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closetojumping

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Posts posted by closetojumping

  1. 11 hours ago, Crockett said:

    Yeah, I agree with this and wonder the same thing. There is at least more access to the path to a championship game. For BYU, we have always wanted to have access and be able to control our destiny. And there are some schools that have boosters that are willing to spend to give that school a chance and may make things very interesting in the next years. TTU, SMU, BYU, ASU and others are trying to elevate and NIL has leveled the playing field somewhat for us. It seems like the bluebloods and the hungry plus moneyed non bluebloods will fare the best going forward. If there really is another round of consolidation and some of the Big 4 are left behind, who should worry more -- TTU, ASU, BYU, SMU who may have more success than ever before in the coming years or the Purdues and Mississippi States who have been riding coattails for a long time?

     

    While I don’t think the structure cuts inside of 65, I do agree that the chaff being separated from the wheat at that point should include Purdue, Miss State, Vanderbilt, and a few others of that ilk. Wake, Rutgers, a few others. Has Purdue ever won anything in any sport? Or Rutgers? 

    11 hours ago, statsman said:

    I’m talking about real NCs. 

    Don’t be a troll. They were awarded it just the same as any other. 

  2. 6 minutes ago, CastHorn said:

    Chatman is one of the more athletic guys on the line, probably top 3. He’s in his third year. He has played quite a bit in mop up duty. He has faced some of the best pass rushers in the country all year long. I could think of shittier situations. Is plugging him in at LT your best five though?

    I’ve already told you why he isn’t really an option right now, apparently. 

    9 minutes ago, TxTower said:


    OK CTJ - time to save your bullets and begin drafting your Mudhole Manifesto for those Jort wearing, couch burning, swing state aggy morons over the weekend.

    No mudhole coming for the opener, probably. 

  3. Just now, CastHorn said:

    I may be wrong here, but I don’t recall Chatman ever having knee surgery. When was this? Dude even played fullback some against Ohio State, he looked nimble as fuck in space. He murdered Sonny Styles on the goal line. Bad part is the whole left side whiffed their blocks. 

    IMG_2051.jpeg

    Yeah, maybe I'm way off base here and Chatman is out there all spry and shit, laying asses out all over the place next Saturday. I hope you're on the money. 

  4. 3 minutes ago, LTtxfan said:

    As soon as a so called "Texas Fan" says they heard/read on "Orangebloods" I immediately leave to get another drink and avoid them like the plague...

    Yep. That's one of the dead giveaways. I used to try to help them understand other options and such, but these days, "where did that cocktail waitress go ...?"

    • Haha 1
  5. 4 hours ago, heso said:

    IU’s scheduling is super soft. And I get the reasoning behind it if you’re Cignetti. W/L is the only metric used to evaluate a coach at a school like IU. It’s a bitch move, but it makes sense for him. 

    Comparing them to the top end of the sec scheduling without any reference to ole miss is also a bitch move. Because that’s really the comparison team. A fringe playoff team that schedules like an absolute pussy. Ole Miss doesn’t have their ooc fcs team scheduled out past the next 2 seasons, but they’ll be there. 

    So in the next 5 years ole Miss has:

    0 P4 teams

    2 road games (Charolette & S Alabama)

    2 FCS games scheduled but we can safely assume both teams will be at 1 per year. 

    3 of their 8 future FBS teams had a winning record in 2024

     

    To be clear, you'll never see me defend Ole Miss and their scheduling. I have zero softness for other SEC teams or the conference.

    It's funny, since I posted what you quoted, there's been an earthquake regarding scheduling. Sankey pushing the "we are going to be a leader as a conference in scheduling other conferences to play us" narrative is ramming a dildo right up Cignetti and Franklin's assholes. Now they're going to be on the defensive of a losing argument. 

  6. 5 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

    Ah, the mellowing of age. We've come a long way from publicly humiliating other tables of Texas fans at BW3 for cheering for OU against Texas Tech to the point they left their table or the entire restaurant in...what was that, like 2008? 

    No, that can still happen. I'm talking about transitioning from the need to feather out for someone that they're not as big of a fan as they think they are when conversing somewhere in public to just realizing that we're on different levels and there's no way for me to discuss the longhorn world in a fulfilling manner and moving on. I don't want to detract from a nice enough person's experience and I don't have the interest to patiently listen to their stories about how wonderful Mack Brown is or Teh Major was such a gamer or whatever. 

