Oklahoma
COLUMN: Amid Awkwardness, Hurt Feelings, An Oklahoma Early Exit from Big 12 Would Be for the Best
Because the Huge 12 Convention takes heart stage this week, the league’s future — each short-term and long-term — stays cloudier than ever.
Media Days unfold Wednesday and Thursday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, and whereas there can be loads of queries about backup quarterbacks and depth charts and tradition change and NIL, the Huge 12’s simple underlying storylines are about membership.
Ten members in 2022. Fourteen in 2023 and 2024. Twelve in 2025.
And that’s simply what’s on paper in the intervening time.
The June 30 bombshell that pushed USC and UCLA into the Huge Ten Convention created shockwaves that despatched the Huge 12 into scramble mode — a proactive hunt, actually, which is a pleasant change of tempo contemplating the league’s quarter century of reactive conduct.
Quickly after the information broke that the Pac-12 would lose each of its prime properties within the Los Angeles market, Huge 12 management learn the altering panorama, foresaw the necessity for extra growth and went to work discovering the following technology of Huge 12 faculties.
A number of studies had the Huge 12 within the boardroom a number of instances over the last two weeks, exploring a partnership with college representatives from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah.
No transactions occurred, and it appears nothing is imminent after what was mainly a fact-finding mission on the a part of each the faculties and the Huge 12. The SEC and the Huge Ten’s transfer to 16 members, nevertheless, give the Huge 12 motive to imagine extra growth is important, and this time, the Huge 12 acted shortly.
These growth plans hit a possible roadblock when it was reported final week that the Pac-12 and the ACC are discussing a TV partnership that might reanimate the floundering Pac-12 Community and fortify the new-and-growing ACC Community — and sure depart the Huge 12 as an growth bridesmaid.
Scroll to Proceed
What this all means for Oklahoma (and Texas) is the potential of an earlier departure for the Southeastern Convention.
With their media rights contractually obligated to the Huge 12 via the 2024-25 educational yr, Oklahoma and Texas have roughly 40 million causes to stay across the Huge 12 for an additional yr. However that buyout, vital because it sounds, could be negated inside two or three years by new cash from the SEC — and, in Texas’ case, ESPN nonetheless owes UT some $160 million for the Longhorn Community.
Cash isn’t a leash that may maintain the Sooners and Longhorns.
For now, because the Pac-12 desperately tries to remain afloat, its members are little doubt contemplating their choices. Do they stick with a regional footprint, maybe including a Boise State or San Diego State, and kind a profitable scheduling alliance with the ACC? Do they recommit to one another after which attempt to pluck any Huge 12 members who could be getting chilly ft over the league’s continuously shifting membership? Or do they break formation, declare each college for themselves and splinter off into the shelters of the Huge 12 and Huge Ten?
Oklahoma followers desperate to get to the SEC needs to be rooting for an additional spherical of Huge 12 growth — and the earlier the higher.
If the Huge 12 is ready to develop once more and reel in any Pac-12 faculties, that might placate among the Huge 12 angst over shedding two flagship athletic departments, and that ought to permit them to let OU and Texas depart yr early — summer time of 2024.
Emotions within the Huge 12 have been damage for happening a yr now. So long as everybody will get what they’re owed, one other spherical of Huge 12 growth would facilitate an OU and Texas departure in 2024, and that might be good for everybody.
In each phrases and deeds, final summer time’s information has created awkwardness and embarrassment. When OU and Texas performed for the nationwide championship in softball, as an example, nobody from the Huge 12 workplace was in Oklahoma Metropolis representing the league. When OU and Texas brass met with different league members at Huge 12 spring conferences in June, Bob Bowlsby mentioned they sat collectively within the boardroom “as a result of we needed to.”
If the Huge 12 expands once more, it might create the proper alternative for an amicable divorce. Greatest to maneuver on as quickly as potential.
Oklahoma
Navy Midshipmen Seek Victory Over Oklahoma in Armed Forces Bowl
Navy won its rivalry game with Army West Point, but there’s one more game left on the schedule and one more shot at some history for the Midshipmen.
