Oklahoma
Oklahoma OL Jake Taylor Knocked Off ‘Rust’ in ‘Amazing Experience’ Versus Auburn
NORMAN — Jake Taylor’s return to the lineup against Auburn brought Oklahoma’s offensive line some much-needed stability.
It was just the second time the OU right tackle has been able to take the field this year, and his return meant that the Sooners’ starting unit all rolled out together for the first time in 2024.
Taylor started against Houston, though he exited that game early, but he finished all four quarters in OU’s 27-21 win over the Tigers last Saturday after battling injuries for the first month of the season.
“I was fortunate enough to play in Houston for about a quarter and a half,” Taylor said on Wednesday. “Even that experience was amazing. Was able to play all of Auburn. Great competition, knocked the rust off and stuff like that. It’s been an amazing experience. Definitely been having to be tough through this journey, but almost to the end of the bumps and bruises journey to say the least.”
As a result of Taylor’s return, Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line had its best game from a simple communication standpoint, even in the face of Auburn’s rowdy crowd.
“They were much more consistent,” OU coach Brent Venables said. “Our communication was cleaner. Everything was cleaner from how we’re targeting and our protection was really pretty good.”
The Sooners gave up a season-low two sacks, though there are still gains that need to be made in the running game.
Those improvements will come, Oklahoma hopes, as the offensive line continues to build chemistry.
For Taylor, though, Saturday’s win was about knocking off some of the cobwebs because it’s been a long time since he’s played four quarters of football.
“Me and my family talked about — the last time I played a full game was back in senior year of high school (during) one of the four out-of-state games,” Taylor said. “Because (with) Las Vegas competition, you were out at halftime. So it was definitely rough on the body, to say the least. Conditioning wise, you got into the game a little over halfway through, but didn’t really help being out the majority of the start of the year, too.”
Oklahoma’s coaching staff is aware it will take a few weeks for Taylor to fully get back to where he was before the injuries on the conditioning front.
“Obviously there’s some rust for him, the endurance piece,” Venables said. “And some of the limitations that you have when you’re out, so the things that you can’t do — maybe it’s weight room and some of your lower body strength and stuff like that — and when you’re out several weeks, that adds up quick. And you lose — physically you can lose a lot quick.”
But Taylor will have two weeks to work throughout practice to get ready to face off against No. 2 Texas’ talented defensive line. As the physical work to get fully into game shape continues, Venables is pleased with the mental edge Taylor brings every day.
“He’s worked hard to get himself back where he needs to be and it was good to get him back,” Venables said. “He’s a long athletic guy that has been in the system for a while, and so if he does make a mistake, he quickly understands that it’s not real complicated for him.”
Taylor is just excited to continue to work with the starting offensive line, as the unit has faith it can still take a massive step forward as the Sooners enter this key stretch to take on the Longhorns, South Carolina and No. 12 Ole Miss.
“Getting a stable O-line out there is amazing to see,” Taylor said,
“Course, all of us are going through some stuff. When we’re able to get rest up — this bye week is gonna be great for that — we’re just gonna get closer. The chemistry’s gonna get tighter. We’re just gonna be better overall.”
OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.
The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.
The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Copyright 2026 KSWO. All rights reserved.
Governor Kevin Stitt has said he wants the State Superintendent of Education to be a governor-elected position instead of an elected one. Political analyst Scott Mitchell examines what this would mean for the state.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is urging lawmakers to send a state question to voters that would make the state superintendent an appointed position, as he named Lindel Fields of Tulsa to the role and announced a turnaround team to help implement his education agenda.
Is the State Superintendent an elected role?
Yes, the State Superintendent of Education is still an elected role. Elections are scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
Cons of making the superintendent an appointed position
Mitchell said making this position appointed could cause distrust among some Oklahomans
“Over the years, we’ve seen that capture of regulatory sort of is easy to do when you have term limits, then lobbies become more powerful, and they have all the history. It’s very complicated.
He also said if the position were to be elected, they would likely have the same agenda as the governor.
“Yes, and I think the governor would be absolutely saying, ‘Yes, they’re going to do what I want them to do.’”
Changing how the superintendent is chosen changes what the founding fathers set.
“Voters are going to have to say yay or nay if it gets to them, is whether or not we want to change the way that the founding fathers set up the way that we make sure that power is not concentrated in Oklahoma,” he said.
Is Ryan Walters’ term the reason Stitt wants to make this position appointed?
Mitchell said he believes the former State Superintendent played a role in the government wanting to appoint this position.
During his time as superintendent, Walters was known to have multiple controversies. He resigned in 2025, allowing Stitt to appoint Lindel Fields.
“His impact on this, even though he’s gone, is certainly evident,” said Mitchell. “Walters left midstream, right? And so the governor had a chance to appoint someone. Well, it wasn’t just an appointment; it was chaos before and relative calm and competency after. And that has given the governor an opening for people to see with their own eyes. Yeah, you can put somebody in, we’re talking about Lindel Fields, that appears to get up every day, not trying to find some, get a click on social media, but rather to do his job. And across the board, for the most part, this guy’s getting thumbs up.
Stitt said electing Fields has already given him some leverage since he has been well perceived so far.
“That allows a governor to say, Look, I’ve got some standing, some leverage to go to the voters and say, let’s put expertise as the main reason that a person’s there, not because they were able to win an election because they had some sort of populist or dramatic ideas.”
Who is running for Oklahoma State Superintendent?
Republican Ballot
- Sen. Adam Pugh
- John Cox
- Rep. Toni Hasenbeck
- Ana Landsaw
Democrat Ballot
- Craig Mcvay
- Jennettie Marshall
Independent
To learn more about each candidate, click here.
A full breakdown of candidates in the 2026 Oklahoma State Superintendent race, including party affiliation, background and key education priorities.
An Oklahoma highway could soon be named after the late country superstar, Toby Keith, pending new legislation.
House Concurrent Resolution 1019 would rename a proposed turnpike project the “Toby Keith Expressway.” This roadway is set to be built from Interstate 44 East to Interstate-35, continuing East and North to Interstate 40. This road is a part of the ACCESS Oklahoma Long-Range Plan, which is meant to update and expand the state’s turnpike system.
This resolution was adopted by the House on Wednesday.
“Toby Keith was more than a country music star. He was a proud Oklahoman who never forgot where he came from,” said Rep. Jason Blair, R-Moore. “Naming this turnpike in his honor is a fitting way to recognize a man who represented our state with ultimate patriotism and generosity.”
Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, raised in Moore and resided in Norman. He died on February 5, 2024, in a battle with cancer.
“Over the course of his legendary career, Toby Keith never forgot where he came from or what he stood for,” said Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman. “His Oklahoma roots shaped him, and his love of America defined him. He was a country music superstar and a true patriot. I can think of no better way to honor his memory than by naming this future stretch of Norman turnpike in his honor, creating a lasting tribute to the legacy he leaves behind.”
During his career, Keith sold over 40 million records and more than 20 number-one singles
Legislation authors believe this would commemorate the life and legacy of Toby Keith.
The bill will now head to the Senate.
To read the full House Resolution, click here.
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