    • Haha 1
  7. 2 minutes ago, Red Five said:

    We left spring practice apparently fine with Brooks backing up Goosby. Did the DUI derail that? We apparently have no interest putting him in at LT against OSU.

    I’m not sure about where things sit with Brooks. I do not believe he’s a candidate to start in The Shoe, apparently.  Buckle up. 

    • Rage+1 2
  8. 1 minute ago, Red Five said:

    Haha yes. The one I always laugh about was some dude who called himself the world's biggest Texas fan. I learned after a few seconds that he didn't go to Texas and has never been to a Texas game (and he lived in Austin). I wasn't sure how to respond.

    I’ve responded differently at different stages in my life. These days, I get really thirsty and wander off quickly trying to find the concession stand or bar or punch bowl or whatever. 

  9. 1 hour ago, CastHorn said:

    The way Bobby continues to be all cryptic towards the Goosby injury, I’m just going to assume he’s not playing. I think Chatman is more than capable of holding down that spot. I’m not saying he’ll be lockdown, but he wont get ran through. Also he may be just as good as Goosby in the run game. 

    Chatman hasn’t fully recovered from knee surgery enough to be viable, apparently. 

    Anyone still expecting Goosby to play against Ohio State hasn’t been paying attention. 

    • Rage+1 4
  10. 2 hours ago, Laguna said:

    Are you talking on the SEC network?

     

    2 hours ago, SydneyCarton said:

    Does where the game was broadcast matter? If it were better games it would be on a bigger network, and if it weren't people would go out of their way to find where the SEC network was showing the game. We do it all the time personally for games we want to watch. We find a way. If people aren't finding ways to watch those games, it means they're dogshit and no one cares. 

    I'm talking shit like SECN+. There's apparently data that's been reviewed that shows that most SEC team fans (and ACC and Big 12 for ESPN+) don't even click in to watch their teams play FCS. It's a more than 5x shift up if it's even just a shitty G5 and more than a magnitude if it's a conference head-to-head, but those are really rare. The idea that fans will just watch a team no matter who they play is being debunked in real time. That's a problem for advertisers and that makes it a problem for the platform and they're making that a problem for the conference. No one wants to watch Mercer or Southeastern play their teams, including Bama or LSU fans. 

    2 hours ago, Laguna said:

    I mean, yeah. SEC Network or one of the other minor networks will naturally have fewer viewers.

     

    Shit match-ups go on the shit channels/streams. The egg is the match-up, the chicken is the channel/stream. 

    • Hook 'Em 3
  11. Sooners Illustrated has published their depth chart prediction for the reason. It's spoilered below and it's a long scroll but a pretty straightforward read. They're not just throwing out wild guesses, this DC is based on practice observations and information gathering. I mock them often for their homerism, but that's part of their job. I actually think they do a good job as a group in terms publishing useful material.

    Highlights:

    -They're having to come clean at a lot of positions that the hype they've been putting on some guys isn't going to materialize, in many instances due to injury. 

    -Ott is still struggling with a shoulder injury but they plan on starting him next Saturday.

    -Jaydan Gibson, after all of the hype of being out of a boot and being ready at some point during camp, still isn't working out and they don't even bother mentioning him in this update. I consider that dude to be a ghost at this point. 

    -The most hype transfer from UAPB ever, Javonnie Gibson, will not be starting the season suited out and is not on the chart either. 

    -Venables' Center choice appears to have won the battle versus the guy that Nagy paid from Stanford, someone he's told people will be starting. 

    -Just look at TE. Some dude from Kennesaw State. Another guy from Pittsburg State (KS). Jaren KanekKanek. 

    -The Keontez Lewis dude wasn't mentioned as a factor in the WR corps until literally this week. He's starting. 

    -Eli Bowen isn't listed.

    -The Adebawore 5 star Edge is mentioned only in the vein that he may show up at some point. A guy named Taylor Wein, who was expected to be a garbage time player, is ahead of him on the depth chart.

    -The defense is going to have to do a lot of work this season if this is a team with a record above 7-5. 

    Spoiler

    Final Oklahoma football depth chart projection for 2025 season

    One final depth chart projection for Oklahoma football's offense, defense and special teams with the Sooners' 2025 season opener a little more than a week away.

