West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

By Lee and Grant BensonSports

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West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast episodes

October 01 Ep. 440 - OU Fans Still Support Brent Venables. But for How Long?
Ep. 440 - OU Fans Still Support Brent Venables. But for How Long?
Even after OU’s 2-2 start, a new fan survey says that more than 60% of Oklahoma fans still do not want a change at head coach. Lee and Grant react to the poll, compare it with the West of Everest audience results and discuss whether expectations around Oklahoma football have changed under Brent Venables.
Should Oklahoma stick with John Mateer, or is it time to see what Whitt Newbauer can do?
Later, Lee and Grant answer a Spotify listener question about possible future offensive coordinators, react to the huge response to Grant’s OU coaching hot board. The show closes with a look around college football and this week’s picks against the spread.
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Opening Take - OU fan polls reveal two very different views of Brent Venables
04:05 — More than 62% of fans still don’t want a coaching change
08:48 — West of Everest poll: 53% checked out on the Venables era
10:50 — Have Oklahoma’s standards changed?
15:37 — 72% want a quarterback change
21:39 — The best argument for trying Newbauer
23:39 — What do you actually want from Oklahoma football?
24:49 — Venables says John Mateer is still QB1
30:00 — Everest Club update and listener engagement
31:55 — Listener question: Chip Kelly or Hue Jackson at OC?
33:16 — If Venables stays, does the entire offensive staff have to go?
37:28 — Making the playoff should be the expectation at Oklahoma
39:21 — Grant’s coaching hot board blew up on YouTube
41:05 — Viewer reactions to the coaching hot board
41:26 — Is it time to move on from Bill Bedenbaugh?
43:20 — New OC, new O-line coach — or a full offensive reset?
45:23 — Why some fans still aren’t ready to move on from Venables
47:24 — “One more chance” for Venables?
48:00 — Is hiring great assistants the most important head-coach skill?
51:55 — More coaching candidates: Kalani Sitake, Jamie Chadwell and others
52:43 — Grant adds Blake Baker to the hot board
53:32 — Jim Harbaugh? Make the call anyway
58:41 — Does Venables get too much benefit of the doubt?
59:57 — The bigger concern: Oklahoma’s administration
1:02:08 — Buster Faulkner rises on Grant’s coaching hot board
1:03:07 — Jon Gruden? Absolutely not
1:04:41 — Around college football and Lee wants no part of James Franklin
1:07:04 — Miami-Clemson and the Week 5 slate
1:09:08 — Last week’s picks and Lincoln Riley fallout
1:13:31 — Alabama at Mississippi State
1:17:10 — Missouri vs. Florida
1:19:13 — Minnesota vs. Michigan
1:21:37 — Iowa vs. Ohio State
1:24:29 — Washington at USC
1:26:42 — Picks recap
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1 hr 29 min
September 28 Ep. 439 - Georgia Blows Out OU. Where Do We Go From Here?
Ep. 439 - Georgia Blows Out OU. Where Do We Go From Here?
Oklahoma is 2-2 after a 41-13 loss at Georgia, and Lee and Grant break down another disastrous offensive performance for the Sooners. John Mateer committed three turnovers and made several game-changing mistakes, but the problems go far beyond the quarterback.
The guys discuss whether benching Mateer would actually solve anything, Ben Arbuckle’s role in the offensive failures, Oklahoma’s quarterback evaluation and development issues, and why the same problems continue to surface under Brent Venables. They also revisit Venables’ recent contract extension, the expectations for Oklahoma football and whether the people responsible for the program’s biggest decisions can be trusted if another coaching change eventually becomes necessary.
The guys also read your “3-word reviews”.
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Georgia exposes the same problems of the Venables era
04:35 — John Mateer’s catastrophic mistakes
08:55 — Grant: the entire offensive culture is rotten
09:26 — Should Oklahoma bench John Mateer?
10:08 — OU’s history after starting 2-2
12:00 — Where can this season realistically go?
14:32 — Offensive line injuries and another major disappointment
16:50 — Has apathy started to set in again?
20:13 — Are 8-4 and 9-3 expectations already too low for Oklahoma?
20:49 — Why the latest contract extension matters so much
24:23 — Can Oklahoma’s leadership be trusted with the next hire?
