Oklahoma
Oklahoma governor says he wants to deport undocumented immigrants in state prisons
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Gov. Kevin Stitt says Oklahoma will have a plan to deport undocumented immigrants in the custody of state prisons as soon as President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Saying he didn’t want the state to pay for what he described as the costs of the Biden administration’s open border policy, the Republican governor said he would seek to “expel those serving time in Oklahoma correctional facilities who are in the country illegally.”
Stitt made the announcement in a news release issued Friday, saying he was tapping Public Safety Commissioner Tim Tipton to lead the planning efforts.
“As law and order returns to the White House, Oklahoma will lead the charge with a comprehensive plan to deport those who have committed crimes in Oklahoma while in the country illegally,” Stitt said in the announcement.
“I am still committed to finding ways to pursue state-based workforce visas for those who want to pursue the American dream, but we will not tolerate criminal activity in our state,” the governor said.
Stitt’s announcement said the deportation plans could affect as many as 526 people being housed in Oklahoma Department of Corrections facilities.
The plans quickly attracted criticism and questions.
Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, acknowledged that paying to keep undocumented immigrants in state custody could be problematic, but stopped short of supporting Stitt’s plan. “It’s difficult to say I support the governor’s overall idea (and plan) based on a lack of details on how it would be implemented,” he said.
Stitt said he believes Oklahoma’s efforts could serve as a model for other states. But courts have rejected past attempts by Oklahoma officials to address federal immigration issues.
Oklahoma anti-immigration law HB 4156 has faced legal challenges
This year, state lawmakers passed House Bill 4156, a far-reaching measure that aimed to create a state system to regulate immigration.
The bill, which was signed into law by Stitt, makes the first offense for being undocumented in Oklahoma a misdemeanor with jail time of up to a year, or a fine of $500, or both. The second offense would be a felony. The bill would prohibit the ability of the courts or prosecutors to consider probation, delayed or community sentencing, or a future pathway to citizenship. People convicted under the law would have three days after release to leave the state.
That measure, however, was challenged in May by the U.S. Justice Department, which said the bill was an attempt to preempt federal law.
“Oklahoma cannot disregard the U.S. Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent,” Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said. “We have brought this action to ensure that Oklahoma adheres to the Constitution and the framework adopted by Congress for regulation of immigration.”
A short time later, a federal district court judge issued a court order that prohibited the state from enforcing the bill.
The ruling sparked an appeal by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond. Drummond said the law was “a powerful tool to counter criminal activity largely being fueled by illegal immigrants coming to our state.”
In September, Drummond asked the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver to reverse a lower court’s preliminary injunction that put the law on hold. The measure creates a crime of “impermissible occupation” and allows law enforcement officers to arrest and jail people living in the United States without legal permission.
“Rather, HB 4156 mirrors federal law by design,” the attorney general’s office said in its brief. “Without a valid cause of action, the United States relied on speculation about how HB 4156 would be implemented, spurious conclusions about the law’s underpinnings, and fundamental misconceptions about a state’s sovereign rights and duties in a federalist system of government.”
Prior to HB 4156, state lawmakers passed House Bill 1804, authored by then-state Rep. Randy Terrill in 2007. That bill eventually had most of its components overturned by a federal judge.
(This is a developing story.)
Oklahoma
Every Oklahoma State Cowboys’ College Football 27 Preseason Player Rating
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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Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s Brent Venables named to 2026 Dodd Trophy Preseason watch list
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.
Oklahoma
Kip Lewis reveals why he returned to Oklahoma for senior season
Kip Lewis returning for his redshirt senior season with the Oklahoma Sooners was one of the biggest wins of the offseason. Lewis has built an impressive career in Norman, racking up 209 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and five sacks with two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.
Beyond his production, Lewis has become one of the emotional leaders of the Oklahoma locker room. Although the NFL was an option, Lewis believed another season learning under Brent Venables would put him in the best position for long-term success.
In a video shared by Oklahoma, Lewis explained the factors that led him to return to Norman for another season.
“I talked to a lot of people,” Lewis said. “Mostly, my family and then my dad. He was just giving me key points that he felt like I should have come back… Mostly talked to a couple of my teammates like John (Mateer) and Isaiah (Sategna), getting their thoughts on what their plan was. I asked Danny (Stutsman) for advice. Talked to him for a little bit. Advice from Danny really stood out to me.”
Getting advice from Stutsman likely played a significant role in Lewis’ decision. Stutsman was in a similar position following a strong 2023 season. Stutsman elected to return to Norman in 2024 and had another strong individual season. That resulted in him being taken in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Lewis’ decision to return gives Oklahoma one of the most experienced and talented linebackers in the country for another season. By following the same path as Stutsman, Lewis is betting on development and another opportunity to improve his draft stock.
If he continues to lead at the level he has throughout his career, his final season in Norman could be the one that cements him as one of the top defensive players in college football.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.
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