    Tom GreenTom Green83 minsVIP4

     

     

    NORMAN — The hay is in the barn, and Oklahoma is turning its attention to the start of the 2025 season.

    For the last three-plus weeks, the Sooners have been prepping for what is shaping up to be a pivotal Year 4 for the program under head coach Brent Venables. Oklahoma is fresh off a disappointing first season in the SEC, in which the team finished 6-7 for the second time in three years, and is aiming for a big-time bounceback this fall. Venables is back in the saddle as the Sooners' defensive coordinator, taking over play-calling for a unit that has made strides in each of his first three years as head coach, while 29-year-old rising star Ben Arbuckle is charged with resuscitating the offense with his quarterback, John Mateer.

    While Oklahoma returns seven regular starters from last year's defense, several positions have been up for grabs this preseason — with other returning starters fighting to maintain their roles. Offensively, there have been few sure things aside from Mateer's standing as QB1.

    Oklahoma will roll out its official Week 1 depth chart ahead of Venables' weekly press conference Tuesday, but as the coaching staff puts the finishing touches on that initial two-deep this weekend, Sooners Illustrated is here to take a final stab at projecting OU's season-opening depth chart for the offense, defense and special teams. These projections are based on observations from available practice windows, information gleaned from speaking with Venables, six OU assistant coaches and 37 Sooners players over the last three-plus weeks, as well as feedback from other sources around the program.

    So, with that being said, let's dive in…

     
     

    OFFENSE

     

    13238012.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    QUARTERBACK

    -- John Mateer, redshirt junior

    -- Michael Hawkins Jr., sophomore

    The 411: After starring at Washington State under Ben Arbuckle last season, Mateer followed his OC to Oklahoma and is set to take over as QB1. One of the most productive quarterbacks in the country last season, Mateer will try to replicate his success with the Sooners this fall. Since arriving in January, he has worked to leave his mark on the program and take ownership of the team—and by all accounts has. Hawkins, after starting a few games as a true freshman last season, has developed well thus far under Arbuckle and will serve as Oklahoma's backup.

     

    RUNNING BACK

    -- Jaydn Ott, senior

    -- Jovantae Barnes, senior

    The 411: Ott, the transfer from Cal, was Oklahoma's big splash addition during the spring portal window. Though he missed some time this preseason, he should be good to go for the opener and take over the lead role in the Sooners' backfield. While Ott was recovering from a shoulder issue for a portion of camp, Barnes handled primary reps with the offense. The real intrigue here is who will be No. 3 in the rotation to start the season after Xavier Robinson and Taylor Tatum both missed time this preseason, with freshman Tory Blaylock making the most of his quality reps and surging during camp.

     

     

     

     

    13218731.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    WIDE RECEIVER

    -- Isaiah Sategna, redshirt junior

    -- Zion Kearney, sophomore

    The 411: Sategna, the transfer from Arkansas, has been tabbed as Mr. Reliable for Oklahoma this preseason while being the most consistent wide receiver in the room and establishing a strong rapport with Mateer. He should have a starting role essentially locked up, whether it's on the outside or in the slot. Kearney has been impressive this fall too, though he missed some time due to a concussion early in camp. When healthy, Kearney is a big-bodied playmaker who could stretch the field in Arbuckle's system.

     

    WIDE RECEIVER

    -- Keontez Lewis, redshirt senior

    -- Elijah Thomas, freshman

    The 411: This spot would likely belong to Javonnie Gibson, but the Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer is still on the mend after an April leg injury. While he's expected back in the coming weeks, his absence opened the door for other candidates this preseason. Lewis was hampered in the spring due to a hamstring injury but has put together a strong fall while impressing teammates and coaches with his competitiveness and willingness to fight for contested catches. The Southern Illinois transfer, whom receivers coach Emmett Jones likened to CeeDee Lamb and Nic Anderson, seems like the favorite to be OU's other outside receiver when it opens the season, though Thomas — a true freshman — has had a quality fall as well, drawing comparisons to New York Giants wideout Malik Nabors while impressing with his explosiveness and natural pass-catching ability.

