All articles tagged with #oklahoma sooners
OU's first padded practice of fall camp showcased a productive day for the offense, highlighted by a budding connection between freshman quarterback Elijah Thomas and John Mateer as several players stood out.
Oklahoma seized the 2026 College World Series, routing North Carolina 13-2 in Game 3 to clinch their first CWS title since 1994 and third in program history. After dropping Game 2, the Sooners rode a potent offense to a decisive win, with Jaxon Willits reaching base five times, Dayton Tockey homering, and Kyle Branch adding a late three-run shot as Oklahoma completed a dramatic postseason run that included a Game 1 victory and a 2-1 series finish in the finals.
North Carolina and Oklahoma meet in Game 2 of the Men’s College World Series finals in Omaha, with UNC sending sophomore Ryan Lynch to the mound and Oklahoma countering with freshman Xander Mercurius. Caden Glauber could enter if Lynch struggles, and UNC is 28-0 when Glauber pitches. Mercurius recently delivered a 7.1-inning, 9-strikeout outing against Georgia. Oklahoma won Game 1 9-3 to take a 1-0 series edge, and history shows four of the last 10 MCWS champions won Game 1, underscoring the stakes of Game 2 and a potential Game 3 if needed.
Oklahoma defeated North Carolina 9-3 in Game 1 of the College World Series finals, with Deiten Lachance hitting two home runs and freshman Cord Rager bouncing back to five scoreless innings for the win, as OU out-hit UNC 14-7 and moved to one win away from its first national title since 1994.
Oklahoma rode a 14-hit attack to a 9-3 win over North Carolina in Game 1 of the College World Series finals, with Cord Rager settling after a rough first inning and the Sooners swiping three bases. Key moments included Deiten LaChance’s early two-run homer and a four-run fourth highlighted by Kyle Branch’s two-run single, while Carolina’s offense cooled after the opening frame. Carter French contributed a spectacular outfield catch, Tom Chmielewski provided two scoreless innings, and UNC will attempt to even the series in Game 2.
North Carolina and Oklahoma will duel for the College World Series title in Omaha after each advanced to the finals; UNC swept through the bracket undefeated to reach its first finals since 2007, while Oklahoma rode power hitting and freshman pitching to its second finals appearance in four seasons following dramatic regional comebacks. The best-of-three series starts Saturday at 8 p.m. EDT at Charles Schwab Field, with game two Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and a potential deciding game Monday at 7 p.m. EDT.
Georgia shortstop Kolby Branch hit a ninth-inning home run in his final college at-bat as his brother Kyle Branch, an Oklahoma infielder, was on second base; the brothers exchanged a celebratory high-five as Oklahoma advanced to the College World Series championship series, a moment highlighted as a rare, magical clash between rivals amid the NIL era.
Oklahoma catcher Kendall Wells was hit in the helmet by a pitch during the Norman Super Regional vs. Mississippi State, left briefly, then returned to catch as coach Patty Gasso noted she looked woozy and would be monitored. Wells went 0-for-2 but stayed behind the plate for the rest of the game. She capped a historic freshman season with 39 home runs (NCAA freshman and OU single-season HR records, plus the SEC single-season HR mark), a .358 average and 88 RBIs. With the season over, Oklahoma turns to the transfer portal, which opens June 8 and runs through June 22 for players to declare their intent to explore options.
Oklahoma and Mississippi State will play a winner-take-all Game 3 in the Norman Super Regional on Sunday at Love’s Field (1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) to decide who advances to the Women’s College World Series. MSU won Friday’s opener 11-9 to threaten OU, but the Sooners responded Saturday with a 7-1 win behind Audrey Lowry; the winner will face Florida or Texas Tech in the WCWS, with pitching decisions looming for both teams.
Oklahoma standout Owen Heinecke won a court injunction from Judge Thad Balkman allowing him to use a fifth year of eligibility and return to the Sooners after challenging the NCAA. The all-day hearing featured support from OU coach Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy, who argued that another year would help Heinecke maximize his development and draft stock, while the NCAA pressed questions about playing time and eligibility rules. A key point was Heinecke’s freshman year at Ohio State and COVID-related disruptions; OU cited a newly surfaced NCAA decision in a similar case to bolster his petition. Heinecke testified about his low-recruitment history and desire to cement a legacy at OU, and with the injunction in place, he will get the chance to play another season.
Miami (OH) earned a play-in bid while Auburn was left out, highlighting a chaotic NCAA Tournament bubble and prompting questions about the value of conference tournaments; the piece also mentions Missouri, Arkansas, SMU and Texas earning spots over Oklahoma and Auburn, and notes the bubble was weaker than in past years while previewing other bubble teams and potential bracket implications.
Oklahoma surged to No. 1 in Rivals’ team recruiting rankings after a Saturday that added four commitments—Seneca Driver (KY four-star TE), Jamison Roberts (AL four-star QB), Jaylen Scott (AL four-star safety) and Tyson Ross (OK three-star OL)—raising the Sooners to 18 total commits and vaulting past Texas A&M and Ohio State. The haul also features in-state standouts Cooper Hackett (five-star OT), Kaeden Penny (four-star OT), Luke Wilson (three-star OT) and Cooper Witten (four-star LB), underscoring Brent Venables’ ability to land top talent nationwide as the signing period approaches.
Kentucky defeated Oklahoma 94-78 in a game highlighted by ESPN2 broadcaster Tom Hart peppering the call with KSR Easter eggs, plus a flurry of postgame moments including Jaland Lowe and Otega Oweh’s new hairstyles, Kam Williams’ rehab update, and a crowd of UK football alums and family moments in attendance.
No.16 Oklahoma upset No.2 South Carolina 94-82 in overtime, pulling off the upset as a double-digit underdog. After the win, OU coach Jennie Baranczyk celebrated with high energy in the postgame huddle captured by ESPN, signaling that the program is back and just getting started as March Madness approaches.
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has announced he’ll return for the 2026 season, keeping OU’s QB1 in Norman after an injury-shortened year and a late stretch of better play. The announcement also confirmed the returns of Kip Lewis, Isaiah Sategna III, and kicker Tate Sandell, underscoring Brent Venables’s confidence in retaining key players as Ben Arbuckle enters his second year as offensive coordinator.