Oklahoma
OU Softball: Oklahoma Riding Bedlam Momentum Into Alabama Battle
Oklahoma started its tough week with an outstanding showing against Oklahoma State.
In front of a record crowd at Devon Park, the No. 2-ranked Sooners erased an early 3-0 deficit to run rule No. 17 Oklahoma State 11-3 in five innings — a result head coach Patty Gasso hopes will carry into this weekend’s tilt with No. 23 Alabama.
“I felt a big momentum opportunity that we grabbed, and I’m really excited to see where we go with this,” Gasso said Wednesday.
Spurred by the Bedlam win, the Sooners (35-3 overall, 9-3 in Southeastern Conference play) now turn their attention to the Crimson Tide (28-15, 5-7 SEC).
Patrick Murphy’s team looks a lot different than it did in the 2015 NCAA Super Regionals, OU’s last trip to Tuscaloosa, as this year’s squad tries to round into shape.
Alabama has a staff ERA of 2.81, which ranks ninth in the SEC and 41st in the country, and the offense is also middle of the road in the conference.
The Crimson Tide has a team batting average of .334, which is 27th nationally and seventh in the SEC, and their 6.42 runs per game ranks 40th overall and 10th in the league.
Kali Heivilin leads the team with 11 home runs, Brooke Ellestad has hammered seven and both Alexis Pupillo and Abby Duchscherer have launched six bombs apiece, but the hub of Alabama’s offense is freshman Audrey Vandagriff.
She leads the team in batting average (.432), walks drawn (27) and on-base percentage (.534), and she’s a terror on the basepaths.
In 41 games this season, she’s swiped 45 bases, which will put pressure on OU’s pitching staff and defense if she’s able to get aboard.
“With their speed and the way they run the bases, we have a lot ahead of us,” Gasso said.
But Oklahoma’s pitchers will look a bit different than they have at any point in conference play.
With freshman Audrey Lowry back in the fold, it’s the first time that Lowry, Sam Landry and Kierston Deal have all been available at the same time for an SEC series.
Landry allowed five hits, three runs (one earned) and two walks while striking out four OSU batters as she battled nerves and the Cowgirls on Wednesday night, but she’s been excellent for Oklahoma in conference play.
Deal’s best performance of the season came in OU’s Game 2 win over Tennessee, and Lowry looked excellent in her return last weekend against UCF.
And Oklahoma’s offense is hitting its stride.
Sophomore outfielder Kasidi Pickering — who paces OU with a .448 batting average, 12 home runs, 41 RBIs and 39 walks drawn — is 15-for-21 with nine RBIs in the last seven games, and Ella Parker appears to be rounding back into form while battling a nagging leg injury.
After hammering a grand slam against UCF, Parker went 3-for-3 against OSU and added a pair of RBIs.
“Things are changing,” Gasso said of Parker. “I can feel that in her and her confidence and her swings are strong and I’m so happy for her because she’s been really battling this and I think she might be coming out of this now.”
Oklahoma and Alabama will open the series on Saturday at 3 p.m. in a contest that will be broadcast on ESPN2, before closing the three-game set on Sunday and Monday.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma AG & 21 other state attorneys general sue Uber over unfair subscription services
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is taking action against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC after alleging the use of deceptive and unfair practices in selling subscription services.
According to the Drummond office, the lawsuit against Uber Technologies LLC and Uber USA LLC seeks to uncover an alleged variety of unfair operations in selling Uber One subscription services.
On Monday, Drummond, alongside a coalition of 21 other state attorneys general, joined the lawsuit filed initially by the Federal Trade Commission.
Drummond says the lawsuit alleges the following:
- Uber is accused of improperly using negative option marketing tactics when it offered free trial subscriptions – a practice that automatically charges consumers if they do not cancel a free trial.
- Uber allegedly misled consumers about the amounts they could save when subscribing to Uber One and made it extraordinarily difficult for consumers to cancel once enrolled.
- Uber is also accused of charging consumers before their billing date, including users whose free trial had not yet ended.
“Oklahoma law prohibits deceptive trade practices and I will always fight to hold accountable any company who breaks the law,” Drummond said. “Unless Uber is stopped in court, they are likely to continue cheating and harming hardworking Oklahomans.”
