The Jenni Carlson Show

Oklahoma State went to Kansas State hoping to make a statement. 

The Cowboys did.

Unfortunately, the statement is that they aren’t very good.

Now 0-2 in Big 12 play, the Cowboys are looking for answers every which way. Offense. Defense. Special teams. Coaching. Playing. All of it is not where it needs to be.

Where does OSU need to start if it wants to fix its problems?

Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel and I discuss that and much more on The Jenni Carlson Show.

Sign up for my newsletter here: www.jennicarlson.substack.com

Episode highlights

1:13: Where to start with OSU’s problems?

4:24: Could things actually get worse for the defense?

6:51: This offense has NFL-caliber talent and it is underperforming.

9:41: Is Alan Bowman really OSU’s best option at quarterback?

15:05: In America’s wackiest conference, might the Cowboys still find their way to Arlington?

17:49: Predictions! OSU vs. West Virginia.

Producer: Jacquelyn Musgrove
Creative Director: Michael Lane
Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

Oklahoma went on the road to play against arguably the toughest home-field advantage in the SEC, started a true freshman quarterback making his first start, played without its top FIVE wide receivers, trailed by two scores deep into the fourth quarter and get this — the Sooners won the game.

How do you explain it?

Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel says it has to be Sooner Magic.

I tend to believe having a quarterback who didn’t give the ball to the other team might be more the answer for what we saw at Auburn.

But we’ll discuss all that and more as the Sooners head into their first bye week, now on The Jenni Carlson Show.

Sign up for my newsletter here: www.jennicarlson.substack.com

Episode highlights

1:18: Berry got to see that 27-21 win over Auburn, and he thought it was Sooner Magic. Really?

3:11: What was most impressive about Michael Hawkins?

5:55: Hawkins’ cartwheel, shades of Sammy B?

8:47: Lewis’ interception, shades of Torrance Marshall?

12:17: What was most impressive about the OU defense?

15:25: Off-week goals for the Sooners?

18:16: What about Texas?

21:31: Predictions! Not a game, but a season win total.

Producer: Jacquelyn Musgrove
Creative Director: Michael Lane
Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, Cowboy fans: Oklahoma State heads into its game against Kansas State with lots of questions. 

That was the storyline a season ago when the Wildcats came to town and the Cowboys had a 2-2 record. This season, OSU heads to Manhattan after a head-scratching performance against Utah. 

What’s with the offense? 

What about Alan Bowman? 

And why the heck can’t Ollie Gordon get going? 

You’ve got questions. 

Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel and I will attempt to answer them on The Jenni Carlson Show.

Sign up for my newsletter here: www.jennicarlson.substack.com

Episode highlights

1:20: What is up with the OSU offense?

2:30: Ollie Gordon and the run game?

4:27: Kasey Dunn and the play calling?

8:05: Alan Bowman?

10:17: The back-up quarterback situation?

12:13: Is Jenni crazy for thinking OSU’s defensive performance against Utah was its best under Bryan Nardo?

14:19: And is she crazy for thinking K-State is the most unpredictable team in the Big 12?

16:23: Predictions!

Producer: Jacquelyn Farris

Creative Director: Michael Lane

Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

Oklahoma has a new starting quarterback.

After Jackson Arnold was benched during the loss to Tennessee, Michael Hawkins took over and will stay in that quarterback role when the Sooners play at Auburn on Saturday.

The first SEC road game for OU was always going to be a big deal.

Now?

It’s got even more intrigue. I’ll talk about that and much more with Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel now on The Jenni Carlson Show.

Sign up for my newsletter here: www.jennicarlson.substack.com

Episode highlights

1:00: Michael Hawkins replacing Jackson Arnold — how the heck did the Sooners get here?

2:41: Did Brent Venables have any other choice than the one he made?

4:20: Is Arnold done as a Sooner?

5:58: Sometimes, five-star recruits don’t become five-star players.

7:47: What we saw of Hawkins, what’s most to like about him?

9:42: Biggest concern about Hawkins?

11:17: Jacobe Johnson’s switch to receiver and what it says about the young receivers.

12:51: Tip of the cap to the Sooner defense. But can it carry this team?

15:18: OU-Auburn predictions!

Producer: Jacquelyn Farris

Creative Director: Michael Lane

Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

Kyle Whittingham is a motorcycle enthusiast who skis, boats, and plays tennis and golf. 

But this week, he's pretty focused on one thing: beating Oklahoma State. 

The Utah football coach joins me to talk about that match-up, moving into the Big 12 Conference and dealing with all the changes in college sports.

All that and much more now on The Jenni Carlson Show. 

Sign up for my newsletter here, and you can find all my content at Substack and YouTube.

Episode highlights

1:20: As much as I want to talk about motorcycles and snow skiing, we should probably start with this OSU game.

2:02: Do big games like this hit any differently for a head coach in his 20th season?

2:38: Biggest advantage to being at the same place for so long?

4:20: How does all the change in college athletics impact the day-to-day?

6:53: Is there any disadvantage facing all these new schools in conference play?

8:18: Any Big 12 locales Whittingham is looking forward to visiting?

9:09: The moment I warn him about flying flatbreads at one school.

9:42: Which of Whittingham’s hobbies does he wish he was better at?

10:51: Is there a motorcycle trip still on the bucket list?

Producer: Jacquelyn Musgrove
Creative Director: Michael Lane

Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

OU vs. Tennessee has been circled on a lot of calendars for months, provided people still do things like circle things on calendars. 

Still, OU's first game in the SEC was always going to be a big day. 

But now Tennessee rides into Norman as one of the hottest teams in college football. The Vols aren't just undefeated. They've outscored their first three opponents 191-13.

What does all this mean for the Sooners? We'll talk about that and more with Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel right now on The Jenni Carlson Show. 

