Norman and Stillwater mayors propose state legislation aimed at restoring annual Bedlam football series
Municipal leaders move the rivalry debate to the Capitol
Mayors in Norman and Stillwater have jointly advanced a proposal intended to reestablish an annual football game between the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, a rivalry commonly known as “Bedlam.” Norman Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman told the Norman City Council this week that he and Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce co-authored legislation designed to require the two public universities to play each season in football on a home-and-home basis.
Holman said the measure cleared the Norman City Council unanimously and is intended to be taken up by state lawmakers. The stated rationale presented at the council meeting centered on local economic development tied to major football weekends and the spending associated with large visitor crowds.
Why the proposal surfaced now
Bedlam football paused after the schools’ conference realignment reshaped scheduling. The last scheduled meeting in football was played on Nov. 4, 2023, in Stillwater, where Oklahoma State defeated Oklahoma 27–24 at Boone Pickens Stadium. Oklahoma subsequently moved from the Big 12 Conference to the Southeastern Conference.
Conference schedules and television contracts limit flexibility, and nonconference matchups are often booked years in advance. Those constraints have been a central practical obstacle for any quick return of the series in football even as the schools continue to face each other in other sports.
What the legislation is attempting to do
Based on the description provided in Norman’s council meeting, the mayors’ concept would use state law to mandate a yearly OU–OSU football game with alternating host sites. The measure is framed as an economic-development action for the two cities, which both host flagship athletic programs and see heightened business activity during major home games.
At this stage, the publicly discussed elements outline the intent rather than the final bill language. Key operational questions for lawmakers would likely include enforcement mechanisms, applicability to athletic departments governed by university and conference policies, and potential conflicts with existing contractual obligations.
How it intersects with existing schedules
Oklahoma has already announced its 2026 football schedule, which includes a nine-game SEC slate and multiple nonconference games. Oklahoma State has also published its 2026 schedule, including major nonconference opponents. Any mandated annual Bedlam game would need to be reconciled with these long-set schedules, either through future-year planning, rescheduling of existing games, or negotiated exceptions.
What happens next
The proposal is expected to be introduced for consideration in the Oklahoma Legislature.
Lawmakers would need to determine whether the state has the authority and appetite to compel athletic scheduling between the two universities.
OU and OSU athletic administrators, along with conference officials, would be positioned to weigh logistical feasibility and contractual implications if the bill advances.
The effort highlights the extent to which the Bedlam series is viewed not only as a sports tradition, but also as an event with measurable economic consequences for Norman and Stillwater.