The AG’s office says the lawsuit seeks restitution, penalties, costs, and an injunction against Uber for alleged violations of Oklahoma’s Consumer Protection Act and the U.S. Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act.
The lawsuit is currently scheduled for trial on February 2027, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Here is the state coalition list; in addition to Oklahoma, it includes Maryland, Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, as well as the District Attorney for Alameda County in California.
Click complaint to read the lawsuit.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Running Back Upgraded on Second College Football Playoff Availability Report
Oklahoma running back Jovantae Barnes was upgraded on the second College Football Playoff availability report of the week.
Barnes appeared on Tuesday’s report as probable, but he was left off Wednesday’s report, meaning he will be available for Friday’s contest against Alabama.
Barnes appeared in four games during the regular season, carrying the ball 19 times for 45 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one pass for 16 yards.
The senior running back was able to redshirt by only playing in four games. Postseason games, including the College Football Playoff, do not count against eligibility, so Barnes will be able to maintain eligibility in 2026 and still be able to take the field for the Sooners in the CFP.
Oklahoma’s main injury concern, center Jake Maikkula, continues to linger.
Maikkula was listed as questionable on the report for the second straight day.
Maikkula missed OU’s regular-season finale against LSU due to what Brent Venables labeled as an “infection”. He was fully suited up during a brief 15-minute practice viewing window on Monday, but he was working off to the side instead of with Oklahoma’s starting offensive line group.
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Oklahoma’s best news of the week came on Tuesday.
Star pass rusher R Mason Thomas was not listed on the week’s first availability report, meaning he’s good to go to take on the Crimson Tide.
Thomas earned All-SEC First Team honors in 2025 despite missing a majority of Red November.
He appeared in nine regular-season games, totaling 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Thomas also forced two fumbles, and he scooped up a Joey Aguilar fumble and returned it all the way for a touchdown. He sustained a quad injury on the play, however, which cost him the Alabama, Missouri and LSU games.
Thomas also missed the first half of OU’s SEC opener against Auburn after he was ejected in the second half of Oklahoma’s win over Temple for targeting.
Defensive backs Gentry Williams, Kendel Dolby and Jeremiah Newcombe were all ruled out for the CFP opener on Tuesday.
Dolby announced that he intends to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday.
When asked about the defensive back after Dolby’s announcement on Wednesday, Venables was short.
“I’m not going to talk about anybody that’s not here,” he said.
Alabama tight ends Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. were both upgraded to probable after the tight end duo was listed as questionable on the week’s first availability report.
The Sooners and the Crimson Tide will battle at 7 p.m. on Friday, and the game will air on ABC and ESPN.
Oklahoma
Six bridges damaged by semi truck hauling ‘illegally over-height’ load, Oklahoma Turnpike Authority says
Oklahoma authorities are investigating multiple bridge strikes that occurred along the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike on Tuesday afternoon.
On December 16, 2025, “an illegally over-height commercial motor vehicle drove this afternoon from Tulsa to near Miami,” causing damage to “multiple county bridges above the I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike,” according to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA).
The OTA notes that “it is illegal for trucks taller than 14 feet to travel the state highway system without permits and approved routes. The bridges damaged today range from 14 feet and 11 inches to 15 feet and 4 inches in vertical clearance, well above the legal limit.”
“We are continuing to see damage to our state transportation infrastructure from illegal, over-height semi-trucks. This is a critical issue that puts the traveling public at risk and is unacceptable. We are extremely grateful no one was injured in this incident,” OTA Executive Director Joe Echelle said. “We implore truck drivers to follow all Oklahoma laws and work with the state’s Size and Weights permitting office to ensure that all travelers are safe on our roadways and that our infrastructure remains undamaged by these careless acts.”
Officials say that the following bridges were struck:
- E. 530 Rd. – closed between S. 4130 Rd. and Lakeway Rd.
- S. 4220 Rd. – closed between E. 460 Rd. and E. 470 Rd. east of Claremore
- N. 429 Rd. – closed between E. 390 Rd. and SH-28
- N. 4300 Rd. – closed between E. 380 Rd. and W. 390 Rd.
- N. 4310 Rd. – open
- W. 370 Rd. – open
The Will Rogers Turnpike is open, but drivers should expect temporary delays as crews continue to inspect the damaged bridges.
“OTA is working closely with officials from Rogers County, City of Claremore, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and ODOT in response to this incident,” the agency said.
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