Navy is preparing to face Oklahoma in the Armed Forces Bowl on Friday, their first appearance in a bowl game under second-year head coach Brian Newberry. Kickoff is set for noon eastern.
If the Midshipmen (9-3) are able to beat the Sooners (6-6), it would mark the sixth time in school history that they won at least 10 games in a season, joining the teams from 1905 (10-1-1), 2004 (10-2), 2009 (10-4), 2015 (11-2) and 2019 (11-2).
Navy needs to put its blowout win over Army out of its minds. The Sooners, while not the OU that most are used to, will still be a formidable opponent. But there will be change under center after the transfer of quarterback Jackson Arnold.
No such issues with Navy quarterback Blake Horvath, as he looks to cap off the season with an incredible performance in the postseason.
Here is a preview of the game.
Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
Time: noon, ET, Friday
TV: ESPN
Radio: WBAL 1090 AM / 101.5 FM (flagship), Navy Football Radio Network.
Coaches: Navy: Brian Newberry (14-10 at Navy, overall); Oklahoma: Brent Venables (22-16 at Oklahoma, overall).
Fun fact: Newberry played high school football at WestMoore High School in Oklahoma City, about an hour and a half away from Oklahoma’s campus in Norman.
All-Times Series: Navy leads series, 1-0.
Last meeting: Navy 10, Oklahoma 0 (1965 in Norman, Okla.).
Series notes: This is Navy’s first bowl game against OU, but not its first bowl game against an SEC school. The Midshipmen played Ole Miss in the 1955 Sugar Bowl. Navy has played Missouri and Texas, but neither was in the SEC at the time.
Last Week: Navy def. Army, 31-13 (Dec. 14); Oklahoma lost to LSU, 37-13 (Nov. 30).
About Navy: Navy’s win over Army allowed the Midshipmen to claim the Commander in Chief’s trophy and you can’t doubt the accomplishment. Navy won the two service academy games by a combined 45 points. That’s just domination.
Last week, Midshipmen defensive back Rayuan Lane III accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, just the fifth Navy player to accomplish that feat. He’ll play in this game and then take his shot at getting drafted into the NFL.
Along with chasing 10 wins, Horvath is chasing the single-season touchdown pass record at Navy. He’s tied it with 13, putting him in the company of Ricky Dobbs. He tossed two touchdowns against Army.
About Oklahoma: Even though OU only finished .500, this game marks a rare chance for Navy to measure itself against one of the game’s historic programs.
Oklahoma is the sixth-winningest program in FBS history with 950 wins and is playing in a bowl game for the 26th straight season, with a record of 31-25-1. OU’s 58 bowl appearances are the fourth-most in FBS.
The first year in the SEC was a gauntlet for the Sooners, who faced eight ranked opponents during the season. But, their win over No. 7 Alabama probably robbed the Crimson Tide of a chance to play in the College Football Playoff.
Next Up: The season concludes for both teams.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: December 22
Join News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins, News On 6 Sports Director John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland for this week’s edition of the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz.
Sunday, December 22nd 2024, 11:25 pm
By:
News On 6,
News 9
OKLAHOMA CITY –
This week on the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz, Dean Blevins, John Holcomb, and Toby Rowland begin the show with their opening takes.
Toby’s Top 3 OU, OSU, TU Recap
Viewer Question
Thunder Update: Caruso 4-Year Contract Extension, No Christmas Game
OU, OSU, TU, ORU Basketball Recap
OSU Wrestling Beats Virginia Tech Play The Percentages
Oklahoma
Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska
Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska
Oklahoma transfer linebacker Dasan McCullough has committed to Nebraska, he confirmed on Instagram Sunday afternoon.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound McCullough spent the past two seasons in Norman with the Sooners. He began his college football career in 2022 at Indiana, where he earned Freshman All-American status.
McCullough will come to Nebraska with one season of eligibility remaining.
