Bedlam Returns to Paycom Center for 2026 Doubleheader
The Bedlam basketball rivalry between the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will once again light up Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on December 12, 2026, as the two schools stage a men’s and women’s doubleheader that picks up where last season’s revived series left off.
Fans can purchase a single ticket that grants admission to both contests, with Oklahoma season ticket holders and Oklahoma State supporters receiving presale access beginning at 10 a.m. CT on Monday, July 27, while the remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on August 7 through Ticketmaster; OSU’s POSSE members will be granted priority for premium seats and OSU students will enjoy discounted pricing, and OU students will receive their ticket information after the start of the fall semester.
The matchup marks the 252nd all‑time meeting between the programs and celebrates the 100th consecutive season of Bedlam basketball, representing the third straight year the rivalry has been staged at Paycom Center; historically, Oklahoma holds a 145‑106 edge in the men’s series and a 70‑47 advantage in the women’s series, with head coach Jennie Baranczyk remaining unbeaten against the Cowgirls and having led the Sooners to seven straight Bedlam victories.
In the most recent meeting, Porter Moser’s Sooners edged Oklahoma State 85‑76, a win powered by 21 points from returning senior Xzayvier Brown, extending OU’s winning streak in the series to four games; the Cowboys, now under Steve Lutz’s third season after assembling the Big 12’s top‑ranked transfer portal class and a consensus top‑10 recruiting class, enter the contest ranked No. 8 in the USA Today preseason Top 25, while the Sooners sit at No. 23.
Both teams arrive with high expectations for the 2026‑27 campaign, using the early Bedlam showdown as a measuring stick; the women’s side will feature returning standouts Sahara Williams and Aaliyah Chavez, who combined for 33 points and 13 assists in last season’s 92‑70 victory, underscoring the depth of talent on both sides.