25:34 — What should the standard be for Oklahoma football?
28:17 — Roger Denny and the Brent Venables extension
31:20 — A few positives from the Georgia loss
31:36 — David Stone surprisingly plays and looks healthy
32:30 — Kip Lewis stands out against Georgia
34:10 — Film room: breaking down Georgia’s explosive touchdown pass
39:19 — Oklahoma has become Lincoln Riley-era OU in reverse
41:42 — Looking ahead to Texas
43:45 — Mateer showed flashes despite the turnovers
46:04 — Could the offense improve against weaker defenses?
49:04 — Three-word reviews begin
50:13 — Has Venables turned OU into a “laughing stock”?
51:52 — Is Ben Arbuckle gone after this season?
52:19 — Venables closes in on Gary Gibbs’ loss total
54:34 — “Pay the buyout” and Nebraska comparisons
55:33 — NIL spending and Oklahoma’s roster problems
56:57 — Who could play quarterback for OU next season?
59:47 — Financial questions around the program
01:05:42 — The human side of Mateer, Arbuckle and Venables struggling
01:08:04 — Oklahoma isn’t the only major program struggling
01:09:37 — “It’s a circus”
01:11:04 — “I am done” and “extend him again”
01:13:15 — Watching other fan bases have fun again
01:14:27 — Everest Club reaches its first two members
01:16:12 — Plans for the bye-week episode
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Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and please leave a five-star rating and review if you enjoy the podcast.
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1 hr 20 min
September 23 Ep. 438 - What Would it Take For OU to Shock Georgia?
Ep. 438 - What Would it Take For OU to Shock Georgia?
Lee and Grant open the show by discussing the latest David Stone injury news, the conflicting reports surrounding how he was injured, and what his availability could mean for an already banged-up Oklahoma defense. Then the conversation turns back to OU’s offensive problems, including missed assignments, poor execution and questions about how well Ben Arbuckle, Bill Bedenbaugh, Kevin Wilson and the rest of the offensive staff are fitting together.
Then the guys break down OU’s path to victory as a 14-point dog at Georgia.
Finally, Grant answers a listener question about who Oklahoma should consider if it eventually moved on from Brent Venables? The show closes with OU-Georgia score predictions and the weekly college football picks against the spread.
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Another OU injury and a trip to No. 2 Georgia
02:02 — David Stone injury news and conflicting reports
08:14 — John Hoover’s report and clarification
12:49 — What is Oklahoma’s path to upsetting Georgia?
13:29 — West of Everest launches the Everest Club on YouTube
16:22 — OU-Georgia preview begins
17:06 — What Georgia has done well through three games
18:36 — Can Oklahoma stop Georgia’s run game?
19:28 — The upset formula: turnovers, defense and shortening the game
20:31 — OU desperately needs takeaways
24:52 — Could OU’s offense somehow match up better with Georgia?
25:32 — Venables points out busted tight end blocks against New Mexico
27:58 — Does Oklahoma’s offensive staff have too many cooks?
30:53 — What exactly is Kevin Wilson’s role?
31:33 — Remember when OU had “no chance” against Alabama?
33:19 — John Mateer vs. Arch Manning comparisons
34:55 — What Lee wants to see from OU’s defense
36:27 — Grant’s defensive key: make Gunner Stockton uncomfortable
38:51 — Oklahoma is a rare two-touchdown underdog
43:44 — What does Oklahoma need from the offense?
46:35 — Grant wants to see 2024 John Mateer again
48:38 — OU-Georgia score predictions
50:09 — Listener question: if Venables is out, who replaces him?
51:58 — The dream-candidate tier
54:34 — Coordinator candidates for Oklahoma
57:56 — Grant’s head-coaching candidate list begins
01:03:24 — Grant’s top four candidates
01:09:25 — Weekly college football picks begin
01:09:43 — Texas at Tennessee
01:11:16 — Ole Miss at Florida
01:12:10 — Michigan at Iowa
01:13:38 — Oregon at USC
01:14:11 — Missouri at Mississippi State
01:15:48 — Picks recap
Subscribe to the West of Everest YouTube channel
Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and please leave a five-star rating and review if you enjoy the podcast.
