Happy Thursday, friends and fans!

According to Brad Crawford of 247Sports, the Oklahoma Sooners have the third-most favorable 2020 schedule of possible College Football Playoff contenders. The season is still roughly seven months away from kicking off, but for now it’s a projection that isn’t too much of a stretch.

First off, as it looks right now, the non-conference slate looks to be at about the same level as last year’s: an overmatched FCS opponent in Missouri State, an decent Group of Five-type opponent in Army, and a matchup against a Power Five team that shouldn't be much of a problem in Tennessee. Yes, the Vols closed out 2019 on a relative high note, but realistically these programs aren’t on the same level.

The Big 12 as a conference took a major perception blow during bowl season, losing five of six opportunities against outside competition. Because of that, it’s no surprise that Texas is also on this list just behind Oklahoma at No. 4.

It’s not news to Sooner fans that the schedule won’t be among the best of the best this fall, which is one reason why it’s been so frustrating to lose games like Houston in ‘16, Iowa State in ‘17, Kansas State in ‘19 and so on. Whatever the issues have been, just say no to rat poison.

Now for today’s Hot Links! Chandler Morris checks out Oklahoma, OU Baseball is picked to finish in the top half of the Big 12, Frank Caliendo does Summerall and Madden and more!

OU Links

• Kyler Murray had a custom pair of Nikes made in honor of the late Kobe Bryant. Respect, young fella.

• Here’s another peek inside the Everest training center as OU continues its winter workouts. More content like this please and thank you.

• Four-star QB signee Chandler Morris made a visit to Norman and Oklahoma City over the weekend, where he watched the men’s basketball team take on Mississippi State at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

• CeeDee Lamb is about to make a name for himself among NFL ranks, but before he gets drafted (and probably early), check out this incredible pair of stats. The dude had 62 receptions in 2019, and if you flip those numbers, you’ll know how many tackle attempts he evaded. It seems like at least half of those came against Texas, but I could be wrong.

• Oklahoma Baseball was picked to finish fourth in the 2020 Big 12 Preseason Poll. Four of nine conference members received at least one first place vote, which if accurate would bode for quite a parity-filled season.

• Sooner softballers Jocelyn Alo, Grace Green and Giselle Juarez were each named to the USA Softball Player of the Year watch list. Boomer!

Around the Sports World

• As the Memphis Grizzlies were putting the finishing touches on a 127=106 victory over the New York Knicks, Jae Crowder caught the eventual losers slipping on a late in-bounds play. He took advantage of their lack of focus, stole the ball, then stepped out for a three. Elfrid Payton was right to feel frustrated, but he let his emotions get the best of him and made a dirty play on Crowder instead of the ball. Let the mayhem ensue.

• Indiana Pacers guard Victor Oladipo returned to the court after suffering a ruptured quad tendon in his right knee in January of 2019. With a year of rust to knock off, it was an understandably slow start for him, but at the end of regulation he was able to knock down this incredible shot to tie things up against the Chicago Bulls. In OT, Indy went on to win, 115-106.

• Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer head-to-head for the 27th time in their careers during the Australian Open semifinals. The Djoker will play for his eighth Aussie title on Sunday, Feb. 2.

• ESPN’s David Hale explores the growing world of halftime entertainment. From talented pooches to gravity-defying balancing acts, there are a number of well-known personalities that now demand your attention when the game you paid for takes a break.
• Comedian and celebrity impressionist Frank Caliendo is back with the good stuff. Check out this hilarious and spot-on impression of how the great Pat Summerall and John Madden would have called that insane TD scramble from Kansas City Chiefs superhero Patrick Mahomes. Thanks Frank. Now every time I see that mascot I’m going to think of this.

Stick to Sports!

• Oklahoma City mayor David Holt recently announced that American Airlines at Will Rogers Airport will have daily nonstop service to LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York. That would have come in handy back in 2016 when I elected to drive to Dallas to fly back and forth between there and NY. Actually, I’m not complaining. The Twin Peaks near the SMU campus was of the utmost quality, and the hangover burger was to my liking, as well.

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