     

     

     

    13221299.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    SLOT RECEIVER

    -- Deion Burks, redshirt senior

    -- Jacob Jordan, sophomore OR

    -- Josiah Martin, sophomore

    The 411: Burks was supposed to be Oklahoma's prized portal addition a year ago, but he was limited to just five games due to injury last season. After deciding to come back for another year, he has solidified himself as the leader of Oklahoma's receiving corps and sure-fire starter, likely in the slot (though, like Sategna, he can play both inside and outside). Behind him, look for either Jordan, who made the most of his opportunities as a freshman walk-on last season, or Martin, the transfer from Cal.

     

    TIGHT END

    -- Carson Kent, redshirt junior

    -- Will Huggins, redshirt senior OR

    -- Jaren Kanak, senior

    The 411: Tight end remains the most unproven position on Oklahoma's roster and the biggest question mark on the offense entering the season. Kent, the transfer from Kennesaw State, gets the nod here for the top spot as the most well-rounded option, but expect both Huggins and Kanak to play roles in the offense, with Kanak — the converted linebacker — likely serving as an H-back type who could make for an intriguing playmaker with the ball in his hands. Kaden Helms should also have some opportunities after he recovers from a hand injury he sustained early in the preseason.

     

     

     

    13238020.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    LEFT TACKLE

    -- Jacob Sexton, senior

    -- Michael Fasusi, freshman

    The 411: Sexton and Fasusi have been pushing each other for the job at left tackle, with Fasusi getting his share of first-team reps while Sexton missed some time earlier in the preseason. While Fasusi will play this season and have a real role in the rotation up front, Sexton — who has settled in at tackle after playing both tackle and guard last season — gets the nod for the starting job heading into Week 1.

     

    LEFT GUARD

    -- Heath Ozaeta, redshirt sophomore

    -- Eddy Pierre-Louis, sophomore

    The 411: Pierre-Louis was the hot name through the offseason and at the start of camp, but he's still honing his craft and working to strike a balance between his physicality and his precision at left guard. Meanwhile, Ozaeta has settled back into things in recent weeks after starting eight games last season but missing spring and much of summer due to a January shoulder procedure.

     

     

     

    13238022.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    CENTER

    -- Troy Everett, redshirt senior

    -- Jake Maikkula, redshirt junior

    The 411: Everett has made the most of his first full offseason with Oklahoma (he was a summer addition prior to the 2023 season, and he sustained a knee injury in the spring that cost him the start of the 2024 season), developing into the unquestioned leader of the Sooners' offensive line. He should be back in his role as starting center, though Maikkula has made a strong push since transferring in from Stanford this summer. The competition, it seems, has brought out the best in both players.

     

    RIGHT GUARD

    -- Febechi Nwaiwu, redshirt senior

    -- Ryan Fodje, freshman

    The 411: Nwaiwu started all 13 games at right guard for OU last season and led all offensive linemen in snaps after transferring in from North Texas a year ago. While he was uneven as times last fall, Nwaiwu has been the Sooners' most consistent offensive lineman during the preseason and seems to have taken his game up a notch heading into Year 2 with the program. While Nwaiwu should hold onto his starting job at right guard, Fodje has looked good as a true freshman, with offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh saying Fodje and Fasusi are unlike any other freshmen he has coached during his decade-plus with the program. Fodje will play this season; it's just a matter of how much and what that role will look like.

     

    RIGHT TACKLE

    -- Logan Howland, redshirt sophomore

    -- Derek Simmons, redshirt senior

    The 411: After transferring in from Western Carolina, Simmons was the longstanding favorite to take over the open right tackle spot on Oklahoma's offensive line. That changed over the course of fall camp, as Simmons missed significant time due to a concussion. That opened the door for Howland, who started six games at left tackle last season before undergoing a labrum procedure in January. Howland was eased back into action this fall, and with Sexton and Fasusi looking good at left tackle, he switched over to the right side and took advantage of the opening at right tackle. Simmons could very well return to the starting role at some point, but based on how much time he missed this preseason, I expect Howland to get the nod heading into Week 1.

    DEFENSE

     

     

    13238024.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    DEFENSIVE END

    -- R Mason Thomas, senior

    -- Danny Okoye, redshirt freshman

    The 411: Thomas is back after an All-SEC season as a junior, and he'll lead the Sooners' efforts off the edge while trying to play himself into the first round of next year's NFL Draft. Behind him, Okoye has come on strong this preseason after redshirting last year. Arguably Oklahoma's most athletic player, Okoye should see quality reps this season behind Thomas, with Venables saying earlier in the week that the Sooners are eager to unleash the 6-foot-3, 251-pounder on the SEC this fall.

