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TAMPA, FL SEC coaches and players paraded through the hallways of the JW Marriott this week as the unofficial start of the 2026 football calendar, or talking season, heated up along the scenic waterfront in the heart of downtown.
Over 1,000 miles north, in the nations capital, lawmakers worked simultaneously to negotiate a version of the Protect College Sports Act that can pass the U.S.
Senate and House.
The bipartisan legislation, which would regulate college athletics, is opposed by a number of the 16 programs that coalesced at SEC Media Days.
Rivals Alabama and Auburn, as well as Texas and Texas A&M, issued joint leadership statements opposing the bill in its current form.
LSU also sent a letter to lawmakers in opposition of the bill as written in its current form.
OU athletic director Roger Denny, who spent 15 years as a successful corporate attorney before transitioning to college sports administration, opened up about his thoughts on the proposed bill to The Oklahoman at media days this week, echoing similar concerns about Title II of the bill, the portion the Big Ten and SEC remain the most opposed to.
Order new book on OU baseball run to NCAA title The expansive bill that aims to reshape how college athletics is governed is not expected to be put to a full vote in the U.S.
Senate this summer, ESPN reported Thursday.
Without this, the bill faces a very small window of opportunity to pass through Congress before Novembers midterm elections.
There are certainly elements of it I dont love, Denny told The Oklahoman.
The Title II stuff, I think, is an overstep.
Title II of the original bill would prohibit the highest-revenue conferences from acquiring other conferences or their members, block the formation of a Big Ten-SEC-style super league, and create a limited antitrust exemption allowing conferences and schools to voluntarily pool and sell certain media rights, subject to strict conditions.
While Dennys skepticism mirrors those of the Big Ten and SECs, he believes most of whats included in the comprehensive legislation would lead to a sturdier college sports landscape.
Its progress that we need, Denny said.
Do I think its perfect? Absolutely not.
Do I think if that bill were to pass, our environment would be more stable and better off than it is? Yeah.
And so Im generally in favor of improving the environment.
There is work that has to be done to make it truly viable.
But once that work gets done, and I have faith in our leadership and Senate leadership to do that, its the right thing for us.
As one of the newer voices in the SEC athletic directors meeting room, Denny has been impressed with the conferences leadership during perhaps the most consequential moment in college sports history.
The SECs chancellors and presidents issued a statement earlier this week applauding the language in the bill that addresses transfer rules and eligibility.
But the conference remains steadfast about the need for what it believes are critical amendments to the bill, such as anti-trust and preemption language.
Denny didnt want to speculate on a timeline or whether his concerns will be met when he spoke to The Oklahoman prior to Thursdays news of a delay.
We never guess what the political process is going to spit out, Denny said.
But I know (SEC commissioner Greg Sankey) is working his tail off on it, and everything Ive heard is there is some willingness to find common ground because we all realize how important it is to maintain college sports as truly one of the unique unifying activities in our nation.
There was some optimism the bill could reach the U.S.
Senate floor within the next few weeks before lawmakers leave for a month-long break beginning Aug.
7.
Lawmakers have been meeting all week to make the revisions the Big Ten and SEC would support and that would garner the necessary votes to pass through congress.
But on Thursday, ESPN reported that Senate Majority Leader John Thune doesnt expect the Protect College Sports Act will go to a full vote before the recess.
One thing is for certain: Denny is keeping a close eye on how OU and the SEC would be impacted by its passage.
Certainly, if we can get some of those critical elements revised, Denny said, even ever so slightly in the direction we need them to, its something that not just Oklahoma, but we all can be happy about.
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman.
Order BOOM TIMES: The Oklahoma Sooners Epic Charge to the 2026 College World Series Title at Sooners.ChampsBook.com.
Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley.
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Emergency crews were on scene of a crash involving an Oklahoma City Police cruiser in SE OKC.
Investigators said a driver changed lanes and then crashed in front of the officer on I-40 eastbound between Shields Boulevard and the Dallas Junction.
The officer was not injured, according to police.
One person from the crashed vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out.
Officials said the two other people in the car are expected to be okay.
Drivers are being asked to avoid the area as emergency responders work to clear the crash.
This is a developing story.
Members of the University of Oklahoma football team traded their pads for sports wheelchairs Tuesday, joining young athletes from Bethany Childrens Health Center for a competitive game of wheelchair basketball.
OU defensive tackle David Stone Jr.
and several teammates took part in a 5-on-5 matchup against players from the Oklahoma Storm, the centers competitive wheelchair basketball team.
It was definitely hard, Stone said.
Playing the sport for the first time, I mean, it was definitely hard.
The football players quickly learned wheelchair basketball requires a unique set of skills.
Stone said he was impressed by the athletes speed and talent on the court.
Theyre going at it, Stone said.
You can tell they got some real skills.
The event gave OU players a firsthand look at the opportunities available for children with physical disabilities to stay active and compete in sports.
I talked to some of the kids, Stone said.
I didnt know they had actual activities that they can do to stay active.
Stone recruited several of his teammates to join him for the game.
I was like, Let me find some teammates, he said.
And what better than my own teammates? While the score was not the focus, organizers said the event helped highlight the competitive spirit of wheelchair athletes and challenge misconceptions about disability.
Oklahoma Storm player Jordyn Nichols said every athlete brings different strengths to the game.
Some people can shoot really well and others just barely miss it, Nichols said.
Some need help pushing, and some people are really fast.
Parents and families also enjoyed seeing the young athletes interact with players they typically watch on Saturdays.
It was really fun to explain to her that we watch these people on TV, and theyre coming to play basketball just like you do, said Katherine Chadwick.
For Stone, the experience was about more than basketball.
Im here.
Ill take time out and play with them and do this with them, he said.
Those are really some memories Im going to hold forever.
Nichols offered one final reminder for anyone watching from the sidelines: Never underestimate a cute kid in a wheelchair.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is searching for an inmate who walked away from the Jackie Brannon Correctional Center in McAlester on Wednesday afternoon.
According to the agency, 41-year-old Logan D.
Palmer unlawfully walked away from the facility at about 3:35 p.m.
Wednesday.
Officials said Palmer is serving a 10-year sentence out of Caddo County for lewd or indecent proposals or acts to a child.
Height: 5 ft 3 in Weight: 150 lbs Hair Color: Blonde Eye Color: Hazel The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is asking anyone who sees Palmer or knows his whereabouts not to approach him.
Instead, officials say to call 911 immediately.
This is a developing story.
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