As Danny Stutsman departs from Oklahoma, Kip Lewis seems to be the next man up.
A redshirt sophomore linebacker in 2024, Lewis was one of the Sooners’ better defenders. In addition to his 28 solo tackles, Lewis intercepted two passes, running both of them back for touchdowns.
Lewis hopes to be the leader that Stutsman was over his four years at OU. But his goal isn’t to be a Stutsman clone.
“I feel like I’m my own player and my own leader in how I do things,” Lewis said. “Danny’s a great player, great leader. Taught me everything I need to know. I think I’m just my own person. I don’t think I need to step into his role and be the Danny. There’s only one.”
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Lewis played and started in all 12 of the Sooners’ games in the 2024 season. It was his second season as a regular on OU’s defense after playing in just two games as a true freshman.
In Oklahoma’s first season as an SEC squad, Lewis and his defensive counterparts saw plenty of offensive stars. Between Garrett Nussmeier at LSU and Quinn Ewers at Texas, there was never really a dull moment for the Sooners during conference play.
Lewis will see a different type of challenge at the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy.
WATCH: Navy HC Brian Newberry Ahead of Armed Forces Bowl vs. Oklahoma
The Midshipmen — like the other service academies — run a triple-option offense. While Navy, Army and Air Force struggle to get the highly-touted recruits that other programs draw, the unconventional offense sets them apart.
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Thankfully for Lewis, this style of offense isn’t new.
“I’m a little used to it. So it’s been a minute since I played it, but it brought me back to my roots playing the Wing-T. There’s a team called Pleasant Grove out there in Texas, so they used to give me a run for my money back in the day.”
Navy finished the regular season 9-3. The Midshipmen started the season 6-0 before losing three times in a four-game span.
They ended the season well, though, beating both East Carolina and Army by double digits to end the regular season.
Lewis and multiple of his teammates tuned in as the Midshipmen beat Army in the annual rivalry game.
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“They showed a lot of fight, a lot of grit,” Lewis said. “I think that’s an important key into playing football.”
Lewis will play only one more game as an underclassman. Then, he’ll step into the role of other defensive leaders the Sooners have seen recently, whether that’s Stutsman, Billy Bowman Jr., Woodi Washington or others.
Games like the Armed Forces Bowl will help him get there.
“Just always having to bring my best effort every day,” Lewis said. “Just bringing everything I’ve got. Just every day, I bring my value into whatever that is, whatever I’ve gotta do for my team. I think it’ll be a big role.”
The Sooners will battle the Midshipmen on Dec. 27 in Fort Worth. The game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
3 scariest SEC baseball teams to face in the 2025 conference tournament
The Montgomery Advertiser’s Adam Cole breaks down why Auburn, Tennessee and Vanderbilt are the toughest teams to play in the 2025 SEC baseball tournament.
Kentucky baseball is set to begin postseason play this afternoon against Oklahoma.
The 13th-seeded Wildcats (29-23, 13-17 SEC) will face the 12th-seeded Sooners (33-19, 14-16) in the first round of the SEC Tournament at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Alabama.
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Kentucky will attempt to replicate its magical postseason last year, when it reached the College World Series.
This is the fourth time the Wildcats are playing the Sooners this season; Kentucky won the previous three matchups.
Here’s what you need to know about Kentucky’s first game in the SEC Tournament, including bracket, schedule, seeding and more:
Date: Tuesday, May 20
Time: 2 p.m.
Texas (42-11)
Arkansas (43-12)
LSU (42-13)
Vanderbilt (39-16)
Georgia (42-14)
Auburn (38-17)
Ole Miss (37-18)
Tennessee (41-15)
Alabama (40-15)
Florida (37-19)
Mississippi State (34-20)
Oklahoma (33-19)
Kentucky (29-23)
Texas A&M (28-25)
South Carolina (28-28)
Missouri (16-38)
All times Eastern.
First round: Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 9 seed Alabama vs. No. 16 seed Missouri | 10:30 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 2: No. 12 seed Oklahoma vs. No. 13 seed Kentucky | 2 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 3: No. 10 seed Florida vs. No. 15 seed South Carolina | 5:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 4: No. 11 seed Mississippi State vs. No. 14 seed Texas A&M | 9 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Second round: Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 8 seed Tennessee vs. Game 1 winner | 10:30 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 6: No. 5 seed Georgia vs. Game 2 winner | 2 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 7: No. 7 seed Ole Miss vs. Game 3 winner | 5:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 8: No. 6 seed Auburn vs. Game 4 winner | 9 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 22
Game 9: No. 1 seed Texas vs. Game 5 winner | 4 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 10: No. 4 seed Vanderbilt vs. Game 6 winner | 7 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Quarterfinals: Friday, May 23
Game 11: No. 2 seed Arkansas vs. Game 7 winner | 4 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 12: No. 3 seed LSU vs. Game 8 winner | 7 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Semifinals: Saturday, May 24
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 1 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 4:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Championship: Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner | 3 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Reach sports reporter Prince James Story atpstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.
An Oklahoma State Softball Player has issued a statement following a season-ending loss in the NCAA Tournament.
After falling to Arkansas in the Fayetteville Regional final, Oklahoma State’s starting pitcher Ruby Meylan, has issued a statement.
“Cowgirl Nation, I want to thank you for everything,” Meylan said. “You have taken me in from day one. When I first arrived in Stillwater, I was broken; day by day, this place has healed me.”
Meylan came to Oklahoma State after spending two seasons at the University of Washington. She played a critical role in the Huskies’ run to the 2023 Women’s College World Series. Meylan went 27-17 with a 2.31 ERA, She added 343 strikeouts in 303.2 innings pitched across 76 appearances.
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With the Cowgirls in 2025, Meylen cemented herself as the No.1 pitcher. She finished the season with a 21-10 overall record and a 1.81 ERA. Meylan pitched in 209 innings allowing 66 runs on 152 hits. She had 238 strikeouts and held her opponents to a .201 batting average.
” I can’t thank God enough for allowing this program to be his plan for me,” Meylan said. “This season has been challenging in so many ways, but every challenge has been worth it.”
” I wouldn’t change a single thing; I am so blessed to have gone to war with this group of girls and coaches, ” she went to to say.
Oklahoma State wrapped up yet another impressive season finishing with a 35-20 overall record., but according to Meylan there is much more her and the Cowgirls want to accomplish,
“For the rest of my life, I promise to give Stillwater, Oklahoma State University, and Cowgirl softball everything I have. left in me, ” Meylan said.
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“We have some unfinished business.”
More News: 2025 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament: Bracket, Schedule & Updates
More News: Auburn Softball Player Hits Transfer Portal Just Hours After Team’s Elimination
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Karlie Davison a double, a home run and four RBIs, Robyn Herron threw a complete game three-hitter on Sunday night and Arkansas beat Oklahoma State 12-0 in six innings to win the Fayetteville Regional.
Fourth-seeded Arkansas (43-12) plays host the winner between Mississippi and No. 13 seed Arizona in the super regionals next weekend.
Reagan Johnson reached on a fielding error to lead off the game before Courtney Day and Ella McDowell hit RBI singles and Kennedy Miller drew a bases-loaded walk to scored Kailey Wyckoff to make it 3-0.
Atalyia Rijo hit a RBI single in third while Karlie Davison and Raigan Kramer each added a run-scoring double to give the Razorbacks a 6-0 lead.
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Davison’s three-run home run capped a six-run sixth inning that gave Arkansas a 12-0 lead.
Ruby Meylan (21-10) gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits across two innings for Oklahoma State (35-20), which committed three errors.
