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Why Oklahoma Believes Its ‘Tremendously Important’ to get WR Javonnie Gibson the Ball

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Why Oklahoma Believes Its ‘Tremendously Important’ to get WR Javonnie Gibson the Ball


NORMAN — Oklahoma hopes to feature a new weapon in the back half of the regular season. 

Receiver Javonnie Gibson drew rave reviews from OU’s coaches and players alike during spring football, but a leg injury cost him the entire summer and the first four games of 2025. 

The 6-foot-2 pass catcher played against both Kent State and Texas, and the Sooners are looking forward to getting him fully involved in the offense. 

“I think it’s tremendously important. When he was at his best this spring, man, he was tough to handle,” OU coach Brent Venables said on Tuesday. “And again, his size, his catch radius, his instincts for the game, route running ability, his physicality in blocking and covering people up. He wasn’t ever covered.”

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Gibson played 23 snaps on offense against Kent State, per Pro Football Focus, and he was on the field for 33 snaps in the Sooners’ 23-6 defeat to Texas. 

He’s made two catches for 22 yards in those two contests, and quarterback John Mateer can’t wait to feed him more targets in OU’s final six regular-season games. 

“He’s a huge presence,” Mateer said on Monday. “He’s a great dude, just like (Keontez Lewis), but he’s a presence—a physical presence. Huge. We’ll give him a lot of opportunities, and getting the ball in his hand is something we need to do.”

Last year, Gibson enjoyed a breakout season at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

He caught 70 passes for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns, including a season-long reception of 60 yards. 

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Gibson felt like he got acclimated to the size and speed of SEC defenders quickly when he arrived in Norman, and he physically feels back to the levels he was at before his injury in spring practice. 

“Yeah, pretty much. I feel like I just got to keep working, too, at the same time,” Gibson said. “I feel like I’m back where I was, just contributing to the team. That’s the main thing.”

Oklahoma needs Gibson to enjoy a big second half of the season, too.

The Sooners are struggling to run the ball. Following the performance against the Longhorns, OU ranks 105th in rushing yards per game. 

Four SEC teams — OU, Alabama, South Carolina and LSU — rank in the bottom 40 nationally in rushing yards per game, but the Sooners may need to pivot and put the ball in Mateer’s hands more frequently. 

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Oklahoma Sooners, Javonnie Gibso

Oklahoma wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson made his first catch as a Sooner against Kent State. / NATE BILLINGS/FOR THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

That would give Gibson even more chances to make an impact for the Sooners, a role Venables believes the junior receiver is more than capable of playing in 2025.

“He was always open last spring before he got hurt,” Venables said. “You don’t have many guys that are like that. So when you have one — and again, I think the progression’s been right on time under the circumstances. 

“He played a few more snaps this week than he did the week before, and we’ll continue to progress.”



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Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next

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Oklahoma State outlasts UCF in overtime, Houston next


ORLANDO, Fla. –

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.

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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

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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

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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

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Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon

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Oklahoma City police are investigating after a man was shot near Yukon


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.

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This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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Oklahoma lawmakers consider bill to require annual fee for transmission lines on private property

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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.

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“ 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.

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