WHAT IS UP, SOONER NATION?!
I’m Casey Mallon, and you are officially locked into a SOONER STATE OF MIND.

We are five days away from Oklahoma playoff football, and the hype is REAL. In this must-listen episode, we set the table for a massive College Football Playoff first-round showdown as the #8 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) host the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) on Friday, December 19th in Norman. The Tide may be slight favorites, but don’t forget — OU already walked into Tuscaloosa in Red November and walked out with a 23–21 win, snapping Alabama’s 17-game home winning streak.

Before we dive headfirst into OU vs Bama, we take care of some big-time Sooner business:

“Tate the Great” Sandell brings home the Lou Groza Award, capping one of the greatest kicking seasons in Oklahoma history

A look at Sandell’s clutch kicks vs Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama — distance and moment matter

Brent Venables calling Sandell the MVP of the Tennessee win — and he wasn’t wrong

We also touch on the wider college football landscape:

The increasingly tragic Michigan situation and what it means for the program, the portal, and Bryce Underwood’s future

Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy, becoming Indiana’s first-ever winner and leading the Hoosiers to the CFP as the No. 1 seed

Could Oklahoma see Mendoza and Indiana in Pasadena? One step at a time…

Then it’s full focus on Oklahoma vs Alabama:

Why Alabama’s recent play (Georgia loss, offensive struggles) matters — but why you can never sleep on the Tide

Ty Simpson’s numbers since the OU game and why yards don’t win games — points do

Brent Venables is 4–0 in same-season rematches as a defensive play-caller, including the legendary Clemson vs Notre Dame shutdown in 2020

As OU head coach, BV is 2–0 vs Alabama, outscoring them 47–24 with six turnovers and two pick-sixes

We break down the injury report and what it means:

Gentry Williams and Kendel Dolby out

Jayden Jackson questionable

R Mason Thomas still uncertain — and why getting him back would be a massive boost

On the offensive side, we get real:

The national slander of OU’s offense vs the reality of winning football

What we liked from the LSU game

Why Mateer’s footwork is everything

The importance of establishing any run-game consistency

Why Kanak needs more targets and why checkdowns are free money

Plus:

A bold idea for a “Best of the Rest” postseason tournament

Why the expanded playoff still isn’t perfect

And why this season still has national championship potential

This episode is about belief, data, defense, and the Sooners doing things the hard way — and doing them right.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The moment couldn’t be bigger. The vibes couldn’t be stronger.
Sooner Nation, it’s time to lock in.

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Because you already know…

My name is Casey Mallon — and I’m in a SOONER STATE OF MIND.

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