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Sports | Outdoors
August 14, 2025
Sooners crack AP Top 25 at No. 18 — Extend streak to 27 straight years
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR

Oklahoma football stormed back into the national conversation Monday, earning the No. 18 spot in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll. The recognition comes just one week after the Sooners were left out of the preseason coaches’ poll for the first time since 1999 — a snub that didn’t sit well in Norman.

With this ranking, OU has now made the AP preseason Top

25 for 27 consecutive seasons, cementing its status as one of college football’s most enduring powerhouses.

The Sooners enter their inaugural Southeastern Conference campaign as the seventh- highest ranked SEC team, trailing only:

• No. 1 Texas

• No. 5 Georgia

• No. 8 Alabama

• No. 9 LSU

• No. 13 South Carolina

• No. 15 Florida

Also representing the SEC are No. 19 Texas A&M, No. 21 Ole Miss, and No. 24 Tennessee.

OU’s 2025 schedule is a gauntlet, featuring marquee matchups against Texas, Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Ole Miss, and Tennessee. The season kicks off Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. in Norman against Illinois State, with coverage on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

2025 College Football Preseason AP Top 25 Poll 1. Texas (25)

2. Penn State (23)

3. Ohio State (11)

4. Clemson (4)

5. Georgia (1)

6. Notre Dame

7. Oregon (1)

8. Alabama

9. LSU

10. Miami (FL)

11. Arizona State

12. Illinois

13. South Carolina

14. Michigan

15. Florida

16. SMU

17. Kansas State 18. Oklahoma

19. Texas A&M

20. Indiana

21. Ole Miss

22. Iowa State

23. Texas Tech

24. Tennessee

25. Boise State () – Number of first place votes Teams receiving votes: BYU 156, Utah

144, Baylor 132, Louisville 90, Southern Cal

64, Georgia Tech 63, Missouri 33, Tulane 23, Nebraska 23, UNLV

21, Toledo 13, Auburn

10, James Madison 9, Memphis 9, Florida St.

8, Duke 6, Liberty 5, Navy 5, Iowa 5, TCU 4, Pittsburgh 3, Army 2, Colorado 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1.

Goodbye to Gary Lee Nichols
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Goodbye to Gary Lee Nichols
By SHAUNA BELYEU GENERAL MANAGER 
March 12, 2026
There are men who build businesses. And there are men who build communities. Gary Lee Nichols did both. For more than five decades, Gary wasn’t just the owner of grocery stores; he was a steady presen...
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Banning comments after tornado hits Beggs
March 12, 2026
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chris Banning, RBixby, released the following statement after tornadoes hit northeast Oklahoma Friday night: “The severe weather that moved through Oklahoma this weekend resulted ...
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Communities built through faith and determination
A: Main, News...
Communities built through faith and determination
By STAFF WRITER 
March 12, 2026
On a cool Saturday morning, Feb. 28, in the closing days of Black History Month, the steeple of Mt. Olive Star Baptist Church in Checotah rose above a quiet gathering devoted to remembrance, faith and...
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5th Annual Green Run is March 14
March 12, 2026
The 5th Annual Green Run returns this Saturday at the Lake Eufaula Pavilion. This lively St. Patrick’s–themed event features a USATF-sanctioned 5K and a Fun Run, welcoming runners, walkers, families, ...
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Former OSBI investigator sentenced for multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor
March 12, 2026
MUSKOGEE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jordan Francis Toyne, age 37, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 109 months in prison for ea...
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An All American 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off success
A: Main, News...
An All American 18th Annual Chili Cook-Off success
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
March 12, 2026
The 18th Annual Checotah Chili Cook-Off hosted by the Heartland Heritage Museum & Gallery was a culinary showdown of steaming hot chili along with American patriotism for fun-filled evening of food an...
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Editor Picks
News
Deadline to change party affiliation approaches
March 12, 2026
Oklahomans who want to change their party affiliation must submit their change no later than March 31, McIntosh County Election Board Secretary Kim Limbaugh said today. Voters may change their party a...
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News
Checotah Livestock aids tornado victims
March 12, 2026
Checotah Livestock Market announced they will be helping aid recent tornado victims in Beggs. “Our community has always stepped up when neighbors are hurting,” a Checotah Livestock spokeman said. “In ...
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Oversight work and deadlines
commentary
Oversight work and deadlines
By REPRESENTATIVE NEIL HAYS (405) 557-7302 
March 12, 2026
This week has been especially active at the Capitol as oversight c ommit tees work through one of the most imp ortant stages of the legislative session. At this point in the process, all remaining Hou...
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The ‘prose’ and cons of paragraphs
commentary, Opinion...
The ‘prose’ and cons of paragraphs
March 12, 2026
I miss the days of true creative writing – you know, when you could write a real paragraph and your readers could keep up with the story. You didn’t have to throw in a bunch of pictures or short and s...
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News
C.A.R.D. Senior Nutrition menu
March 12, 2026
March 16 - March 20 611 N. Broadway, Checotah Please call 918-237-1118 for meal reservations by 12 p.m. the day before services. Monday, March 16: Cheeseburger w/ toppings; potato; veggie salad; cake;...
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