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Toby Rowland is the sports director at News 9 and a familiar voice across Oklahoma airwaves, serving as the long-running play-by-play announcer for the University of Oklahoma. His work — from college broadcasts to statewide radio programs — continues to shape how local fans follow high school and collegiate sports.
Rowland is now in his 14th season as the primary radio play-by-play announcer for OU football, men’s basketball and baseball, a role that has made him one of the most recognizable commentators in the state. Beyond game calls, he hosts televised and radio programs tied to the OU coaching staff and appears regularly on SoonerVision and SECN+.
Broadcasting career and signature programs
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Before rising to prominence at News 9, Rowland spent more than a decade at KWTV in Oklahoma City, working as an anchor, reporter and producer from 1999 to 2011. His local reporting and presentation earned him statewide recognition and several journalism awards.
On radio, Rowland co-hosts the statewide “Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz” on Sunday nights and has helmed the long-running morning show on KREF SportsTalk 1400 for over two decades. Fans also know him as the host of coach-focused TV and radio shows featuring Brent Venables, Porter Moser and Jennie Baranczyk.
Accolades and earlier play-by-play work
His resume includes a wide variety of play-by-play assignments: collegiate teams, high school programs and minor-league baseball broadcasts. Rowland’s work has been recognized with multiple honors, and his production and reporting have won industry awards.
- Voice of the Sooners — primary radio play-by-play for OU football, men’s basketball and baseball (14th season)
- Two-time Emmy winner — honors for excellence in sports broadcasting
- Host of the “T-Row in the Morning Show” on KREF SportsTalk 1400 for 21 years
- Former sports anchor/reporter/producer at KWTV (1999–2011)
- Co-host of the “Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz” and host of coach interview programs on SoonerVision and SECN+
Rowland’s earlier on-air roles included play-by-play duties at Southern Nazarene University and coverage of local high school teams; he also spent time with the Oklahoma RedHawks broadcast team. Those experiences helped him develop the narrative style and energetic delivery that listeners associate with his broadcasts.
Raised in Mustang, Oklahoma, Rowland began calling games in college and quickly built a reputation for vivid, immediate play-by-play. His approach blends detailed knowledge of the sport with an ability to connect with local audiences — a combination that has kept him at the center of Oklahoma sports media for years.
Why it matters now
As college athletics and high school sports draw intense local interest and media rights evolve, broadcasters like Rowland remain central to how communities experience games. His presence across TV and radio keeps continuity for fans following the Sooners and local programs, and his long tenure means he often frames the storylines that matter most to Oklahoma viewers.
Whether calling a big OU matchup or hosting a Sunday night statewide roundtable, Rowland’s role underscores the persistent value of experienced local journalists in an increasingly fragmented sports media landscape.
