Happy Friday, friends and fans!

The end of the fall semester has arrived, which means several Oklahoma Sooners are now officially OU graduates! For all their accomplishments on the field, earning a college degree is an achievement that is second to none.

The 15 football players set to graduate this week include LB/S Robert Barnes, RB Kennedy Brooks, OT Adrian Ealy, OL Finley Felix, OG Marquis Hayes, C Creed Humphrey, LB Ryan Jones, H Spencer Jones, DL Zacchaeus McKinney, LB Bryan Mead, P Reeves Mundschau, DB Tre Norwood, NB Brendan Radley-Hiles, DL LaRon Stokes and OT Erik Swenson.

No matter where each of their careers take them, these Sooners will now and forever be known as alumni of the University of Oklahoma. Congratulations, everyone!

In related news, an OU program-record 29 football student-athletes have earned Academic All-Big 12 honors this season, including 19 First-Team selections. That definitely deserves a Boomer!

Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! Trejan Bridges is finally free, one Sooner signee has both offensive and defensive staffs excited about his potential, Jon Gruden dons the wrong lid and more!

OU Links

• In case you missed it, sophomore WR Trejan Bridges has FINALLY been cleared by the NCAA to return this Saturday after serving a calendar year-long suspension lasting a total of 10 games (one in 2019, nine in 2020). Truthfully, this was a terribly mishandled situation by college football’s governing body, but at least this frustrating holding pattern is finally over with. Now Trejan can get back to balling out and having fun with his teammates.

• Pro Football Focus has graded All-Big 12 honorable mention Spencer Rattler as the top QB in the FBS whenever he’s outside the pocket. Unfortunately for him, Brock Purdy and Sam Ehlinger are light years better than him inside the pocket, which is why they’re on the All-Big 12 First and Second Teams. I mean, that has to be it, right? *eyeroll*

• Both Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch are excited to work with 2021 four-star signee Billy Bowman because of his elite versatility to play on either side of the ball. Where he’ll ultimately end up is still to be determined, but wherever he plays, he’ll have the tools to be a dynamic playmaker, writes SI Sooners’ John Hoover.
• Ever since the Cyclones defeated the Sooners, WR Theo Wease has stepped his game up to help ignite the offense, writes the Oklahoman’s Ryan Aber.
• Make sure you check out Allen Kenney’s recent write-up on the factors that make this weekend’s game between OU and ISU different than their first meeting more than two months ago.
• Just one more wake up, folks. Tomorrow morning, Oklahoma will be playing for a chance to win its 14th Big 12 Championship. Standing in the way of that is Iowa State, who is coming into this game confident after having already taken down the Sooners back in October. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to watch how this season finale unfolds.

Around the Sports World

• Notre Dame Fighting Irish coach Brian Kelly SAYS the Irish are considering not participating in the postseason if his team’s families cannot attend the bowl game(s). C’mon, my guy. If his squad makes the College Football Playoff, but they keep folks from attending the games, there’s no way he’s still singing the same tune. What a crock.
• New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees is reportedly expected to start this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs after missing the last four games with a rib injury.
• NBA point guard Jeremy Lin has reportedly agreed to a deal that would send him to Golden State Warriors’ G League team to start the 2020-21 season.
• Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden accidentally wore an outdated cap during the first half of his team’s Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite correcting the honest mistake after the break, the Bolts eventually prevailed in overtime, 30-27.

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