YEAR IN REVIEW
A look back at 12 of 2018's biggest sports stories from the state in the pages of The Oklahoman
DAWGGONE IT
Jan. 2 (date of publication): Georgia outlasted Oklahoma 54-48 in an epic Rose Bowl to end the Sooners’ hopes for a national title in Lincoln Riley’s first season as head coach. It also was the final game in an OU uniform for Baker Mayfield.
IN THE BAG
May 31: Oklahoma State dominated Alabama in the NCAA men’s golf final at Stillwater’s Karsten Creek Golf Club to capture its 11th NCAA championship. Viktor Hovland led the Cowboy charge in front of about 3,000 orange-clad fans.
POINT OF VIEW
Nov. 11: Oklahoma State quarterback Taylor Cornelius led a furious rally in Bedlam. Going for the win (and folk-hero status), Cornelius’ pass to Tylan Wallace on a 2-point try fell short and Oklahoma held on for a 48-47 victory.
‘ATHLETE A’
Jan. 10: The biggest story didn’t have the biggest headline. OU’s Maggie Nichols was the first to report abuse from a nowimprisoned doctor to USA Gymnastics in 2015. Nichols became a hero to many and an NCAA champion in April.
SOLID LEGACY
June 4: The Sooners fell short of winning a third straight NCAA softball title, losing to eventual champion Washington in the Women’s College World Series. Ace Paige Parker allowed one run in four innings a day after pitching a pair of shutouts.
HORNS DOWNED
Dec. 2: Kyler Murray wrapped up his Heisman campaign; OU’s defense came up with big plays and the Sooners knocked off Texas 39-27 in the Big 12 championship game. They received a bid to the College Football Playoff the next day.
TOP GUN
April 27: Baker Mayfield went from walk-on to the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Cleveland selected the OU star hoping to finally find a franchise quarterback. Mayfield delivered with a stellar rookie season as the Browns went 7-8-1.
A KNOCKOUT PARTY FOR PG
July 1: One year after he was traded to the Thunder, Paul George announced at a party hosted by Russell Westbrook that he was “here to stay” on a four-year deal. It was also a busy night in boxing with OKC’s Alex Saucedo earning a world title shot.
HAIL MURRAY
Dec. 9: Kyler Murray made it back-toback Heisman Trophy winners from OU, following Baker Mayfield as the school’s seventh winner. Murray received 517 firstplace votes, 218 more than runner-up Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama.
FINAL NOTE
April 28: The Thunder’s season ended with a thud as the Jazz took Game 6 in the first round of the NBA Playoffs 96-91. Paul George finished with just five points on 2-for-16 shooting in the series’ finale, while Utah’s Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points.
MELO OUT
July 20: The inevitable Carmelo Anthony trade (to the Hawks in the three-team deal) has paid off well for the Thunder, who acquired Dennis Schroder. The Melo experiment brought excitement to OKC but also a first-round playoff exit.
TUA MUCH
Dec. 30: Kyler Murray won the Heisman Trophy, but Tua Tagovailoa got the bigger prize — a shot at another national championship. Alabama raced out to a 28-0 lead in the Orange Bowl and held off OU 45-34 to earn a berth in the final.