The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Bedlam

Oklahoma85-20-7Oklahoma State
Power Program I#8 of 138–National Program II#52 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
5 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Oklahoma leads the all-time series 85-20-7. They've met 112 times since 1912. Oklahoma once took 19 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Oklahoma
Win total
6.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
-7
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -40
What fans are saying · coaching decision
fans think Ben Arbuckle's performance is holding back the team's success
4 OU problems #1 John Mateer, can,t throw or read defense # Ben Arbuckle, can't call play's
Verified verbatim
Oklahoma State
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+4
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: -36
What fans are saying · player performance
fans argue the team scores too few touchdowns in the red zone
And how the fuck can we not punch in the ball when we are 2 yards from the end zone? Why is the end zone offense so fucking bad.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1912–2023

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeOklahomaOklahoma Stateevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Oklahoma won, gray: Oklahoma State won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Oklahoma State has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Oklahoma led 9 and Oklahoma State led 14.

more passmore runOklahomaOklahoma State2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262004Oklahoma 16.5 ptsOklahoma won 38-352024Oklahoma State 14.2 pts2009Oklahoma 14.0 ptsOklahoma won 27-0
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Oklahoma by 61 in 1946. The biggest crowd, 87,635, was in 2018.

The coaching duels

Bob Stoops vs Mike Gundy10-3
Bud Wilkinson vs Cliff Speegle8-0
Barry Switzer vs Jim Stanley5-1
Gary Gibbs vs Pat Jones5-0-1
Snorter Luster vs Jim Lookabaugh2-2-1
Bud Wilkinson vs Jennings Whitworth5-0

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
228-85
Oklahoma leads
1st-rounders
36-17
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
OklahomaOklahoma State
1960s4-5
1970s43-13
1980s31-15
1990s22-6
2000s42-13
2010s53-20
2020s33-13

Best picks, either side

2018Baker Mayfield Quarterback · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2019Kyler Murray Quarterback · Arizona CardinalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1976Lee Roy Selmon Defensive End · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1980Billy Sims Running Back · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2010Sam Bradford Quarterback · St. Louis RamsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1986Tony Casillas Defensive Tackle · Atlanta FalconsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2010Gerald McCoy Defensive Tackle · Tampa Bay BuccaneersRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1989Barry Sanders Running Back · Detroit LionsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Oklahoma State1.10×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2023Oklahoma State27-24
2022Oklahoma28-13
2021Oklahoma State37-33
2020Oklahoma41-13
2019Oklahoma34-16
2018Oklahoma48-47
2017Oklahoma62-52Oklahoma State — both ranked, Oklahoma State routed by 10
2016Oklahoma38-20
2015Oklahoma58-23
2014Oklahoma State38-35Oklahoma — Oklahoma favored by 19.5
2013Oklahoma33-24Oklahoma State — both ranked, Oklahoma State favored by 10.5
2012Oklahoma51-48
2011Oklahoma State44-10
2010Oklahoma47-41

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Oklahoma’s chance to win through that meeting. Oklahoma is 1-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2023: loud.

2023Oklahoma State 27-24Oklahoma lost 24-27 at Oklahoma State. Chance to win started at 70%, low 22%, high 90%.Loud
2022Oklahoma 28-13Oklahoma won 28-13 vs Oklahoma State. Chance to win started at 71%, low 71%, high 99%.Busy
2021Oklahoma State 37-33Oklahoma lost 33-37 at Oklahoma State. Chance to win started at 38%, low 11%, high 86%.
2020Oklahoma 41-13Oklahoma won 41-13 vs Oklahoma State. Chance to win started at 69%, low 69%, high better than 99%.
2019Oklahoma 34-16Oklahoma won 34-16 at Oklahoma State. Chance to win started at 80%, low 75%, high 99%.
2018Oklahoma 48-47Oklahoma won 48-47 vs Oklahoma State. Chance to win started at 95%, low 48%, high 98%.

Meetings with their own story page

9 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2023.