Happy Monday, friends and fans!

Big 12 Media Days in Arlington, Texas gets underway next Monday, July 15, and the Oklahoma Sooners will be represented by third-year head coach Lincoln Riley, senior WR Nick Basquine, senior DT Neville Gallimore, redshirt sophomore C Creed Humphrey, junior WR CeeDee Lamb and junior LB Kenneth Murray.

This is the second year in a row OU will not bring a QB to Big 12 Media Days, which makes sense because last summer Kyler Murray was only entering his first season as the full-time starter, and according to Riley the competition was still on at the time (it really wasn’t, but Coach is the boss). Now, it’s a similar situation with Jalen Hurts as a grad transfer. While this time the whole competition angle seems to be less of a pointed-to factor, more experienced Sooners have received the nod.

At the 2017 event, our own Kartik Rajendran asked Riley a very important question, and it was revealed that Basquine did the best impression of him. We’ll undoubtedly get to hear it from the Norman native himself this time around.

In fact, only two Big 12 schools are bringing a QB to this year’s media days. Kansas State will have Skylar Thompson, and Texas will have Sam Ehlinger. That fact alone speaks to the high number of new names that could be behind center during conference play this fall.

For the Sooners, the only player making his second round at Big 12 Media Days next week is Kenneth Murray. Since arriving to Norman, he’s quickly become a leader on and off the field, so it’s no surprise he’s leading the way here once again.

Now onto this week’s Monday edition of Hot Links! Baker and Emily are quite adorable, Austin Seibert (kind of) knows his Madden, KD changes his number and more!

OU Links

• Jalen Hurts is a grown man among grown men. Please, for all that is good, I need to see that No. 1 Crimson & Cream jersey truck somebody into the end zone at least once this season. The guy is stacked.

• Check out newlyweds Baker and Emily Mayfield being super cheesy about being married. I could see this becoming a reality show at some point, and I’d probably watch it.

• Speaking of Baker Mayfield, his buddy Mark Wahlberg recently doubled-down on his past prediction of the Cleveland Browns QB becoming the next Tom Brady-level star in the NFL. I can dig it.
• And speaking of Cleveland, punter Britton Colquitt wanted to see how well rookie kicker and former Sooners all-everything kicker/punter Austin Seibert knew his player rating on Madden. Also, it’s just Boomer Sooner, Britt. Drop the ‘s’.

• KFOR’s Nate Feken recently caught up with former OU men’s golf standout Brad Dalke to look back on his championship career as a Sooner, as well as his familial connection to Oklahoma.

Around the Sports World

• The USWNT defeated the Netherlands, 2-0, in the Women’s World Cup Final to claim its fourth overall world championship and its second consecutive. Considering the grueling run of outstanding European teams as well as the overall level of competition across the board, this really looks to be the greatest team in the sport’s history.

• ESPN NFL analyst Tedy Bruschi reportedly suffered a stroke last week but has since shared an update on Monday saying he’s doing well and is in good spirits.
• In just his fourth PGA Tour start, 20-year-old and Oklahoma State product Matthew Wolff won the 3M Open, and he sealed it with this incredible putt for eagle on the 72nd hole. Legendary stuff.

• For the first time in his NBA career, Kevin Durant is switching jersey numbers from No. 35 with Seattle, Oklahoma City and Golden State to No. 7 with his new squad, the Brooklyn Nets.

• Speaking of Oklahoma City, the Thunder traded Jerami Grant to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a future first-round pick, reported by NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski. In the last few days, OKC’s future looks a lot different, and more major changes could still be on the way.

Stick to Sports!

• Did somebody say Sturgill Simpson, anime and San Diego Comic Con? Well it’s all right here, as the Grammy-winning artist will appear at a SDCC panel later this month to discuss his involvement with an upcoming Japanese anime film project. I’m already sold, my guy.

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