Oklahoma
SEC Media Don’t Have a High Opinion of Oklahoma in 2025
If the Southeastern Conference media pundits are correct, Oklahoma still isn’t SEC-ready.
The preseason media poll was released on Friday and the Sooners were projected to finish 10th in the Southeastern Conference standings this year.
That’s up from where OU finished its maiden voyage in the SEC — 13th out of 16 teams — but not anywhere close to where Brent Venables wants his program to be going into Year 4. Venables, though, doesn’t mind shifting into “prove it” mode.
“We’ve had a lot of changes since January,” Venables said Wednesday at SEC Media Days. “ … We’ve also had tremendous retention, which, foundationally for me, is what it’s all about.”
More bad news for Sooner fans: SEC media picked rival Texas to edge out Georgia for the league championship. After losing to the Bulldogs in last year’s title game and making the College Football Playoff for the second straight year, Texas (3,060 ballot points) continues to look fit for its transition from the Big 12 to the SEC, while Georgia (2,957) remains a strong contender.
No. 3 Alabama (2,783) and No. 4 LSU (2,668) are the other major contenders in this year’s voting, followed by No. 5 South Carolina (2,109), No. 6 Florida (1,986), No. 7 Ole Miss ((1,979), No. 8 Texas A&M (1,892) and No. 9 Tennessee (1,700).
OU received 1,613 points (16 points for a first-place vote, 15 for a second-place vote, down to one point for a 16th-place vote).
The Sooners were followed by Auburn (1,272), Missouri (1,170), Vanderbilt (936), Arkansas (764), Kentucky (512) and Mississippi State (343) to round out the poll.
OU has been a trendy pick with some oddsmakers to even make this year’s 12-team College Football Playoff.
The Sooners do have two of the top transfer portal arrivals in quarterback John Mateer from Washington State and running back Jaydn Ott from Cal. Ott was picked by media Friday as an All-SEC second team performer.
OU also brings back all five starters on the offensive line as well as three others who started at running back, but will have to integrate newcomers at wide receiver and tight end.
On defense, the Sooners lost All-American linebacker Danny Stutsman and all-conference safety Billy Bowman, but appear loaded at virtually every other position — including defensive line, where senior R Mason Thomas was named second-team All-SEC on Friday, leading what has been called the league’s best defensive line, although only one defender and three players overall were named preseason All-SEC by the media.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next
The Oklahoma State Cowboys men’s basketball bounced back in a big way Tuesday night.
Anthony Roy scored 27 points and Kanye Clary added 23, including seven in overtime, as Oklahoma State defeated the UCF Knights men’s basketball 111-104 in Orlando.
The Cowboys controlled the extra period, finishing overtime on an 11-4 run and outscoring UCF 17-10.
Clary played a major role in closing it out. He hit a key 3-pointer and went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in overtime to help seal the win.
The victory moves Oklahoma State to 18-12 overall and 6-11 in the Big 12, and gives the Cowboys two wins in their last three games after snapping a five-game losing streak. UCF, now 20-9 (9-8 Big 12), has dropped two straight.
Roy and Clary led a balanced offensive effort. Jaylen Curry and Christian Coleman each added 16 points, while the Cowboys shot 49% from the field (35-of-72) and 80% from the free throw line (32-of-40).
Themus Fulks led UCF with 22 points, while Riley Kugel added 18.
Late-game drama forces overtime
The final seconds of regulation were chaotic.
With 24 seconds remaining, Isaiah Coleman threw down a dunk to give Oklahoma State a 94-91 lead.
But UCF answered quickly when Chris Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left, tying the game at 94-94.
Oklahoma State had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Jaylen Curry missed a shot, and John Bol blocked Roy’s attempt, sending the game to overtime.
Cowboys respond after tough loss
The Cowboys showed resilience after Saturday’s lopsided loss to Cincinnati.
The team traveled directly to Orlando following that defeat and was pushed through two intense practices by head coach Steve Lutz and the coaching staff.
The response was clear.
Led by Roy’s scoring and Clary’s clutch overtime performance, Oklahoma State delivered a gritty win and swept the season series against UCF
Oklahoma
Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon
YUKON, Okla. (KOKH) — Oklahoma City Police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon Monday night.
The shooting happened near Northwest 10th Street and South Yukon Parkway near the border of Yukon and Oklahoma City.
Police are on the scene, and officials said the victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the hip.
OKCPD said they have at least one person in custody.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property
As consumer electricity needs grow, lawmakers are discussing strategies to ease the burden on landowners who don’t want the towers and wires carrying that energy on their property.
As it’s written now, the bill would require transmission owners to pay landowners $2 per foot of line annually. During the committee meeting, Murdock said he introduced the legislation to “start a conversation.”
“ This is an idea of, maybe moving forward, if the landowners are getting a royalty off of the power being pushed across their property, it may make it a little more palatable for someone to have a transmission line go across their property,” he said.
Landowners can enter into easement agreements with companies to set aside portions of their land for the builds. But in some cases, eminent domain is used to obtain a right-of-way.
“ I’m not saying that this is going to do away with eminent domain,” Murdock said. “What I’m hoping is this just makes it a little more palatable.”
Murdock said he spoke with utility companies about the legislation, though he didn’t name them. The bill’s language could change after creating an alternative rate based on conversations with the companies, he said.
Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, said the bill could raise utility rates for consumers living in Oklahoma’s most populous counties if companies charge more to make up for the annual fee.
Murdock pushed back, noting the lines are necessary to deliver electricity to other counties.
“You understand that you flip that light on because — and have that ability to have electricity because — the people in my district have a transmission line that goes across them, getting you that power,” he said.
StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma’s public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online.
-
World6 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts7 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO7 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Oregon5 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling
-
Florida3 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Maryland3 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on Thrilling Books That Became Popular Movies