinnati
SP Dominic Voegele Kansas
SP Tommy LaPour* TCU
RP Tony Pluta Arizona
RP Cole Carlon Arizona State
RP Chase Meyer West Virginia

*- unanimous selection

2026 Big 12 Preseason Yearly Awards

Player of the Year: Sawyer Strosnider, TCU
Pitcher of the Year: Tommy LaPour, TCU
Newcomer of the Year: Dean Toigo, Arizona State
Freshman of the Year: Lucas Franco, TCU

Starting Pitching matchups: OSU Throws Mario Pesca

Oklahoma State is rolling with Mario Pesca in its second game of the season. The right-hander was All-Big Honorable Mention a year ago and went 4-2 with a 3.91 ERA in 11 outings and five starts in conference play. He made 22 appearances total.

He transfred from St. Johnson where he was 7-6 over two seasons with a 4.36 ERA in two season.

Starting Pitching matchups: OU Throws LJ Mercurius

LJ Mercurius, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound right-hander, transferred to Oklahoma after two seasons at UNLV.

He emerged as a full-time starter in 2025, posting a 3.57 ERA in 53 innings with a 25.7% strikeout rate. Mercurius later pitched for Team USA.

He features a three-pitch mix, including a low-90s fastball that has touched 97 mph, along with a low-80s gyro slider and changeup.

OSU vs. OU Baseball First Pitch Time

The game will start at 4:15 p.m. ET.

OU Baseball Star Cameron Johnson Was LIGHTS OUT vs Texas Tech

Oklahoma began the College Baseball Showdown with a career-high 11 strikeouts on Feb. 13.

Oklahoma Baseball Lineup vs. OSU

Jason Walk, CF
Camden Johnson, 3B
Deiten Lachance, DH
Jaxon Willits, SS
Nolan Stevens, RF
Brendan Brock, C
Trey Gambill, LF
Dayton Tockey, 1B
Kyle Branch, 2B

Pitching: LJ Mercurius, P

Oklahoma State Lineup vs. Oklahoma Baseball

Bedlam lineup#GoPokes pic.twitter.com/XhwltChZYP
— OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) February 14, 2026

How To Watch Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Baseball At The College Baseball Showdown

The Bedlam game is the middle game on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 with a scheduled 4 p.m. ET first pitch. That start time will depend on the opening game on Saturday between Texas Tech and Vanderbilt, which is scheduled for Noon ET.

2026 Oklahoma State vs Oklahoma

2026 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

LSU (9) 231
Texas (1) 214
Mississippi State (4) 205
Arkansas (2) 203
Auburn 175
Tennessee 162
Florida 156
Vanderbilt 151
Georgia 133
Ole Miss 110
Kentucky 99
Alabama 87
Texas A&M 86
Oklahoma 84
South Carolina 49
Missouri 31

How To Watch College Baseball At The Shriners Children’s College Showdown 2026

Every game of the three-week College Baseball Series, which includes the Shriner College Baseball Showdown to start the season on Feb. 13, is streaming on FloCollege, FloBaseball and the FloSports app.

College Baseball Series At Globe Life Field Schedule 2026

Shriners Children’s College Showdown Weekend 1

Feb. 13, 2026

Feb. 14, 2026

Feb. 15, 2026

College Baseball Series In Surprise, Arizona

Feb. 13, 2026

4:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon St
8:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. Arizona

Feb. 14, 2026

4:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. Oregon St
8:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Stanford

Feb. 15, 2026

2:00 PM ET: Stanford vs. Oregon St
6:00 PM ET: Arizona vs. Michigan

Feb. 16, 2026

2:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Oregon St

Amegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 2

Feb. 20, 2026

12:00 PM ET: Michigan vs. Florida St
4:00 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Louisville
8:00 PM ET: Auburn vs. Kansas St

Feb. 21, 2026

12:00 PM ET: Louisville vs. Michigan
4:00 PM ET: Florida St vs. Auburn
8:00 PM ET: Kansas St vs. Nebraska

Feb. 22, 2026

11:30 AM ET: Auburn vs. Louisville
3:30 PM ET: Nebraska vs. Florida St
7:30 PM ET: Michigan vs. Kansas St

Amegy Bank College Baseball Series Weekend 3

Feb. 27, 2026

12:00 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Mississippi St
4:00 PM ET: UCLA vs. Tennessee
8:00 PM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Texas A&M

Feb. 28, 2026

12:00 PM ET: Tennessee vs. Arizona St
4:00 PM ET: Mississippi St vs. Virginia Tech
8:00 PM ET: Texas A&M vs. UCLA

Mar. 1, 2026

11:30 AM ET: Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee
3:30 PM ET: UCLA vs. Mississippi St
7:30 PM ET: Arizona St vs. Texas A&M

2026 D1Baseball Preseason Top 25 Rankings

UCLA (48-18)
LSU (53-15)
Texas (44-14)
Mississippi State (36-23)
Georgia Tech (41-19)
Coastal Carolina (56-13)
Arkansas (50-15)
Louisville (42-24)
Auburn (41-20)
TCU (39-20)
North Carolina (46-15)
Oregon State (48-16-1)
Florida (39-22)
Tennessee (46-19)
Georgia (43-17)
Florida State (42-16)
NC State (35-21)
Kentucky (31-26)
Clemson (45-18)
Southern Miss (47-16)
Wake Forest (39-22)
Miami (35-27)
Vanderbilt (43-18)
Arizona (44-21)
Texas A&M (30-26)

Teams At Globe Life Field College Baseball Series

Oklahoma
Texas Tech
TCU
Vanderbilt
Oklahoma State
Arkansas
Michigan
Florida State
Nebraska
Louisville
Auburn
Kansas State
Arizona State
Mississippi State
UCLA
Tennessee
Virginia Tech
Texas A&M

FloBaseball Archived Footage

Video footage from FloBaseball events will be archived and stored in a video library for FloBaseball subscribers.

Join The College Baseball Conversation On Social

Source link

Oklahoma

EBT shoppers in Oklahoma to lose access to candy and soda starting Sunday

Published

2 days ago

February 14, 2026

Press Room

EBT shoppers in Oklahoma to lose access to candy and soda starting Sunday

OKLAHOMA CITY- (KOKH) — Starting Sunday, when you walk into stores, you won’t be able to buy the sweets you’re used to getting with an EBT card.

According to Oklahoma DHS, this goes for chocolate bars, hard candies, gummies, caramels.

Interestingly enough though, baked goods like cookies cakes or muffins don’t apply, and if you wanted to get cocoa powder or chocolate chips by themselves, you could.

When it comes to the fridge, you can’t get soda or energy drinks, and you can’t even get tea or lemonade that’s sweetened bottled or canned.

Things you can still get include meat, poultry, bread, pasta, 100% fruit or vegetable juice, and fruits and veggies.

Dairy products are also allowed, so maybe you could get away with chocolate milk.

Flavored water and sweetened water is also not allowed.

But we still have questions when you get to the check out or self checkout line: Who’s in charge of enforcing these changes? Is it the stores? And what happens if you try to buy these items?

Oklahoma DHS wrote back with answers, saying the enforcement will be done by our federal partners at food and nutrition service department, and that cards will only work to purchase items that are considered eligible.

DHS said snap customers don’t need to take any action at this time and add Oklahomans will continue to receive their benefits as usual.

Source link