Happy Friday the 13th, friends and fans!

Episode Five of the Oklahoma Sooners mini docuseries ‘The Standard’ dropped on Thursday evening. This time around, the team prepped for its first home game in six weeks, but while OU’s focus on the field pertained to the Kansas Jayhawks, off the field, Lincoln Riley’s squad had more important matters to address. Namely, by casting their vote in the Presidential Election and making their voice heard.

In this episode, senior DB Chanse Sylvie spoke about why voting matters to him. The Shreveport, Louisiana native has been one of the team’s more prominent voices over the last six months when it comes to issues of social injustice and reform. OU, along with most other D-I universities, set aside Election Day to allow student-athletes like Sylvie to perform their civic duty as voters. For the Sooners, the internal response was overwhelmingly positive.

As the rest of the story goes, Oklahoma went on to dominate KU handily on Saturday, and is now getting ready for a critical Bedlam matchup on Nov. 21 that will shake up the top of the Big 12 standings, one way or another.

Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! Abraham Ancer represents Oklahoma at Augusta National, Herm Edwards tests positive for COVID-19 and more!

OU Links

• Former OU golf standout Abraham Ancer is playingg in his first Masters Tournament of his pro career this week, and through two rounds of work he’s climbed to (as of publishing) the top of the leaderboard at nine under par following a second-round 67. Boomer!

• I’ll be honest, I’m not totally privy to the definition of a ‘big-time throw’, but I do know Spencer Rattler has connected on some incredible passes this season. Also, I trust the folks at Pro Football Focus know what they’re talking about in matters such as these.

• Something tells me this Marvin Mims guy is the real deal. He might be a true freshman, but he’s doing things no other first-year Sooner wideout has ever done before. Considering the talent that’s come through Norman at his position, that says a lot.

• OU Insider’s Joey Helmer recently broke down the multitude of ways the Sooner defense has disrupted opposing offenses. Whether it’s been off of a base look or exotic blitzing, Alex Grinch has dialed up a winning formula for creating havoc.
• Oklahoma men’s basketball guard Umoja Gibson wasn’t sure if he’d be able to play this season for the Sooners after transferring from North Texas, but when he finally received the green light, a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders. The Norman Transcript’s Joe Buettner has more.

Around the Sports World

• The Miami Marlins have named Kim Ng the organization’s next general manager, making her the first female GM in MLB history. Huge congrats to Kim Ng!
• The game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and Cal Bears has been canceled due to ASU not meeting the required number of available players amid a COVID-19 outbreak within the program. Reportedly, one of the positively tested individuals is head coach Herm Edwards.
• On Thursday, Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was named the 2020 National League MVP.

• In related baseball news, Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu was named the American League MVP for the 2020 MLB season.

• Paul Hornung — winner of the 1956 Heisman Trophy and star player for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Green Bay Packers in the 50s and 60s — passed away on Friday after a long battle with dementia. He was 84.

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