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1 hr 17 min
September 20 Ep. 437 - OU Wins, But This All Feels Way Too Familiar
Ep. 437 - OU Wins, But This All Feels Way Too Familiar
The guys are back after OU tops New Mexico 14-6. Although the Sooners just played a game, the most interesting topic is OU’s future. What happens next?
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — OU survives New Mexico 14-6, but the offense sputters again
01:09 — Grant reaches his breaking point with the Brent Venables era
02:02 — What would it take to hit the “eject button” on this regime?
03:07 — The Michigan loss exposed the offseason optimism
04:03 — New Mexico’s undersized defense still controlled OU’s offense
04:30 — Grant: “I’m out” on the current Oklahoma regime
05:02 — Revisiting the frustration of the 2024 season
06:07 — Why OU’s offense still looks broken
06:45 — Tight ends and offensive line fail to create a run game
08:03 — The SEC schedule will expose every offensive weakness
08:46 — OU returns to 12 personnel but still can’t execute
09:40 — Has John Mateer actually gotten worse?
10:15 — Grant: Oklahoma doesn’t understand its offensive problems
11:09 — OU’s running back room has no punch
11:38 — Is Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line room the biggest disappointment?
12:00 — Grant: changing one offensive coach won’t fix this
12:45 — Questions about Oklahoma’s leadership and future hires
13:29 — OU’s reported roster spending raises another red flag
14:29 — Why did Oklahoma extend Brent Venables?
15:29 — Venables admits there’s nothing to hang your hat on offensively
15:51 — Why didn’t the staff see the offensive problems coming?
17:11 — The danger of buying into offseason optimism
17:33 — Could OU miss a bowl game?
17:51 — “Mediocrity is a choice”
18:18 — Grant: the program is “rotten to the core”
18:34 — OU’s defense looks elite while the offense sinks again
19:07 — Oklahoma’s brutal remaining schedule
19:50 — Grant plants his flag: Venables isn’t taking OU where it wants to go
20:13 — What would college football fans outside Oklahoma think of this program?
21:22 — Oklahoma is back to being one-sided — just reversed from Lincoln Riley
22:10 — Why are we talking about the future of the program before Georgia week?
22:52 — Grant explains his breaking point during the New Mexico game
23:20 — ESPN’s incorrect timeout graphic changes the end-of-half discussion
24:19 — Jonathan Hatton and OU’s lack of juice at running back
25:23 — Three-word reviews begin
26:16 — Michael Hawkins is thriving at West Virginia — and coaching matters
27:16 — Peyton Bowen’s dropped interceptions and OU’s takeaway problem
28:14 — More listener reactions: “2024. Not again.”
28:39 — Could Jason Eck eventually become an OU coaching candidate?
29:27 — Could Oklahoma actually fire Venables after extending him?
30:33 — The defense may have to carry the entire season
31:01 — Could a strong defense save a mediocre season?
31:40 — David Stone finally flashes dominance
32:12 — OU still doesn’t have the offensive athletes other SEC teams have
33:12 — Programming note and Georgia preview schedule
34:02 — The Venables extension looks increasingly unnecessary
34:37 — How much influence does Joe Harroz have over Oklahoma football?
35:51 — What could the Venables buyout look like?
36:39 — Looking ahead: Georgia week becomes a bigger-picture program discussion
37:09 — Closing thoughts
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38 min
September 17 Ep. 436 - John Mateer Is Who He Is. Can OU Make It Work?
Ep. 436 - John Mateer Is Who He Is. Can OU Make It Work?
Lee and Grant go back through the Michigan game and take a closer look at the Mateer-Ben Arbuckle dynamic.
They also revisit Oklahoma’s offensive identity, the dramatic shift away from the Week 1 approach against UTEP, the use of 12 personnel and empty formations, Mateer’s field vision, the lack of a consistent run game and whether OU truly understands what it is offensively.
Trell Harris is expected to miss significant time after suffering a serious injury. Kip Lewis could also miss several weeks, creating another major concern on the defensive side.
Lee and Grant also discuss Oklahoma’s defense, why missed tackles and players trying to do too much remain a problem, and whether the pressure of carrying an inconsistent offense is already affecting that side of the ball.
Then it’s on to New Mexico. The Lobos are one of the more interesting G6 teams in the country. NM is well coached and experienced, and should provide a useful test for an Oklahoma team trying to get back on track.
