OU top 25 games of last 25 seasons, Nos. 25-23: Brent Venables' Bedlam victory

You could debate for hours and hours about the greatest OU games of the last 25 seasons. So, um, why don’t we?

As we head into the 2025 season under head coach Brent Venables, we’re going to take look back at the previous 25 seasons (2000-2024).

A trip down the memory lane if ever there was one. And let’s rank them. Take one game per season, give it a number (from 25 for No. 1 to 1 for No. 25), and let’s see which OU games have stood the test of time.

From Nebraska in 2000 to “Jump Around” vs. Texas Tech in 2008 and everywhere in between, let’s go. Where do some of the biggest Red River Rivalry and Bedlam wins stack up? There are no wrong answers.

Included are the individual scores from SoonerScoop’s Josh McCuistion, Bob Przybylo, Eddie Radosevich and George Stoia.

The top 25 OU games of the last 25 seasons

No. 25: 2022 – 28-13 vs. OSU – 11 points

McCuistion: 3
Przybylo: 2
Radosevich: 2
Stoia: 4

The game

You might remember the first quarter blitz. It had you thinking this could be one of the all-time Bedlam blowouts. OU scored all 28 points in the first quarter.

And had it kept up that way? It would have been way up in the list. Instead, the Sooners offense went into a funk, even confusing by time management standards in the second half.

The OU defense had four interceptions and earned win No. 6 for the Sooners to become bowl eligible under Venables.

Quarterback Dillon Gabriel threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.

Historical impact

As strange as it is to say, we don’t know when there will be another Bedlam. So, yea, this is the last Bedlam victory for OU at this point.

It was also incredibly pivotal for Venables as OU had fallen from 5-3 to 5-5 and in danger of missing a bowl game in his initial season.

Honorable mention: None.

No. 24: 2005 – 37-30 2OT vs. Baylor – 16 points

McCuistion: 2
Przybylo: 1
Radosevich: 6
Stoia: 7

The game

Does the name Jacob Gutierrez mean anything to anybody? With Adrian Peterson hurt and Kejuan Jones suspended, this was the night for Gutierrez.

He rushed for 173 yards on 30 attempts with two touchdowns, as OU played in its first-ever double overtime game.

Quarterback Rhett Bomar hit freshman wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias for the game-winning touchdown in double overtime.

Historical impact

The rare overtime game in Norman, to begin with. This game made sure OU remained undefeated against Baylor to that point.

A little sign of things to come. Not too much was known about Iglesias at this juncture, but we know what a career he would go on and have for the crimson and cream.

OU was finally over .500 for the season at 4-3 and would begin to get back on track the rest of the way.

Honorable mention: vs. Oregon (17-14).

No. 23: 2009 – 27-0 vs. OSU – 19 points

McCuistion: 4
Przybylo: 4
Radosevich: 1
Stoia: 10

The game

OSU came into Norman as the one to watch, at 9-2 and ranked No. 12 in the country. What transpired, though, was a complete beatdown by the 6-5 Sooners.

It wasn’t a big numerical game for running back DeMarco Murray, but he did rush for two touchdowns.

OSU was limited to 109 total yards of offense, an incredible effort by the OU defense.

And the play everybody remembers is Norman’s own Ryan Broyles. An 87-yard punt return for a touchdown to stamp this Bedlam victory. Broyles also had nine catches for 103 yards.

Historical impact

Oh, not much, probably why it doesn’t rank higher. It hasn’t been often where OSU came into Norman as the higher-ranked squad. Probably gave the crowd a little juice, and OU delivered a stellar performance on a Saturday afternoon.

Honorable mention: vs. Stanford (31-27).