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Why Oklahoma and Georgia ultimately called off their series: ‘We talked about it all’

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Why Oklahoma and Georgia ultimately called off their series: ‘We talked about it all’


DESTIN, Fla. — The idea came up before the Rose Bowl, when Georgia and Oklahoma officials were hanging around, marveling that this would be the first time the two programs had played each other. Two big programs, connected through history for suing the NCAA and winning at the Supreme Court.

Within a couple of years a deal was struck: a home-and-home for 2023 and 2031.

“We were gonna call it the Judge Burciaga game,” Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castigilione said. That was an ode to the district court judge who originally ruled in the schools’ favor against the NCAA.

But the judge and jury and this case ended up being conference realignment. Oklahoma and Texas announced in the summer of 2021 they would be joining the SEC, which ultimately doomed the series. If the home-and-home had been before Oklahoma joined the conference in 2024 then it could have been played, but the games being in 2023 (in Norman) and 2031 (in Athens) complicated it.

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The series was officially canceled by the SEC but with the support of both schools, who had tried to find ways to play, Castiglione confirmed Wednesday while attending SEC meetings.

“We talked about it all. In spite of how much we explored the possibilities, there just weren’t many options,” Castiglione said. “There were just so many complications that just everybody decided it was best to cancel.”

One option: Playing it as a neutral site game. That was “explored,” Castiglione said, but “the economics of it didn’t work.” The Sooners would have had only five other home games this year, plus the Texas game in Dallas, and the Georgia game was going to be the biggest home game on their schedule.

Another option: keeping the home-and-home and playing the return game in Athens as a nonconference game, even though Oklahoma would be in the SEC by that time. But there were too many difficulties around that, Castiglione said, including the uncertainty over whether the SEC would be going to a nine-game schedule, and also whether the SEC would approve it.

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“The idea of that is unique,” Castiglione said of two conference teams playing a nonconference game. It has happened, but very rarely.

Then there was just canceling the 2031 game at Georgia and having them playing a one-off game in Norman in 2023. That would have required the schools renegotiating the contract and agreeing on an amount to pay Georgia to make the trip. The going rate for Group of 5 teams to play at Power 5 schools is around $2 million. There’s not much precedent for what a Power 5 would require, which would also make the financial math complicated for Oklahoma. (Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said last year that, “We weren’t going to be a guarantee game for anybody.”)

There was also the talk of moving the second game up to 2024, trying to squeeze it in before Oklahoma joined the SEC, which was originally and officially supposed to be in 2025. But there was a widespread assumption the move could happen sooner, and it has.

“We talked a long time about the options. Believe me, if there were other options we would have chosen it,” Castiglione said.

Georgia has been heavily criticized for its 2023 schedule, which would look a lot stronger if that trip to Norman were a part of it. The Bulldogs replaced it with a home game against Ball State after they were unable to find another Power 5 opponent. Oklahoma replaced it with SMU, which is a decent match-up for regional purposes. But as Castiglione pointed out, it’s not the back-to back national champions.

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“Think about us. We had that game (scheduled with Georgia), and look what’s happened since the decisions been made,” he said, laughing. “Both schools were really excited about getting it on the schedule on the first place.”

Oklahoma also had to cancel a series with Tennessee. The original game was planned for 2020 and called off because of the pandemic. The other game was set for 2024.

Castiglione wanted to emphasize that the two schools still have a great relationship and are glad they’ll be able to play that home-and-home, just as a conference series. It will be twice every four years under either scheduling model under consideration. When it will start is up in the air, given the debate over staying at eight or going to nine games and the possibility there will be a one-time, eight-game schedule for 2024, and perhaps 2025.

“I can’t put a percentage on it,” Castiglione said of the eight vs. nine debate. “But I actually appreciate the depth of the conversations we’ve had, all the factors that come into what we decide, but knowing both options are still good. It’s not one over the other. It may be options that are in the best interests of the conference now, and down the road other options may present themselves and you make a different decision.

“But I think either way it’s going to be about the greater good of the conference and the teams that make it up. We’ll adjust and be very excited about being a part of it.”

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(Photo of Sony Michel in the 2018 Rose Bowl: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)





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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: December 22

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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,

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News 9

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

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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

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Oklahoma transfer LB Dasan McCullough commits to Nebraska

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas

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Fears leads No. 14 Oklahoma against Central Arkansas


Associated Press

Central Arkansas Bears (3-8) at Oklahoma Sooners (11-0)

Norman, Oklahoma; Sunday, 1 p.m. EST

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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sooners -28.5; over/under is 145.5

BOTTOM LINE: No. 14 Oklahoma hosts Central Arkansas after Jeremiah Fears scored 30 points in Oklahoma’s 87-86 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.

The Sooners have gone 6-0 at home. Oklahoma has a 2-0 record in games decided by less than 4 points.

The Bears are 0-6 on the road. Central Arkansas ranks fourth in the ASUN with 23.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Brayden Fagbemi averaging 4.6.

Oklahoma averages 82.0 points, 5.2 more per game than the 76.8 Central Arkansas allows. Central Arkansas averages 9.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.5 more made shots on average than the 6.5 per game Oklahoma allows.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Fears is scoring 17.9 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Sooners.

Layne Taylor is scoring 17.0 points per game and averaging 4.4 rebounds for the Bears.

LAST 10 GAMES: Sooners: 10-0, averaging 80.9 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.1 assists, 10.1 steals and 1.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 68.5 points per game.

Bears: 3-7, averaging 73.0 points, 34.3 rebounds, 14.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 38.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 75.7 points.

___

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.




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