     

    DEFENSIVE TACKLE

    -- Jayden Jackson, sophomore

    -- Gracen Halton, senior

    The 411: Jackson earned a starting job this time last year as a true freshman, becoming the first freshman defensive lineman to start for Oklahoma since 2001. He made the most of it with a Freshman All-America campaign, and though he missed spring due to a January shoulder procedure, he has picked up this preseason right where he left off last year. Halton, back for his senior year, missed significant time during the preseason out of precaution due to injury but should be back in the fray for the start of the season. If Oklahoma decides to hold him back in Week 1 (with sights set on making sure he's 100% for the Michigan game in Week 2), expect either Markus Strong to be the likely fill-in.

     

     

     

    13234586.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: DOUG HOKE/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    NOSE TACKLE

    -- Damonic Williams, senior

    -- David Stone, sophomore

    The 411: Williams started all 12 regular-season games for Oklahoma in his first season with the program after transferring from TCU, and this offseason he has grown into more of a leader along the defensive line. He should be back in his starting role at nose tackle, though according to Venables, Stone has been "fighting" for a starting job after putting together a strong fall camp. The former five-star defensive tackle played a small role as a freshman last year and flirted with the transfer portal in April, but since withdrawing from the portal and returning to OU, coaches and teammates have seen a "different animal" — one who has put in all work that points toward a breakout season on the interior of a deep, talented defensive line.

     

    DEFENSIVE END

    -- Marvin Jones Jr., senior

    -- Taylor Wein, redshirt sophomore

    The 411: The most hotly contested spot on Oklahoma's defensive line has been the end opposite Thomas. Wein received ample buzz during the offseason and heading into fall camp, while Jones—the former five-star prospect with prior stops at Georgia and Florida State—was still settling into things during the spring. Jones has looked much improved during fall practices, and he seems to have the edge for the top spot heading into the opener, though Wein isn't far behind. Adepoju Adebawore, another former five-star, should also be in the mix for reps here. This is one of the spots where an "OR" on the official depth chart would not be a surprise.

     

     

     

    13234997.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    MIKE LINEBACKER

    -- Kobie McKinzie, redshirt junior

    -- Sammy Omosigho, junior

    The 411: McKinzie should be stepping into the starting role previously held by All-American Danny Stutsman after being the third player in OU's three-man rotation at inside linebacker a year ago. He has received plenty of competition from Omosigho, even challenging him to come take the starting job from him in fall camp. It has been a healthy competition that has paid dividends for both players, especially for Omosigho as he has settled into the Mike linebacker role after spending the last two seasons focusing on Cheetah.

     

    WILL LINEBACKER

    -- Kip Lewis, redshirt junior

    -- Owen Heinecke, redshirt junior

    The 411: Lewis is back for his second full season starting at inside linebacker for Oklahoma and will try to build off a strong 2024 campaign in which he was third on the team in tackle and had a pair of pick-sixes in OU's two SEC wins. Behind him, Heinecke has emerged as a viable option at linebacker. The former walk-on has been primarily a special teams contributor the last two years but has developed into someone who has earned the respect of Venables and the coaching staff and could play a real role on defense this season.

     

    CHEETAH LINEBACKER

    -- Kendal Daniels, redshirt senior

    -- Reggie Powers III, sophomore

    The 411: Daniels has made himself at home in the Cheetah spot after transferring over from Oklahoma State in the offseason. The versatile veteran looks like he can be a real weapon for the Sooners this season and could get on the field in different roles (including inside linebacker, if needed). Powers has been one of the most impressive players on the defensive side of the ball, as the sophomore has been pushing for time at both Cheetah and safety — and should see the field in both spots. Both Daniels and Powers have made the case as guys who need to be on the field as much as possible and in any manner possible for Oklahoma's defense this season. Kendel Dolby, who worked his way back from a gruesome September ankle injury but has also missed time in the preseason, is another valuable option at Cheetah who's also expected to contribute at cornerback.

