Happy Monday, friends and fans! And better yet, Happy Game Week!

Before we get started, it’s worth mentioning that Carson Meier has earned the starting spot at H-back, per Lincoln Riley. This appeared inevitable, as he’s been the leader in the clubhouse for at least a few weeks. Having said that, I’m excited to see him in this role, and my hopes are high.

Later this afternoon, we’ll have a post recapping the game-week presser.

This week more than ever, the Oklahoma Sooners will be preparing for the season opener against Florida Atlantic. Refining the details will go a long way towards how this contest will play out, and I couldn’t be more excited to watch it all unfold.

As the 2018 campaign approaches, if you haven’t received and/or unboxed your OUDNA package, you better get on that soon. As you can see, everybody else is already getting theirs.

I also want to mention just how boss Lincoln Riley is. That Porsche he rolled up in is immaculate. I like to think that’s just his commuter car, you know, because he’s a complete and total baller.

Now let’s get started on some Hot Links! C&C Machine has season predictions, Lane Kiffin has Kyler Murray concerns, J.J. Watt has the world record and more!

OU Links

• The crew here at Crimson & Cream Machine has offered up some 2018 season predictions. Make sure you check out where we all have Oklahoma finishing in the Big 12, as well as who we feel will lead in some key statistical categories.
• If you’ve been dying to see the first official depth chart for Week 1, you’re going to have to suffer a little longer. Well played. Well played.

• The stable of running backs at Oklahoma is strong and deep, and the group looks to build off of last season’s successful showing.
• RJ Young has five bold predictions for the Oklahoma Sooners as we embark on the 2018 season. Just a heads up, some of these are VERY bold, but none of them are what I would consider out of the realm of possibility. Boomer!
• FAU’s Lane Kiffin expresses his legitimate concerns about how his Owls will defend Kyler Murray. With his ability, it’ll be tough to contain him, especially if a play breaks down.
• Even Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper has Baker Mayfield fever. I’m a fan of star athletes wearing other star athletes’ jerseys.

• Speaking of Mayfield, while he is still competing to earn the starting job over Tyrod Taylor, Hue Jackson confirms that he is no longer in consideration for third string. That’s a good thing, because my gosh that would have been a dumb move.

Around the Sports World

• After not recording a single catch in 2017, Bengals receiver John Ross, the guy who holds the NFL Combine 40-time record, made this absurd play, juking two Bills players like they were on the JV squad.

• First-year head coach Scott Frost has named Adrian Martinez (no relation to former Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez), a true freshman, the Cornhuskers’ Day 1 starting quarterback. It’s the first time in school history a true freshman will begin a season as the Huskers’ starter.

• Speaking of emerging quarterbacks, there’s a high school QB in San Antonio named General Booty, and yes, that is his actual name and not in any way a joke.
• Darius Bazley, a former five-star basketball recruit, originally planned to play in the G-league instead of enroll in college, but now he plans to train on his own instead of play in the G-league. I hope he’s making the right decision(s).
• Around this time last year, Hurricane Harvey devastated the Houston area, and NFL defensive star J.J. Watt led the way towards raising $41.6 million in relief funds. Now it’s officially determined to have been the largest crowd-sourced fundraiser in history.

Stick to Sports!

• 3D printed furniture using recycled plastic as a source material is about as environmentally-conscious as it gets. In Amsterdam, that’s exactly what they’re aiming to do, and the result is rather ingenious. My one question about the rocking benches is this: do you have to have someone else with you on the other side to keep from falling forward? It looks like it works like a seesaw.

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