McCullough, who played Oklahoma’s versatile hybrid linebacker/safety position called the Cheetah, suffered an injury before the start of Oklahoma’s fall camp this season and missed the first five games. He returned to the field in October and played in the final seven games, the last five of which he started. He recorded 17 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2024.
In 2023 at Oklahoma, McCullough played in 10 games and started seven while making 30 tackles with 3.5 TFLs and three pass deflections.
McCullough, who was a star recruit and ranked No. 61 nationally in the 2022 class, comes from a football family. His dad, Deland McCullough, played running back in the NFL and is currently Notre Dame’s associate head coach and running backs coach.
While Deland spent three seasons as the Kansas City Chiefs’ running backs coach from 2018-20, Dasan played his high school ball at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kansas. Deland became Indiana’s associate head coach and running backs coach in 2021, and Dasan, then an Ohio State verbal commit, flipped to Indiana not long after.
Dasan followed his father to Bloomington and made an impact right away. He played in all 12 games with four starts and racked up 51 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, four sacks and four pass deflections. He gained Freshman All-American honors and a Big Ten honorable mention selection.
— Steve Marik, Inside Nebraska staff writer,
Analysis
McCullough is a versatile backend defender that can play a variety of roles in Nebraska’s defense.
A rare blend of size and athleticism at 6-5, McCullough shows good speed and change-of-direction ability for his size. Has high-end instincts and IQ, which shows up in zone coverage and reacting against the run. Has had some intriguing flashes as a pass-rusher, but largely relies on athleticism to get into the backfield, still developing consistent pass rush moves.
Technically sound tackler, though lean he’s got wiry body strength. Consistent aggression could improve as could hip fluidity. Athletic enough to hold his own in man coverage, technique can continue to improve, better in zone at this point in his career.
In Nebraska’s scheme, McCullough can play all three linebacker positions, rover or even safety if needed. He’s likely best at inside linebacker with a few pass-rush opportunities.
This addition provides Nebraska defensive coordinator John Butler something of a chess piece to move around his defense.
— Tim Verghese, Inside Nebraska recruiting analyst
Additional analysis
McCullough is a versatile and sizable defender who played both a traditional linebacker position and Oklahoma’s “cheetah” spot, which is roughly equivalent to the nickel. He also saw some periodic snaps as an edge rusher for the Sooners during his two years in Norman.
McCullough at his best against the run, as he takes good pursuit angles, fills gaps responsibly and is a reliable tackler. That said, he’s intelligent and instinctive in zone coverage and can generally be trusted to hold his own in man-to-man matchups against tight ends and running backs.
McCullough ought to be quite the chess piece in John Butler’s defense, and could truly thrive in Lincoln depending on the Huskers’ specific vision for his diverse skill set.
— OUInsider writer Parker Thune
ENJOYING INSIDE NEBRASKA?
>> GAIN ALL-ACCESS with an annual or monthly subscription for less than $10/month
>> NEW SUBSCRIBERS get 30 days FREE
>> Sound off on the hot topics on our INSIDER’S BOARD
>> Follow us on Twitter (@NebraskaRivals)
>> Follow us on Instagram (@nebraskarivals)
>> Subscribe for FREE to the Inside Nebraska YouTube channel
-
Politics1 week ago
Canadian premier threatens to cut off energy imports to US if Trump imposes tariff on country
-
Technology1 week ago
OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever says the way AI is built is about to change
-
Politics1 week ago
U.S. Supreme Court will decide if oil industry may sue to block California's zero-emissions goal
-
Technology1 week ago
Meta asks the US government to block OpenAI’s switch to a for-profit
-
Business1 week ago
Freddie Freeman's World Series walk-off grand slam baseball sells at auction for $1.56 million
-
Technology1 week ago
Meta’s Instagram boss: who posted something matters more in the AI age
-
News1 week ago
East’s wintry mix could make travel dicey. And yes, that was a tornado in Calif.
-
Technology2 days ago
Google’s counteroffer to the government trying to break it up is unbundling Android apps