     

     

     

    13224710.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    CORNERBACK

    -- Gentry Williams, redshirt junior

    -- Jacobe Johnson, junior OR

    -- Jeremiah Newcombe, redshirt freshman

    The 411: Williams missed nearly all of last season due to a shoulder injury—the second year in a row he sustained an injury to his shoulder—but worked his way back into the fray after being limited in the spring. Now the "big brother" of the cornerback room, he should have a starting role so long as he can remain healthy. I'd expect either Johnson, who has been getting settled full-time at corner after moonlighting at wide receiver for part of last season, or Newcombe, the redshirt freshman who has also been repping some in the Cheetah rotation, to be listed in the backup spot. When Kendel Dolby is fully healthy after dealing with some nagging preseason issues, expect him to be in the rotation at cornerback and at Cheetah.

     

    CORNERBACK

    -- Devon Jordan, sophomore

    -- Courtland Guillory, freshman

    The 411: This would have been Eli Bowen's starting spot, but he has missed all of the preseason due to an ankle injury that has kept him in a protective boot. While cornerbacks coach Jay Valai expects Bowen, an ESPN Freshman All-American and OU's top cornerback last season, to be back in due time, his absence has meant opportunity for the Sooners' wave of young cornerbacks. It seems like every week has presented a different name emerging as a potential starter here, but I lean Jordan — the sophomore from Tulsa — over Guillory, the impressively confident true freshman who has been a favorite of Venables since the offseason.

     

     

     

    13238038.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320 (Photo: John Reed-Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    FREE SAFETY

    -- Robert Spears-Jennings, senior

    -- Michael Boganowski, sophomore

    The 411: Spears-Jennings was somewhat quietly one of Oklahoma's best defensive players last season, and now he is back as the team's leading returning tackler. He'll be the starter at free safety for the second year in a row while stepping into a larger leadership role on the back end. Behind him, Boganowski is expected to be the backup, as the hard-hitting sophomore has had a solid offseason after getting his feet wet as a true freshman last year.

     

    STRONG SAFETY

    -- Peyton Bowen, junior

    -- Reggie Powers III, sophomore

    The 411: This is another spot that has had a healthy competition for the starting role, as Bowen — the former five-star prospect — has looked to return to form after begin hampered by a turf toe issue last season, and Powers has been one of the most impressive players on the defense while vying for reps at strong safety and Cheetah. I'm giving a healthy Bowen the nod here for the starting job, though I expect both to feature heavily into Oklahoma's defensive plans.

    SPECIAL TEAMS

     

     

    13204713.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,offset-y0.50&width=620&height=320  (Photo: JAMES D. JACKSON, 247Sports)

     

    KICKER

    -- Tate Sandell, redshirt junior

    -- Austin Welch, redshirt senior

    The 411: Sandell has been as advertised after transferring in from UTSA this summer. That has included a 58-yard field goal during the team's second preseason scrimmage. Expect him to handle place-kicking duties, with Welch, the Kennesaw State transfer, backing him up after looking much better this fall than he did during an uneven spring for the Sooners' kickers.

     

    PUNTER

    -- Jacob Ulrich, redshirt sophomore

    -- Grayson Miller, senior

    The 411: Ulrich was among the better punters in the country last season at Kennesaw State, and now he's prepared to step into the starting role vacated by Luke Elzinga, who was quietly quite the weapon for Oklahoma the last two seasons in terms of the field-position battle. Miller, a transfer from UCO, should be next in line.

     

     

     

     

    13238060.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,off (Photo: NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images, USA TODAY Sports)

     

    KICKOFF RETURNERS

    -- Elijah Thomas, freshman AND

    -- Tory Blaylock, freshman

    -- Jaydn Ott, senior AND

    -- Zion Ragins, sophomore

    The 411: The kickoff and punt return spots are more speculation than any other position, as we got limited opportunities to see the candidates for those spots during open practice periods. Ott may have the most upside (and experience) as a kickoff return specialist, but OU may opt to not force that onto his plate on top of his role as lead running back. Thomas and Blaylock have been a pair of impressive freshmen with explosive playmaking ability and could be intriguing options in the return game, if the Sooners choose to go in that direction.

     

    PUNT RETURNERS

    -- Isaiah Sategna, redshirt junior

    -- Peyton Bowen, junior

    The 411: Sategna and Bowen both bring experience to the return game. Bowen was Oklahoma's primary punt return specialist last season but had some issues fielding punts. He said this preseason that he hopes to be in that role again now that he's healthy, with his turf toe issue behind him. Sategna was among the early-camp options working on punt returns, and two years ago at Arkansas he was one of the nation's better punt returners.