The guys also make their weekly college football picks against the spread.
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Opening Take – John Mateer is who he is
06:59 — Michigan rewatch: how much blame belongs on Arbuckle vs. Mateer?
07:26 — Mateer misses an easy timing throw to Trell Harris
08:29 — The quarterback counter Mateer could have broken for a huge gain
09:39 — Hayden Hansen throwback was there, but Mateer could not complete it
10:09 — Empty 12 personnel creates a QB-run opportunity Mateer misses
10:47 — The fourth-and-7 miss to Rocky Beers
11:28 — Were Oklahoma’s receivers really “wide open”?
12:38 — The bigger question: how does Arbuckle simplify things for Mateer?
16:21 — Grant: Arbuckle can draw up plays, but he has to know his personnel
18:03 — Did Oklahoma’s staff misunderstand its own offense?
19:11 — Mateer will still have good moments, but the Michigan performance was alarming
19:56 — Mateer needs his confidence rebuilt
20:34 — Ben Arbuckle’s offenses have never consistently run the ball well
24:24 — How many first reads is Mateer simply not seeing?
29:01 — Elijah Thomas and Parker Livingston now need bigger roles
33:45 — Michigan’s seven-minute drive that quietly helped win the game
36:23 — Is OU’s defense pressing because it does not trust the offense?
39:05 — Is another “season from hell” developing for Oklahoma?
39:31 — Grant: Venables’ history of responding to adversity is mixed
41:59 — New Mexico is a legitimate G6 test under Jason Eck
42:52 — Could Oklahoma actually lose this game if the Michigan problems remain?
46:26 — How Oklahoma wins matters more than simply winning
46:46 — Grant: run the core offense until OU actually gets good at it
47:23 — New Mexico’s experienced defense presents a useful test
48:31 — OU’s defense should dominate New Mexico’s offense
49:38 — New Mexico’s three-quarterback rotation
50:42 — Jason Eck’s rise from the FCS ranks
53:18 — New Mexico has created takeaways; Oklahoma has not
54:01 — What Grant wants to see from OU’s offense
54:17 — Lee wants a return to the UTEP offensive blueprint
54:55 — Arbuckle needs to create easy completions for Mateer
55:11 — Defensive key: stop trying to do too much
55:37 — Grant’s defensive priority: tackle better
56:22 — OU-New Mexico score predictions
59:32 — What would a convincing win mean before Georgia?
01:00:33 — Early look at how big an underdog OU could be at Georgia
01:01:03 — Around college football: SEC and national games to watch
01:02:11 — Michael Hawkins and West Virginia hit the road at Virginia
01:02:27 — James Franklin discussion
01:03:14 — Weekly picks against the spread begin
01:03:36 — Houston at Texas Tech
01:05:39 — SMU at Louisville
01:06:42 — Mississippi State at South Carolina
01:08:50 — Florida at Auburn
01:09:55 — LSU at Ole Miss
01:12:09 — Back to Mateer’s running ability and field vision
01:13:30 — Does Mateer need an eye exam? Jameis Winston tangent
01:14:56 — New Mexico postgame podcast scheduling update
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1 hr 17 min
September 13 Ep. 435 - OU’s Offense Fails in 17-10 Loss at Michigan
Ep. 435 - OU’s Offense Fails in 17-10 Loss at Michigan
Oklahoma went to Ann Arbor with a chance to make a national statement. Instead, the Sooners left Michigan with a 17-10 loss and a lot of familiar questions about the offense.
Lee and Grant react to Oklahoma’s disappointing road loss at Michigan and read your “3-Word Reviews”.
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Oklahoma makes West of Everest look stupid
04:16 — Oklahoma’s offense was bad again
05:16 — Grant: the game exposed offseason concerns
09:31 — The offensive sequencing felt weird from the opening drive
13:20 — Offensive line injuries mattered
13:44 — Fodje and the tackles struggled with Michigan’s edge rushers
18:56 — Empty 12 personnel was the failed new wrinkle
22:46 — Mateer had too many misses that should not be missed
24:58 — OU still had a chance despite the offensive mess
27:00 — The standard for Oklahoma’s defense is extremely high
29:12 — Pass rush concerns and lack of disruption
30:57 — Kip Lewis’ non-contact injury
36:24 — Mateer remains the key to Oklahoma’s season
36:40 — Grant: good teams can lose that game, really good teams do not
38:42 — Could OU still bounce back against Georgia and Texas?