Sign up for my newsletter here, and you can find all my content at Substack and YouTube.

Episode highlights

1:05: Has Tennessee really been tested yet?

2:10: Most impressive thing about the Vols?

3:21: What about Tennessee might OU be able to exploit?

4:47: OU’s O-line vs. Tennessee’s D-line? Yikes.

7:03: OU will beat Tennessee if … 

9:53: Is there an X factor in this game?

11:11: What is Josh Heupel’s return going to look and sound like Saturday?

15:19: Most important under-the-radar question: is the Tennessee band coming to Norman?

16:35: Predictions!

Producer: Jacquelyn Musgrove
Creative Director: Michael Lane
Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

Oklahoma State is not easing into Big 12 play. 

Utah this week.

Kansas State next week. 

Cowboy coach Mike Gundy even joked Monday that when he saw the schedule, he realized he'd sent pecans at Christmas to the wrong person at the Big 12 offices. Instead of commissioner Brett Yormark, Gundy realized he should have been nice to the schedule maker. 

So, what kind of challenge do the Utes present the Cowboys this week? 

We'll talk about all that and much more with Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel now on The Jenni Carlson show. 

Sign up for my newsletter here, and you can find all my content at Substack and YouTube.

Episode highlights

1:28: Where the heck is Big Noon Kickoff, and why isn’t it Stillwater?

2:53: Does the tests OSU faced in non-conference play better prepare them for a tough start to the Big 12 schedule?

4:43: Time to worry about the Cowboy run game?

6:22: Can the OSU passing game be as effective as it has been against Utah?

8:10: Is Alan Bowman’s improvement surprising as a SEVENTH-year player?

9:58: Is Cam Rising’s recent injury going to affect his effectiveness?

12:17: How are these first couple games of Big 12 play going to impact OSU’s playoff hopes?

14:23: Is there an X factor in this game?

15:35: Predictions!

Producer: Jacquelyn Musgrove
Creative Director: Michael Lane
Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

Bob Kesling has been the Voice of the Vols for more than a quarter of a century. 

That means he's seen Tennessee football in good times and bad. But right now, times are looking great for the Vols. They ran through their first three non-conference games, outscoring opponents 191-13.

Saturday, they'll be in Norman hoping to continue their dominating ways against the Sooners. We'll talk to Bob about this Tennessee team and about the vibes around Vol Nation with its team being OU's first SEC opponent. 

All that and much more right now on The Jenni Carlson Show. 

Sign up for my newsletter here: www.jennicarlson.substack.com

Episode highlights

1:12: What’s the vibe around Vol Nation right now?

2:56: How much Tennessee orange will be in Norman on Saturday?

4:25: Lots of talk swirling around Josh Heupel. How is the OU great and Tennessee coach approaching this game?

5:44: Tennessee is outscoring opponents 191-13. Has the 191 or the 13 been more impressive?

7:40: Trigger warning, Sooner fans: Tennessee’s defensive line is crazy good.

10:22: Where might the Vols’ offense try to exploit the Sooners’ defense?

14:14: Bob tries to help me pronounce Vol QB Nico Iamaleava’s last name!

15:47: What’s been most impressive about Iamaleava so far?

18:06: Who could’ve imagined OU and Tennessee would be conference foes last time they met in 2015?

Producer: Jacquelyn Musgrove
Creative Director: Michael Lane

Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

Oklahoma State gave up 648 yards of offense, lost a defensive star to injury, struggled to run the ball with any efficiency — and still managed to beat Arkansas in double overtime last weekend. 

What did that game tell us about the Cowboys? 

Where are the biggest concerns? 

And more importantly, are there fixes?

We'll talk about that and more with Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel on The Jenni Carlson Show. 

Sign up for my newsletter here: www.jennicarlson.substack.com

Episode highlights

1:18: Why, exactly, did OSU and Arkansas wait 44 years to play each other?

2:15: Mike Gundy said OSU can’t keep letting teams get big leads, but hey, it seems to be working out for the Cowboys.

3:14: The impacts of losing defensive stalwart Collin Oliver to injury. (Bonus: we try to pronounce Obi Ezeigbo’s last name!)

6:50: How concerning is the Cowboy secondary’s play?

10:09: Is OSU going to be able to effectively run the football?

12:20: This is not a drill: the Cowboys threw to the tight ends! 

14:05: The state of the Big 12. (Spoiler: the parity hasn’t gone down.)

16:22: Predictions for OSU at Tulsa!

Producer: Jacquelyn Musgrove
Creative Director: Michael Lane
Subscribe on Youtube | Substack

Alarm bells are sounding in Norman. 

Maybe you're actually hearing them in your own head, too. 

Oklahoma struggled mightily against Houston, a team that only a week ago we were talking about as lacking talent. The Sooners struggled to run the ball, throw the ball, move the ball, and the teams on the schedule are about to get much, much tougher. 

Can the Sooners fix anything? 

We'll talk about that and more with Tulsa World columnist Berry Tramel next on The Jenni Carlson Show. 

Sign up for my newsletter here: www.jennicarlson.substack.com

Episode highlights

1:10: When did the alarm bells start in Berry’s head Saturday night?

3:24: Could the timing be any worse for a Sooner swoon? The SEC looms.

5:24: The defense carrying the offense: why does this seem much more difficult for Sooners everywhere to stomach?

7:19: Is the offense struggling because of one main problem or is it death by a thousand paper cuts?

9:36: What can the offense realistically fix?

11:51: What Berry would do if he was Brent Venables this week? (Spoiler: there’s a helicopter involved!)

14:24: Level of concern about Tulane?

16:00: OU-Tulane predictions! (Must listen, Sooner fans.)

Producer: Jacquelyn Farris Musgrove
Creative Director: Michael Lane