Happy Hump Day, friends and fans!

This Thursday, Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners will be releasing the first episode of a 10-part docuseries titled ‘The Standard’ that will give an inside, behind-the-scenes look at the OU football team as it attempts to navigate a treacherous path in 2020.

In the preview clip above, it appears the focus will shift primarily between Riley, the coaching staff and the players. Considering Oklahoma’s 10-game regular season schedule, I’d imagine this 10-part series will continue up until at least the week of the Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

It’s probably been said a thousand times before just on this site alone, but the Sooners’ media department is second-to-none in collegiate athletics. The production of creative content like this helps expand the program’s brand while also giving the fan base more ways to experience and enjoy Oklahoma Football.

I know you won’t want to miss this, folks, so tune in this Thursday, Sept. 17, for what figures to be an epic OU event.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! A former Heisman winner lauds Rattler for his lights-out performance, BreakingT is selling another sweet OU tee, the Big Ten is back before Texas and more!

OU Links

• Spencer Rattler said going against Oklahoma’s ‘Speed D’ during fall camp helped him to prepare for real game action on Saturday. That speaks volumes for Alex Grinch’s group heading into conference play.

• Speaking of Rattler, former USC Trojans QB and Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart had some high praise for OU’s redshirt freshman signal caller. Coming into the 2020 season, the hype around him was about as high as it could possibly be, but so far he’s living up to those expectations and then some.

• Sophomore WR Theo Wease earned the first start of his college career against Missouri State, and he showed why the coaching staff has so much faith in him as a playmaker. Also, he was overly impressed by Rattler’s ability to throw him the ball with pinpoint precision, writes OU Daily’s Chandler Englebrecht.
• True freshman H-back Mikey Henderson was a bit of a surprise to see on the field for most Sooner fans. Not only did he receive live reps, he caught four passes for 37 yards. Jeremiah Hall recently spoke with the media about taking it upon himself to be a mentor figure for the talented Henderson, writes the Tulsa World’s Eric Bailey.
• Of all the units that were affected by the player absences on Saturday, OU’s running game was probably hit the hardest. That’s because multiple offensive linemen from the Oklahoma’s two-deep were held out, as well as a couple scratches in backfield. Going forward, it will be paramount for the Sooners to remain healthy in these areas in order to improve production and maintain offensive balance, writes Norman Transcript’s Clay Horning.
• Seemingly every year, a sizable contingent of OU fans express their desire for Oklahoma to leave the Big 12 Conference. Personally, I’ve never been one of those fans, and I honestly do not understand the proposed rationale behind it. This league isn’t what’s keeping the Sooners from winning in the CFP. Just look at Clemson. The Tigers are surrounded by average-to-atrocious ACC teams, and they do just fine on the national stage. That’s just my two cents. Recently, Heartland College Sports’ Pete Mundo offered his take on the subject.
• In case you missed it, read up on Allen Kenney’s inspection into a potentially devastating offensive wrinkle Oklahoma showcased in its season opener. The unique size Riley can utilize in short-yardage situations makes the Sooners’ 12-personnel variations something defensive coordinators around the Big 12 should fear in the weeks to come.
• The wonderful folks over at BreakingT have dropped another hot-off-the-press, OU-themed t-shirt for your Sooner consumption. Since Lincoln Riley began calling plays for Oklahoma in 2015, the offense in Norman has been among the most lethal attacks in FBS history. After last Saturday, it appears this year’s group has the potential to be even better than the rest. Now go ahead and check out this ‘Quick-Strike Offense’ tee for yourself right away!

Quick Strike T-shirt

• $28

• $28 at BreakingT

Around the Sports World

• The Big Ten is officially set to play college football this fall beginning Oct. 24. Each team’s slate will consist of eight games, plus a ninth contest for all teams not participating in the conference championship game that will be scheduled through cross-division seeding. There are no in-place off-weeks once play kicks-off, leaving virtually no room for possible rescheduling should any team have to back out due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
• Now that the Big Ten is on its way back, the only other Power Five conference still sidelined is the Pac-12, however, the hurdles facing the teams of that league start at the governmental level. Recently, the USC football team has asked California State Governor Gavin Newsom to ease the public health restrictions so that they can play this fall.
• The Denver Nuggets became the first team in NBA history to rally all the way back from two separate 3-1 series deficits in the same postseason by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers, 104-89 in Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
• On Tuesday, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Houston Astros SS Carlos Correa fouled a pitch off of his left ankle before eventually being helped off the field and not returning to the game. Fortunately, initial X-ray results have come back negative. The ‘Stros went on to defeat the Texas Rangers, 4-1.

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