Hello, friends and fans! The Oklahoma Sooners took home a bunch of hardware last night at the College Football Awards Show. Baker Mayfield is now set for NYC to prepare his speech — I mean prepare for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. As for some actual game action, OU men’s basketball is in L.A. to take on USC tonight at the Staples Center. Freshman phenom Trae Young currently leads the nation in scoring and is third in assists.

In today’s edition of Hot Links, we take a look at the awards the Sooners have brought home so far, we learn how Baker Mayfield handles all the fame that comes with his stardom, we watch Sean Payton pretend to choke before actually choking, and more!

OU Links

• “At OU, we’re too deep and we’re built different.”

• It would be fitting to refer to this season’s Oklahoma Sooners as an award-winning bunch, because many of these awards wouldn’t be possible without the individual parts of the collective group playing their roles. So far, Baker Mayfield has practically swept award season (though I’m still annoyed he didn’t get the Unitas, but whatever), and several of his teammates have also racked up accolades. Check out exactly what everybody has earned in this comprehensive list.
• With all the individual honors pouring in, it won’t be long before these winners will be immortalized onto plaques in the northeast corner of the stadium, just as all past OU award winners are.
• In case you missed it, here’s the video of Connor McGinnis accepting the Mortell Holder of the Year Award. Congratulations on bringing home the HOTY, Connor! All these guys make for great television.

• Signing autographs and taking pictures with fans is nothing new for Baker Mayfield. Now that he’s a college football superstar, how does Mayfield handle the fame and attention on the proverbial red carpet?
• The story of Baker Mayfield really does sound like a script or a piece of fiction. From high school to the Heisman, Mayfield has surprised and dazzled. He’s overcome his doubters and won over his opponents. I guess that’s what happens when you mix Sooner Magic with Mayfield Magic.
• One of these guys has my vote. I mean, if I had a vote.

• Tomorrow night is the Heisman Trophy ceremony, and Mayfield looks to be the runaway favorite. When dissecting Mayfield’s career, you can pinpoint three essential keys to his game that ensure he will bring home the prestigious honor.
• Ever wondered how the Heisman Trophy was made? How about where? Fun fact: just like the Big 12 Championship Trophy, the Heisman is also made in Oklahoma, literally.
• After some shifts in the individual rankings, Oklahoma’s 2018 class is now No. 6 in the 247Composite Team Rankings. Brey Walker has moved down just a tad to No. 28 and is now considered a four-star prospect, but guys like Jalen Redmond are seeing their stock rise.
• Obviously, most college football players have never won and never will win the Heisman. So who are the best players to never win? Adrian Peterson checks in on this list. As a side note, I appreciate that they know to call him ‘AD,’ his proper nickname.
• Below you can find the full details for how you can catch Oklahoma’s game tonight against the 25th ranked USC Trojans. The game will be at the Staples Center, which is cool because it’s always great for the players to experience professional venues.

• The OU men’s basketball team is 6-1, ranked second nationally in points per game, and has one of the country’s best freshman playing at an elite level. Still, there is room for improvement both on the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
• Bill Walton is on the docket for tonight’s OU hoops game, so you know you’re in for some rather unconventional (but still fun) commentating.

• You still have an opportunity to purchase the “WINNING FOOTBALL: THAT’S WHAT OKLAHOMA DOES” t-shirt inspired by Lincoln Riley’s postgame remarks following the Big 12 Championship. You can purchase the shirt right here.

National Links

• Willie Taggart took the job at Florida State, leaving a vacancy at Oregon. This just in, Oregon has found their next man to lead the Ducks. Mario Cristobal was the co-offensive coordinator and o-line coach for the UO this season before this promotion.

• Former Nebraska head coach Mike Riley is returning to Oregon State, where he was the head coach for 14 seasons. What’s kind of strange this time around is that Riley is an assistant coach now. Interesting.
• New Orleans Saints’ head coach Sean Payton called out the Atlanta Falcons during the game on Thursday night, mocking them for “choking” in last season’s Super Bowl. What happened next? Well, the Saints choked. This is now officially awkward.

• Perhaps deep down I’m just a filthy glutton, but I would absolutely destroy a Marroney Bologna sandwich:

• Hope Solo is running for President of US Soccer. Solo’s past is controversial because of a domestic violence case she was charged with. It’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out. US Soccer probably needs a revamp from the top down, but this isn’t the way to go about it.

Stick to Sports!

• The price of bitcoin has skyrocketed from the start of the year, nearly 20 times the amount. The virtual currency is becoming a popular investment option for those who can afford to dive into the ever fluctuating world of bitcoin. Recently, the price of one bitcoin spiked to over $19,000.

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