Happy Friday, friends and fans!

The Cleveland Browns have officially exercised the team’s fifth-year contractual option for Baker Mayfield. Now entering into his fourth year as a pro since he was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the former Heisman Trophy winning QB for the Oklahoma Sooners is set to remain in Cleveland through at least the 2022 season.

After more than a decade of occupying the NFL’s basement, the night Cleveland chose Mayfield to be a Brown was the night the franchise’s fortunes began to change. Three seasons later, the ‘Magic Man’ himself would not only lead the team into the playoffs, he would lead them to a postseason victory over an AFC North divisional rival in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

2020 was easily Mayfield’s best season yet. He fielded an impressive passer rating of 95.9 (third-best in franchise history) and totaled 3,563 passing yards, 26 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. While he awaits to be presented with a second, more substantial contract, today’s move by the Browns gives some reassurance that he is in fact their quarterback for the here and now.

Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! OU men’s hoops welcomes another experienced transfer, Sooner Softball rearranges its schedule to prepare for possible storms, Bobby Petrino earns MVFC honors and more!

OU Links

• Former Arkansas Razorbacks WR Mike Woods has announced his decision to transfer to Oklahoma after three seasons in Fayetteville. In that time, the 6’1, 196-pound pass catcher hauled in 83 receptions for 1,248 yards and 10 touchdowns.

• The rules have been set for Oklahoma’s Spring Game this Saturday. Looks like the defense will be spotted a three-score lead to open the contest, and the scrimmage itself will be divided into two 15-minute halves. Honestly, I wouldn’t get too wrapped up in the scoring system. As long as everybody stays healthy, it’s a win for all of us.

• Porter Moser continues his recruiting roll in the NCAA Transfer Portal. On Thursday, former SMU forward Ethan Chargois announced his commitment to transfer to OU. As a senior for the Mustangs last season, the Oklahoma native out of Tulsa Union averaged 8.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He also converted 31.7 percent (19-60) of his three-point attempts.

• Oklahoma Baseball has postponed tonight’s game against Georgia Southern and will now make it a double-header meeting with the Eagles on Saturday.

• OU Softball has also announced some upcoming schedule changes with the possibility of some incoming inclement weather in the Norman area. Now, the Texas Tech series will consist of a double-header on Saturday and a finale third game on Sunday.

• After former Sooner baller Trae Young went down on Wednesday in a 137-127 OT loss to the New York Knicks, he has since been diagnosed with a grade 2 lateral left ankle sprain. Considering how it looked initially, this is a relatively positive development for the Atlanta Hawks point guard.
• Jason Faires and his field crew have done a heck of a job making Owen Field one of the prettiest football surfaces in the land. That state of Oklahoma will never not be awesome to me. Boomer!

Around the Sports World

• A slight change has been made to college football’s overtime rules. Now beginning with the second OT period, teams that score a touchdown must attempt a two-point conversion. Before, teams weren’t required to play for two until the third OT period.
• West Virginia Mountaineers head coach Neal Brown has received a two-year contract extension that will keep him in Morgantown through the 2026 season. Since arriving to WVU in 2019, Brown has accumulated an 11-11 overall record, including a mark of 7-10 in Big 12 play.

• On Thursday, Dallas Mavericks star forward Kristaps Porzingis appeared to have rolled his left ankle in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers and did not return to the contest. Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle is hopeful that the injury won’t be too significant of a setback.
• NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has reportedly been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and has subsequently been given the green light to hug and/or shake hands with drafted players as they walk on stage next week. Now this is the hard hitting scoop I was waiting for.
• Missouri State head coach Bobby Petrino has been named Missouri Valley Football Conference Coach of the Year after leading his Bears team to a 5-1 league record and a berth in the 2021 FCS Playoffs.

Follow Crimson & Cream Machine on Twitter!