How’s it going, everyone?

Kyler Murray has been named AP Player of the Year, beating out Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa and Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins.

Murray becomes the fifth quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners to win the award since its inception in 1998. The previous winners were Josh Heupel in ‘00, Jason White in ‘03, Sam Bradford in ‘08 and Baker Mayfield in ‘17. I’d say that’s quite the company for K1. It’s also worth noting that no other school has seen more than two of its players win the award since its 1998 founding.

Over the years, 13 of the last 15 winners have gone on to claim the Heisman Trophy. Will Murray, who is now the favorite to win the big one make it 14 of the last 16? The world will find out this Saturday.

Now for today’s Hot Links! Kyler Murray is up for two awards tonight, Kenny Stills and Gerald McCoy are Man of the Year nominees, Paul George went completely off for the comeback Thunder win and more!

OU Links

• The Home Depot College Football Awards show airs live tonight at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. Tune in to find out what pieces of hardware could be brought back to Norman. Kyler Murray is up for the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Awards.

• Kyler Murray caught up with the Purdue sensation sweeping the nation Tyler Trent at Wednesday night’s dinner before the College Football Awards ceremony. Tyler’s story is pure awesomeness, and like he says, ‘Cancer Sucks!’

• Those whale sharks better stay away from my boy K1. Now before somebody jumps all over me, yes, I know whale sharks don’t eat people. If you’re the resident marine biologist, just calm down, issa joke.

• Senior guard Dru Samia has been named one of five finalists for the Polynesian Player of the Year honor. Notably, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa is also a finalist, along with three other impressive dudes.

• Kyler Murray, Marquise Brown and Dru Samia were named Sports Illustrated First Team All-Americans. It’s been a hell of a start to awards season. Boomer!

• With the success Baker Mayfield is having in Cleveland, plus the continued production in Norman with Kyler Murray at the helm of the offense, Riley’s name is being mentioned in discussions with a number of positions at the next level. Is he ready for such a jump? His former quarterback thinks so.

• Former Sooner standout receiver Kenny Stills has made a big impression in the league with his game, but an even bigger impact off the field with his commitment to social justice and equal rights. For that, he’s been nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year. Way to go, K-Stills!

• Former Sooner star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has been a model pro for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on and off the field, and now his work in the community is also being recognized with a Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination. Congrats, GK!

Around the Sports World

• The Oklahoma City Thunder trailed the Brooklyn Nets by as many as 23 in the second half, but a 25-point 4th quarter from Paul George was just enough to rally for the win. PG-13 finished with 47 points and 15 rebounds, including this dagger. Holy wow. Also, it sounded like a Thunder home game in Brooklyn. It’s a national, nay, international brand, baby.

• In a massive trade, the St. Louis Cardinals acquire first baseman Paul Goldschmidt from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Talk about a big move.
• Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has agreed to become Colorado’s next head coach. Tucker plans to transition into his new role immediately, so he will not coach the Bulldogs against Texas in the Sugar Bowl.
• Oregon’s athletic department self-reported Level II (aka boring) NCAA violations from 2016 when hosting recruits, but the violations boil down to mostly a non-issue without punishment since the school was proactive about coming forward.
• Is Patrick Mahomes having the best season ever for an NFL QB? The numbers certainly give merit to such a proclamation.
• VCU beat Texas and former Rams head coach Shaka Smart in Austin, 54-53, and following the game, the victors threw the horns down. I’m sure Bob Bowlsby has already been in touch with VCU’s president.

Stick to Sports!

• With gift-giving season upon us, Ellen DeGeneres checked out some very real and very strange toys that are currently on the market, although I’m not sure where you’d have to go to purchase the sausage toy. I’m assuming the windows in that particular store front would be blacked out.

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