If Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks’ football career doesn’t pan out, he might have a future in dramatic theater.

Burks shocked head coach Brent Venables, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and receivers coach Emmett Jones on Saturday when he met them in Venables’ office and — in dramatic fashion — informed them he would be returning for his senior year in 2025. He posted a video of the interaction on Twitter/X.

Burks, a transfer from Purdue and one of the Sooners’ most promising playmakers in last spring’s Red/White Game, sat out almost the entire season with a soft-tissue injury. Burks has eligibility left after missing all but five games this season. Venables had hinted that he expected Burks to leave for the NFL.

In the video, Burks greets the coaches in Venables’ office, then presents his head coach with his crimson No. 6 jersey. Venables humbly took it and said nobody wore it better — Burks interjected Baker Mayfield — and then extolled Burks’ many virtues and explained why he was such an asset to the program.

As they stood up to apparently part, Burks hugged Venables, smiled and said “I got one more thing though, man,” and unzipped his jacket, revealing a different OU jersey. “I ain’t gone yet. I’m switching that No. 4.”

As Venables, Arbuckle and Jones celebrated with high fives, Burks said, “I gotta do it one more time, man!”

After catching 63 passes for 804 yards and seven touchdowns in his first three years with the Boilermakers, Burks was expected to be a key playmaker for the Sooners’ rebuilt offense in 2024.

Instead, he played just four games, suffered an injury against Tennessee and sat out the next five games. He returned against Missouri, but suffered a concussion to end that loss.

For the season, Burks caught just 31 passes for 245 yards — just 7.9 yards per reception — and scored three touchdowns (all in the season opener against Temple).

In his college career, Burks has 1,049 yards on 94 receptions and has 10 touchdowns.

If healthy, his return next year could be huge for the Oklahoma offense as the Sooners rebuild again in Arbuckle’s first season as offensive coordinator. With Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, Brenen Thompson, J.J. Hester and Jaquaize Pettaway all currently in the transfer portal, Jones’ OU receiver room has been stripped to the foundation. But Burks’ return would be a big step in the rebuild, especially if redshirt junior Jayden Gibson comes back next year.

The Sooners have lost 23 players this week to the transfer portal, so as players start transferring in, Burks’ return could give the Sooners some needed momentum.

The Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder game will take place at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a crucial game for both the Rockets and the Thunder as the winner will head straight to the finals in Las Vegas.
In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to know about the matchup, including injury reports, key players, broadcast details, and more.

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Projected starting five

Houston Rockets projected starting five

Oklahoma City Thunder projected starting five

(Note: Projected starters are subject to change. This is not the finalized roster and this applies to both the teams playing tonight.)

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Key players to watch

Houston Rockets key players

– Jalen Green
– Alperen Sengun

Oklahoma City Thunder key players

– Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
– Jalen Williams

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Injury report

Houston Rockets injury report

Oklahoma City Thunder injury report

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Team stats

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Previous matchups

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Leading players

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Moneyline and odds

– Moneyline: Rockets (+190) vs Thunder (-230)
– Spread: Rockets (+5.5) vs Thunder (-5.5)
– Total (O/U): Rockets -110 (O 213.5) vs Thunder -110 (U 213.5)
(Note: Odds are correct at the time of writing and likely to change. Keep an eye out for the recent odds)

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Betting tips

Alperen Sengun scored 18.5 points, which is marginally less than his 18.8-point season average. Given that he has scored 20 points in three of his previous five games, it seems wise to wager on the over.
With 30.5 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is slightly above his season average of 30.2 points. Considering his propensity for scoring, it seems sense to wager on the over.

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Prediction

We predict that Oklahoma City will win and go to the final, as do the oddsmakers. Even with injuries, the Thunder have continuously shown that they can perform well under crisis. In a game where the team’s total points should be more than 213.5, OKC is predicted to cover the spread.

Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Date, time, and venue

The match between the Rockets and the Thunder will take place on December 14, 2024, at 8:00 pm ET. It will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Also read: Top 30 most valuable NBA teams of 2024

How to watch Houston Rockets vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Streaming details and more

– Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free), ESPN+, Hulu with Live TV, and more
– NBA League Pass: NBA TV. Free trial
– TV: ABC
You can also buy the NBA League Pass to get the latest updates about all the games that take place today and henceforth.

Oklahoma House Speaker Designate Kyle Hilbert, (R-Bristow,) announced Thursday night at a packed meeting in Sapulpa the controversial federal plan to designate more than 600 miles of Oklahoma land as possible home for electrical transmission lines will not be built.

The proposal has prompted questions from people statewide.

Even though it’s not going to happen, Hilbert said an official word from the U.S. Department of Energy will come on Monday: here’s what we know about the proposal.

Q: What parts of the state would have been impacted?

A: The proposed 645-mile corridor spanned northern Oklahoma. It started near the Arkansas border by Fort Smith, paralleled I-40 near Sallisaw, then meandered north through south Tulsa County, Okmulgee County, Creek County, south of Stillwater, and across I-35, ultimately reaching Woodward and the Panhandle.

Q: What would this line have done?

A: If would have ferried electricity across the state and allowed the Southern Power Pool to move electricity across its service area to meet demand.

Q: Why build new transmission lines?

A: The SPP said in its most recent assessment report it expects an increased load on its system because there are new sources that pull power from the grid, like data centers, and utilities are retiring older power supplies like coal-fired plants. More transmission lines allow it to move electricity across the system easier and more efficiently.

Q: What does the SPP say they need to meet demand across Oklahoma and the rest of its service area?

A: It recommends new projects including:

1. 1,788 miles of extra-high voltage transmission (EHV)
2. 148 miles of rebuilt EHV transmission infrastructure
3. 545 miles of new high-voltage transmission
4. 347 miles of rebuilt high-voltage transmission.

Q: Why were people upset in Oklahoma?

A: Many were worried about eminent domain and the possibility this project would result in unwanted transmission lines being strewn across their land.

Q: What happens next?

A: The DOE is still narrowing down potential transmission corridors across the country. Hilbert did tell the crowd Thursday nobody will have lines built on their property without their approval.