The O’Colly, OSU’s student-run newspaper, had been named the Oklahoma Press Association's best college newspaper in the state for four years in a row, 2011-2014, as it warmed up for some national recognition in 2015.

In May, O'Colly reporter and editor Cody Stavenhagen delivered, by competing in the national Hearst collegiate journalism writing contest, an on-location, three-day writing competition in San Francisco. The sports media senior walked away with second place in the contest, considered the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate journalism.