Oklahoma

Oklahoma RB Gavin Sawchuk ‘Prepared’ For Bigger Role in Cheez-It Bowl

Published

3 years ago

December 25, 2022

Oklahoma RB Gavin Sawchuk ‘Prepared’ For Bigger Role in Cheez-It Bowl

Bowl season gives loads of alternatives for brand new faces to complete their season on a excessive.

Final 12 months, Oklahoma receiver Jalil Farooq parlayed a 3 reception, 64-yard efficiency within the Alamo Bowl right into a breakout season this 12 months for the Sooners.

True freshman operating again Gavin Sawchuk hopes to search out comparable success subsequent week in Orlando towards Florida State within the Cheez-It Bowl.

After becoming a member of the workforce final summer season, Sawchuk was low within the pecking order of DeMarco Murray’s backfield.

Eric Grey’s glorious season resulted in him getting a heavy load of touches this 12 months, and the emergence of fellow freshman Jovantae Barnes noticed Sawchuk take the redshirt path in 2022.

However with Grey headed to the NFL Draft, there will probably be extra carries to go round in Orlando, and Sawchuk is poised to take benefit.

Sawchuk carried the ball twice for 5 yards within the common season this 12 months, however he’s excited to make an affect for the Sooners within the remaining recreation of the 12 months.

“At any time when I get my alternative, I need to do my finest and I need to be prepared for the chance,” Sawchuk stated after follow final Monday. “So I’m excited for the chance, the prospect that I’ve with this bowl recreation.”

At the highschool degree, Sawchuk was a monitor star and a speedster on the soccer area.

That explosiveness has translated to the follow area in Norman, as teammate Marvin Mims stated he hopes to see Sawchuk get an opportunity to point out off his athleticism within the open area towards Florida State.

True freshman Gavin Sawchuk was solely referred to as upon for 2 carries this 12 months for Oklahoma

John E. Hoover / AllSooners

“Gavin Sawchuk could also be one of many quickest guys on the workforce,” stated Mims, “with him operating in a straight line and likewise him along with his development all through the season, simply being a operating again and having the ability to know when to make use of that pace and go full pace and when to be decisive and decelerate slightly bit.”

Although he hasn’t gotten many reps on the sector, Sawchuk stated he’s nonetheless attacked day-after-day and discovered a lot this season.

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From working with Murray to watching and paying attention to how Grey handles all the pieces from watching movie to how he practices, Sawchuk nonetheless feels that 2022 was a 12 months of development for him.

“They’ve been nice with teaching and educating me up, introducing me to school life,” Sawchuk stated. “I’ve been actually enthusiastic about having these folks in my life to teach me, train me new issues. I’m loving this system. It’s been nice.”

Off the sector, Sawchuk has performed a job within the operating again room as a great teammate.

Barnes particularly has loved enjoying alongside Sawchuk, as he stated Sawchuk has introduced an ideal perspective to follow.

“The entire season Gavin has been nice and at all times having a smile on his face,” Barnes stated. “He’s been assured, even through the lows. At all times maintaining us up. That’s why I at all times love going to Gavin. Something I do incorrect, he makes certain I maintain my head up.

“The entire 12 months, Gavin by no means had a frown on his face. He was by no means down on himself. He was at all times up and able to go to follow day-after-day and compete. He did that. Now he will get an ideal alternative to point out his skills that I do know he has.”

With a bigger position on deck within the bowl recreation, Sawchuk stated he hasn’t needed to change his preparation in any respect as he’s tried to have the best mindset since arriving in Norman.

“I’ve ready like I had alternative for each (recreation.) You by no means know what occurs within the recreation of soccer,” he stated. “The minute that you simply’re not ready, that’s when your will get referred to as and you then’re not prepared. I used to be ready. I used to be prepared. However I’m excited for the chance I’ve and I can’t look forward to it.

“… I’m simply excited to play. It’s going to be an ideal atmosphere. I do know Florida State’s a great workforce, so I’m excited to play them and see what we will do.”

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Oklahoma

Beers, Verhulst Named to Preseason All-SEC Coaches Team – University of Oklahoma

Published

14 hours ago

October 23, 2025

Press Room

Beers, Verhulst Named to Preseason All-SEC Coaches Team – University of Oklahoma

NORMAN – The SEC released its preseason poll and All-SEC teams Wednesday, as voted on by the league’s coaches, who could not vote for their own teams. Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers earned a spot on the first team, Payton Verhulst was named to the second team and the Sooners were picked to finish fourth.

On Oct. 13, a panel of media that cover the league picked Oklahoma to finish fifth and named Beers a first-team honoree.

Beers, a senior from Littleton, Colo., was named an All-SEC First Team selection last season after averaging 17.3 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 assists per game last season. A finalist for the 2025 Lisa Leslie Center of the Year Award, she led the SEC in player efficiency rating (35.9) and was the only player in the nation to average at least 31.0 points and 16.0 rebounds per 40 minutes. She was also a preseason All-SEC first-team selection by the league’s media and an AP All-America honorable mention.

