Hello once again, Sooner fans. Yes, the Oklahoma Sooners didn’t play their best ball last night against K-State, nor did they come away with the victory, but part of that is the nature of playing on the road in the Big 12 — and also part of playing at Bramlage, where OU still hasn’t won since 2012. Remember, the formula earn a high seed is to win most of home games and at least split the road games. This team isn’t falling out of relevancy any time soon, and Trae Young will continue to grow from this like he has all season.

For today’s edition of Hot Links, strength coach Bennie Wylie is formally introduced as Director of Sports Performance, AD Joe Castiglione will reportedly join the CFP committee starting this upcoming season, Trae Young is human after all and a whole lot more!

OU Links

• The Red River Shootout (Showdown, Rivalry, whatever) made the list at No. 50 in the second installment of Bill Connelly’s top 100 games of the 2017 college football season. I might put it a bit higher due to how physical that edition of the rivalry ended up being, but this won’t be the last OU game we eventually see on this list. 40-1 will be released later this week.
• If Lincoln is totally on board with somebody, then I have no reason to doubt. Bennie Wylie has the experience to make me feel comfortable in his proven ability and that he knows what he’s doing, while he also has the energy to make a lasting mark with Oklahoma’s strength program.

• Longtime Oklahoma AD Joe Castiglione will reportedly be a member of the College Football Playoff Committee starting in 2018. The Franchise’s John Hoover likes the pick because of the experience Castiglione has being on collegiate panels in the past among other things.
• Trae Young is scoring at a clip unlike anything we’ve ever seen at Oklahoma (or for quite some time in college basketball).

• Apparently Trae Young is at least part human after all. Those who are knocking him have to take into account that he’s still a freshman who will make some mistakes when trying to force things. It’s one of the reasons that the things he’s been doing are so incredible. He had an off-night, but that comes with being mortal.
• Check out these other notes coming from last night’s road loss in Manhattan. It wasn’t all bad, but it was frustrating to watch, to say the least.
• Trae Young was named to Sporting News’ midseason All-America team. Young has been the best player in the country almost as soon as his career began just a couple short months ago.
• For each of the early enrollees, the reasons behind forgoing their final semester of high school to start their college careers varies from player to player. For some, it’s a chance to learn the system quicker, and for others it’s a chance to move themselves up the depth chart faster.

• Defensive tackle Matt Romar’s playing career is most likely done at the University of Oklahoma after struggling with a serious back injury all season. If he is not granted a sixth year of eligibility, Romar will try for the NFL. We wish you all the best of luck, Matt.
• With the Kyler Murray era likely beginning this fall, some are wondering if Murray can pick up where Baker Mayfield left off. I think it’s not a matter of ‘can he’, but will he? We shall see, so stay tuned.
• The Sooners’ September schedule in 2018 is no cake-walk. Not only is the non-conference slate one of the more tricky ones in the country, the Big 12 opener against Iowa State is actually squeezed in there between UCLA and Army.
• Could Baker Mayfield be drafted in the top five? In this mock draft, the Denver Broncos are a possible destination.
• CBS Sports lists Oklahoma as one of 10 teams who have been hit the hardest by early departures to the NFL.
• Check out everything you need to know about where 18th-ranked Oklahoma Baseball stands heading into the 2018 season, along with the rest of the top 25 college baseball teams.
• I’ll allow it.

Around the Sports World

• Well now we know, Deion. I’m kind of disappointed because it would have been epic to see Prime Time coaching in the collegiate ranks, but perhaps another day that’ll transpire.

• CBS Sports ranks the top 25 college football players returning in 2018, and Bryce Love understandably comes in at No. 1. Rodney Anderson doesn’t make the list, but is in the group of honorable mentions. With the level Anderson played at in the second half of the season, including the Rose Bowl, he deserves waaaaaaay more recognition than this.
• In tragic news, Washington State’s Tyler Hilinski was found dead last evening from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Hilinski was 21.
• Oklahoma’s season opener against Florida Atlantic just keeps getting juicier. FAU has hired ex-head coach Charlie Weis’ son, Charlie Weis Jr., as offensive coordinator. But get this: Weis Jr. is only 24 years old. Makes Lincoln Riley seem old, huh?
• If you like watching fan reactions, you’re going to like this. Check out the hysteria that broke out among Vikings fans after Stefon Diggs came away with the miracle.

• North and South Korea are going to combine Olympians for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. This is the first time the two countries are coming together as one for this purpose (although it will not be the first time they’ve marched together at opening ceremonies).

Stick to Sports!

• Check out this meteor in the night sky over Michigan. For a second there it was practically daylight. I’d be shaken if I saw something like this in person.

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