     

     

     

    13238048.jpg?fit=bounds&crop=620:320,off (Photo: Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images, Getty)

     

    LONG SNAPPER

    -- Ben Anderson, redshirt junior

    -- Seth Freeman, freshman

    The 411: Anderson is back as an All-SEC long snapper, serving as the triggerman for Oklahoma's special teams operations this season. Freeman, a freshman who signed with the program this offseason, waits in the wings.

     

    HOLDER

    -- Austin Welch, redshirt senior

    -- Grayson Miller, senior

    The 411: While Welch likely won't be Oklahoma's primary kicker, he was working as the holder for Sandell during an early-camp viewing window. Miller also repped there, though I wouldn't rule out Ulrich, who also has experience holding from his time at Kennesaw State.

     

    • Hook 'Em 3
    • Haha 3
  12. 3 minutes ago, immamac said:

    Kentucky, vandy, Mississippi state, auburn scare you to death

    Hell, they even struggle to beat two of those teams regularly. 

     

    33 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

    I’m in favor of our out of conference schedule being Ohio state, Notre dame and USC every year and have said we should riot if we don’t get 9 conference games. This bullshit about avoiding playing good teams to Indiana style game your record at 10-2 is bullshit. 
    I mentioned you yesterday that it’s all over IT. I thought I saw it here too in the last year but maybe over there is the only place it’s been. I know what I hear a lot of times but don’t pay attention to who says it. 

    You don’t care or filter “who says it”? That’s a bold strategy, Cotton. 

  13. 26 minutes ago, Js1 said:

    Like someone else said, we did go back to back at arky’s place between our nonconf game and the first SEC game with them. Same with Aggy in 11 and 24. So one of them logically owes us a back to back trip to Austin 

    And it’ll be Arkansas….. bc we know aggy will whine, bitch, moan and pay their media mouthpieces to force it not be them  

    I know this is right, but I will hold out hope against the odds for the next few months. “Look, guys, you demanded that they play you again on your field. We gave you that. You didn’t say anything about something like this. Deal with it. “

    Credit to Arkansas if they’re not bitches about it, which I doubt they will be. 

  14. Joe Cook is on Twitter whining that Texas has scheduled too difficult of an OOC P4 in the future with 9 SEC games. I understand what @Wulaw Horn is rubbing his vagina over. The dipshit over at IT are carrying the “we’re pussies at Texas” banner on the social media front. Fucking awesome. Maybe Chip Brown and Kirk Bohls will join in to form a chorus of fates with those dipshits. 

    • Haha 4
    • Rage+1 2
  15. 1 hour ago, TrashMaster G said:

    So I'm guessing our timeline from here looks something like this:

    Next couple of weeks - Announcement of 3 perm rivals for each school

    Late Septemberish - Announcement of '26 opponents and locations

    October - Announcement of '26 schedule

    Next summer - Announcement of '27 schedule

    Sankey said on Finebaum today that they were spacing announcements about everything out through December. 

    That interview is worth a listen if you can find it. Finebaum overtly talked shit about Cignetti and Sankey subtly threw some barbs as well. 

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  16. 45 minutes ago, TrashMaster G said:

    But WILL they cancel the FCS games?

    I can see some pussies have their OOC slate be Purdue/Maryland/Northwestern and then two FCS cupcakes.

    I am sure without a mandate, we will witness spineless behavior from a few schools. That said, any program with CFP aspirations has to realize that the worm is turning regarding just buying wins. 

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  17. 25 minutes ago, mdmost said:

    We're booked up through 2029. I doubt we drop anyone. 2030/2031 P4 home and home matchup will be interesting to see who we can get. Washington or Oregon would be great. Clemson, Florida State would be fun ACC opponents but I'm not sure we'll see any ACC teams that have an existing SEC rival.  I doubt we dip into the Big 12 for a while and I'd imagine BYU or Colorado would be the choice. 

    2026- Texas State, Ohio State, UTSA

    2027- New Mexico State, Michigan, UTEP

    2028-Louisiana Tech, @ Notre Dame, UTSA

    2029- ULM, UTEP, Notre Dame

    2030-UTSA only

    2031- UTEP only

    2032-@Arizona State only

    2033-Arizona State only

    Damn. Next year’s OOC schedule isn’t fucking around. 

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