Verhulst, a redshirt senior from De Soto, Kan., was an All-SEC Second Team selection last season when she averaged a career-high 14.9 points per game, shooting 42% from the field and 35% from deep. She was one of only two players nationally to average at least 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in under 30 minutes per game.

Oklahoma was picked fourth by the coaches, trailing Texas, South Carolina and LSU, and ahead of Tennessee, who was picked fifth.

Led by fifth-year head coach Jennie Baranczyk, Oklahoma returns the second-highest percentage of scoring (60.3%) in the SEC, led by Beers (17.3 PPG), Verhulst (14.9) and Sahara Williams (10.6). The Sooners enter the season ranked sixth in the Associated Press preseason poll, their highest ranking to open a season since 2009-10. Baranczyk also added the nation’s No. 8 recruiting class, highlighted by the country’s No. 1 freshman, Aaliyah Chavez.

Fans can get an early look at the Sooners in an Oct. 29 exhibition vs. Oklahoma Christian set for 6 p.m. in Norman. Admission to the exhibition is free as no television broadcast is scheduled. Fans can listen to a radio broadcast on the Sooner Sports Radio Network and Varsity App.

Oklahoma opens the regular season Nov. 3 against Belmont at Lloyd Noble Center at 4:30 p.m. CT.

Season tickets are on sale now starting at just $99 for general admission. Single-game tickets and mini plans are also available. For more information, contact the OU Athletics Ticket Office at 405-325-2424, email outickets@ou.edu or visit SoonerSports.com/Tickets.

Courtside seats for the 2025–26 season are now available on the west sideline and south baseline near the Oklahoma bench. Fans interested in more information should contact the Sooner Club at (405) 325-8000 or soonerclub@ou.edu.

Stay connected with Oklahoma Women’s Basketball by following the Sooners on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Want to make an impact? Join the 3-Point Club and help power the program’s continued success.

MEDIA POLL

Texas

South Carolina

Oklahoma

Tennessee

Ole Miss

Kentucky

Vanderbilt

Alabama

Florida

Georgia

Mississippi State

Texas A&M

Missouri

Auburn

Arkansas

PRESEASON ALL-SEC (COACHES)

First Team All-SEC
Flau’jae Johnson, LSU
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
Madison Booker, Texas*
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt

* SEC Preseason Player of the Year

Second Team All-SEC

Essence Cody, Alabama

Liv McGill, Florida

Teonni Key, Kentucky

Clara Strack, Kentucky

Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss

Payton Verhulst, Oklahoma

MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina

Rori Harmon, Texas

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma State on Verge of Elimination from Bowl Contention

Published

1 day ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Oklahoma State on Verge of Elimination from Bowl Contention

Oklahoma State is set for more Big 12 action this weekend, but it could make the inevitable official.

On Saturday, OSU will head to Lubbock to face No. 14 Texas Tech. The Red Raiders are coming off their first loss of the season but still have arguably the best team in the Big 12. As one of the frontrunners for the conference’s spot in the College Football Playoff, they shouldn’t have many issues taking care of business against an OSU team that hasn’t won a Big 12 game since 2023.

Along with being on a years-long drought in conference play, the Cowboys haven’t beaten an FBS team since September 2024. With this being the eighth game of the season, that also means OSU is down to its final hopes of making a bowl game.

Of course, the Cowboys have effectively been out of bowl contention since losing to Tulsa. While at that point there were still plenty of games left to play, that loss showed that OSU might not be ready to compete with anyone of note.

That assumption turned out to be entirely correct, as OSU hasn’t had another game within one possession since that loss to its in-state rival, which also led to the firing of Mike Gundy. While falling out of bowl contention seemed inevitable for the Pokes for much of the season, this weekend could be when it officially becomes reality.

Sitting at 1-6, the Cowboys would need to rattle off five straight wins to get to bowl eligibility. Considering they will start that journey as nearly 40-point underdogs in Lubbock this weekend, it’s safe to say that won’t happen.

While this is the reality OSU football is in at this point, it’s still a stark reminder of how quickly things can change in college football. Just two years ago, OSU won 10 games, made the Big 12 title game, which led to an appearance in the Texas Bowl, marking the Pokes’ 18th straight bowl appearance.

The last time OSU missed bowl games in consecutive seasons was 2000-01, when Bob Simmons’ final season and Les Miles’ first season at the helm both ended with losing records. Of course, Gundy missed a bowl game only twice in his 20 full seasons as the Cowboys’ head coach, but this year likely would have been his third had he gotten the opportunity to see it through.

While nothing about OSU’s outlook will change on Saturday when the Cowboys are likely eliminated from bowl contention, it is still a reminder of how far the program has fallen.

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Thunder receive NBA championship rings, raise title banner: Check it out

Published

2 days ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

Thunder receive NBA championship rings, raise title banner: Check it out

The 2025-26 NBA season started Tuesday night in Oklahoma City as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder hosted Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.

Before tip-off, the Thunder celebrated their 2024-25 NBA championship season and raised their first title banner since the organization moved to Oklahoma City.

OKC players were greeted by NBA commissioner Adam Silver as they were introduced to the home crowd and received their championship rings.

Here’s how the players reacted to the championship rings and banner being raised: