Young Sheldon: Why does Medford “hate” Oklahoma?

Hate is a strong word, but in the Cooper family, it’s reserved for one use – so why does Young Sheldon’s town of Medford have it out for Oklahoma?

You’ve probably already noticed that the Cooper family are proud Texans in Young Sheldon – all except him, who has strategically adopted a broader American accent in the hopes of not showing his roots.

However, their hometown of Medford is entirely fictional – although set in Texas, you’ll only find its signature landmarks in and around the Warner Bros. studios.

That doesn’t mean the true Texan spirit isn’t rife in Young Sheldon – but why do the Coopers have it in for Oklahoma so much?

Young Sheldon: Why does Medford “hate” Oklahoma?

There isn’t a specific reason given for why the Medford Texans “hate” Oklahoma in Young Sheldon – but its origins do revolve around Meemaw.

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Back in Season 1, Meemaw tried her best to instil the spirit of Texas into Sheldon after he was terrified of getting sick, creating a designated “healthy zone” in the family’s garage. Meemaw tells him that his Texas ancestors were never scared of anything, giving him the courage to try and engage in normal life again.

This is later followed up in Season 2 when George considers moving the family to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Meemaw’s response is to say that Texans don’t like Oklahoma – and it’s safe to say that the family never ended up moving anywhere, let alone state.

According to fans, there are multiple reasons why the town of Medford is intent on “hating” Oklahoma.

“Extreme sports rivalry (specifically football) from what I’ve heard. They take football really seriously there. They don’t hate each other, but they’re very competitive with each other because of the annual red river showdown. Thank you for your compliments on the banner as well,” one Redditor explained.

“We, as native Texans, used to make fun of our cousins who were born in Oklahoma. They were Okies. It’s a rivalry thing,” a second added, with a third simply stating, “They live in Texas. And Oklahoma is not Texas.”

Others think it’s Meemaw instigating even more of a rivalry, musing, “Because Meemaw’s motivational speeches start with ‘you are a Texan’ not ‘you are an Oklahoman.'”

Young Sheldon Season 7 continues on February 22, 2024.