Southern Nazarene cancels game after death of safety Tyler Ulrich

Southern Nazarene University has canceled Saturday's football game at Southwestern Oklahoma State following the death of sophomore safety Tyler Ulrich. The Oklahoma university announced on Thursday that the 21-year-old had died, five days after he was injured during a game against Ouachita Baptist, according to reporting published by The Guardian.

Ulrich received treatment on the field during Southern Nazarene's 49-14 defeat before being taken to a hospital. Play was interrupted for almost an hour. The university described the incident as a traumatic injury but did not specify its nature or give a cause of death in the announcement covered by The Guardian.

Separately, KFOR reported that Ulrich's father, Mark, said on social media that his son had died at 11:13 a.m. on Thursday after suffering a head injury in the game in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. University president Keith Newman said Ulrich was with family, teammates and friends at the hospital when he died, The Guardian reported.

The university's athletics department expressed sympathy for his relatives, friends and teammates and asked the community to pray for those mourning him. Head coach Dustin Hada also paid tribute, remembering Ulrich for his faith, loyalty, work ethic and joy. Southern Nazarene had held a campus prayer chapel in his honor on Tuesday.

Ulrich came from Azle, Texas, and was in his third season at the Division II university in Bethany, Oklahoma. The Guardian reported that he had appeared in 20 games and started 16, including six starts this season. His official university biography lists him as a finance major who enjoyed church, exercise and water sports.

Before college, Ulrich played varsity football at Azle High School. Southern Nazarene's biography records second-team all-district recognition and second-team academic all-state honors, along with participation as a state powerlifter. Its roster history lists him as a freshman in 2024, a redshirt freshman in 2025 and a sophomore in 2026.

KFOR also reported that Southern Nazarene officials reminded students, faculty and staff that help was available through the Renew Counseling Center and campus pastors. Arrangements for services were still pending at the time of that report.