Happy Monday, friends and fans!

Sports Illustrated does extensive work to deliver captivating content for its readers, but after perusing this project I’m not quite sure how much of that work is legitimate research. Recently, SI put together 15 separate lists ranking college football in terms of traditions, programs, games etc.

Of course, the Oklahoma Sooners are featured prominently across many of the categories, including the top traditions and the top head coaches, but something isn’t at all right about their top 10 programs rankings.

Not only does Ross Dellenger of SI list OU as the No. 10 football program of all-time (which is absurdly low by any measure), most of the teams above the Sooners have no business being ahead of them. Texas is listed at No. 4, which should make the more informed Longhorns fans a little skeptical. Nebraska at No. 7 is also awful, and not necessarily for the ranking, but for the notion that the Cornhuskers deserve to be three spots higher than Oklahoma. Finally, Penn State and Tennessee at Nos. 8 and 9, respectively just feels like whoever devised this ordering grew up rooting against the Crimson & Cream. Seriously, the Vols? Miss me with that.

Without revealing their (probably not very scientific) formula that was used to reach these unbelievable results, it’s impossible to adequately judge the individual’s criteria. Still, any fan of college football that knows anything about college football should know that there are all kinds of things wrong with putting Oklahoma at the bottom of such a list. Hey, at least the Sooner Schooner is listed as the greatest tradition, even though it definitely isn’t. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Mitchell Gladstone hasn’t seen this happen in person. It’s a fine tradition, but I’m not entirely sure how anyone in their right mind would consider it to be college football’s greatest.

Yep, we’re definitely being trolled.

Now on to this week’s Monday edition of Hot Links! CeeDee Lamb talks about being a leader, ESPN includes three Sooners in its top 50 rankings, Miami doesn’t name Tathan its starting QB and more!

OU Links

• How does Oklahoma beat the heat while also getting better on the field? The Sooners make time for practice under the lights. Check out Jalen Hurts, too. Ball looks pretty good.

• OU’s Jessica Coody caught up with CeeDee Lamb to discuss his role as a leader on the 2019 team, as well as his growth as a player and goals for the future.

• Sooners Wire’s Kegan Reneau recapped the first week of fall practice that’s now in the books. The QB battle still wages on, the O-line is coming together and more.
• Three Sooners made ESPN’s Preseason Top 50 Player Rankings. All coming from the offensive side of the ball, you have QB Jalen Hurts, WR CeeDee Lamb, and C Creed Humphrey. Any list with the big man in the middle is probably a decent list. Check out the full rankings to see where each of these players stand.
• Kevin Flaherty over at OU Insider ranked Oklahoma’s toughest games on the schedule. The easiest and the most challenging contests should be obvious to most fans, but the 10 games between them might stack up much differently than you would expect.

Around the Sports World

• On her way to a record-tying sixth U.S. all-around title, Simone Biles became the first gymnast to ever successfully execute a triple-double in competition. This is so incredible to watch.

• After much was made about former Ohio State QB Tate Martell transferring to Miami and not having to sit out a year per transfer rules, Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz is going with redshirt freshman Jarren Williams as the starter going into Week 0.

• New England Patriots QB Tom Brady recently dismissed rumors that he was closing in on retirement after it was discovered he and his family were on the market selling their home.
• Brazilian forward Neymar currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain, but for the right price, PSG would reportedly be willing to send the soccer superstar to a bidder like Real Madrid. What a seismic shift that would be.
• After Kevin Harvick won at Michigan International Speedway, his son joined him for a celebratory cruise down the raceway. Great sports moment for the fans watching this father and son, and a great memory made for those two.

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