Happy Tuesday, friends and fans!

Ben Brown of Pro Football Focus crunched the numbers for all 130 FBS teams in terms of returning production, and 247Sports’ Clint Buckley highlighted the Big 12 in particular from that list to determine which programs would have the least and most amount of turnover. Although the Oklahoma Sooners are replacing Jalen Hurts at QB, the offense — as well as the defense — look to be among the most experienced groups in the conference heading into the spring.

The Texas Longhorns rank at the very top of this particular measure when it comes to overall returning experience, including starting QB Sam Ehlinger. Meanwhile, the Baylor Bears are the team with the most to replace, especially on defense, and not to mention former head coach Matt Rhule who is now leading the Carolina Panthers.

The unit that excites me most when it comes to names and faces OU has coming back for 2020 is the offensive line. Not only are four of five starters returning, including C Creed Humphrey, but a handful of other players that saw action in 2019 are also back. Combine that with the entire stable of running backs from a season ago, and the ground game shouldn’t miss a beat from Day One.

Now on to today’s Hot Links! OU is trending up according to popular bracketologists, Sooner Softball rises in latest national rankings, Phil Rivers has turned the page as a Charger and more!

OU Links

• Check out former OU D-Line teammates Kenneth Mann and Neville Gallimore as they prepare to train at the Mamba Sports Academy — the house that Kobe built — in Thousand Oaks, California.

• CBS Sports’ R.J. White released his three-round mock 2020 NFL Draft, and he currently projects WR CeeDee Lamb and LB Kenneth Murray to go in the first round, DT Neville Gallimore picked early in the second, and a third-round selection for QB Jalen Hurts.
• The win over West Virginia on Saturday was crucial to OU’s NCAA Tournament hopes, and it appears it was a major boost for the Sooners’ postseason resume as they’ve now risen to a projected 8-seed in the Big Dance according to Jerry Palm’s Bracketology report for CBS Sports and a 9-seed according to Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology update for ESPN.
• Speaking of Sooner Hoops, if you’re a student who’s planning on attending the game this Wednesday against Iowa State, make sure you get there early for a chance to claim a free OU Basketball bucket hat. Boomer!

• After going 4-0 in the Puerta Vallarta College Challenge over the weekend, Oklahoma Softball moves up a spot to No. 2 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Sooners have a major opportunity for a win over currently ranked No. 4 Arizona when they meet this Saturday, Feb. 15 in Tucson.

• Former Sooner sack artist Ogbonnia Okoronkwo did a recent 10 part Q&A talking about life with the Los Angeles Rams, his hobbies and how he keeps in tip-top shape.

• 247Sports recruiting director predicts Oklahoma to land the commitment of five-star QB Caleb Williams out of DC. Currently, Williams is rated as the No. 1 dual-threat signal-caller in the 2021 class.
• Make sure you check out Allen’s latest post where he takes a close look at how attrition has affected Oklahoma Football over the last several years. He also inspected which area the Sooners have needed to the most help in on the recruiting trail, and how the recent classes are a sign of how things are moving in the right direction.

Around the Sports World

• After 16 years with the (San Diego) Los Angeles Chargers, veteran QB Phillip Rivers will officially be hitting the free agency market and not be returning to his beloved bolts.
• The LSU Tigers have finally found their replacement for passing game coordinator Joe Brady in former Dallas Cowboys OC (2014-2018) Scott Linehan.
• The MLB is considering making some major changes to its postseason format, including expanding the number of teams from 10 to 14. If approved, the changes wouldn’t go into effect until the 2022 season.
• The level of disrespect from Utah Jazz baller Bojan Bogdanovic showed on this play against Kristaps Porzingis is incalculable. Also, Bobo is quickly becoming one of my favorite players to watch in the NBA.

• 400 popsicles were gifted to Green Bay Packers fan Callie courtesy of power couple Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers after a video of Callie professing her love for the QB and sorrow for him not being present post tonsil-removal surgery went viral. Pretty cool stuff.

Stick to Sports!

• One very dedicated (and talented) Avengers fan carved MCU super villain Thanos’ head and face out of a single coffee bean. What I want to know now is what did it cost? If the answer isn’t everything, I don’t want it.

Follow Crimson & Cream Machine on Twitter!