40:54 — Three-word reviews begin
42:22 — “Nice extension, Denny”
43:40 — End-of-half time management failure
46:45 — Michigan’s offensive coordinator knew Underwood’s limitations
48:12 — Was Elijah Thomas open for a touchdown?
48:50 — Michigan took away Sategna and Beers in high-leverage moments
49:22 — JJ Buchanan’s third-and-long explosive still bothers Grant
50:32 — Running backs are mid and not dynamic
51:05 — Fans pile on the offense, Venables and the extension
56:23 — Grant: year five at Oklahoma should not look like this
59:45 — Michigan fumbled twice on the same series and OU recovered neither
01:00:22 — OU forces zero takeaways after Western Michigan forced three
01:04:60 — Lee still did not expect Oklahoma to lose
01:06:38 — Grant: this was the perfect script for Michigan to win
01:07:06 — OU failed to punch Michigan in the mouth early
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1 hr 10 min
September 10 Ep. 434 - OU-Michigan Preview: Is Michigan Really That Bad?
Ep. 434 - OU-Michigan Preview: Is Michigan Really That Bad?
The show opens with leftover thoughts from OU’s win over UTEP, followed by the latest injury news involving key offensive linemen.
Later, the guys begin their OU-Michigan preview by talking about how the Wolverines should be 0-1. Grant compares Michigan’s offense to Oklahoma’s 2024 offense, while Lee explains why Michigan’s heavy sixth-offensive-lineman “Rhino” package may play right into the strength of Oklahoma’s defense.
The guys discuss Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s struggling run game, Kyle Whittingham’s rocky start, and why OU’s defense should be eager for this matchup.
On the other side, Lee and Grant discuss what Oklahoma’s offense must show against Michigan’s defense.
The episode closes with Week 2 picks against the spread: Missouri at Kansas, Alabama at Kentucky, Mississippi State at Minnesota, Iowa State at Iowa, and Ohio State at Texas.
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Opening take: OU’s a 12 personnel team
04:13 — Leftover thoughts from the UTEP win
05:30 — OU used 12 personnel on 82.7 percent of snaps
09:30 — Danny Saili’s size and role on the defensive line
09:59 — Grant still thinks Saili looks undersized
13:02 — Jake Maikkula and Ryan Fodje trending toward a return
13:29 — Michael Fasusi availability becomes the major concern
14:00 — What does OU’s offensive line look like without Fasusi?
24:23 — Michigan should be 0-1 after Western Michigan
24:41 — Kyle Whittingham’s rough start at Michigan
25:22 — Bryce Underwood remains Michigan’s starter “right now”
26:01 — Underwood’s awkward response to Whittingham’s comments
26:25 — Michigan’s offense, Jason Beck and the Wolverines’ main weapons
27:01 — Western Michigan ending controversy
28:01 — Grant: Michigan’s offense looked like 2024 Oklahoma
31:16 — Why Western Michigan may have a real gripe
36:50 — Back to Michigan being a dumpster fire
37:09 — What Oklahoma’s defense needs to do against Bryce Underwood
38:31 — Michigan’s “Rhino” package plays into OU’s hands
40:04 — Why using a sixth offensive lineman only works if those linemen can block
42:40 — Stop the run and put Michigan in obvious passing situations
43:24 — JJ Buchanan may be Michigan’s only scary skill player
45:35 — Lee wants three takeaways from Oklahoma’s defense
47:57 — Grant: Michigan may improve, but the offense is not good
52:18 — Michigan’s yards per play and time-of-possession context
53:39 — What Oklahoma’s offense needs to show against Michigan
56:26 — Grant’s No. 1 offensive key: play a clean game
57:17 — Michigan’s penalty issues against Western Michigan
59:54 — John Mateer needs to keep building off Week 1
01:03:31 — Get the ball to Sategna, Trell Harris and Rocky Beers
01:05:56 — Lloyd Avant can keep Oklahoma on schedule
01:06:20 — Grant’s prediction
01:08:48 — Lee’s prediction
01:15:13 — OU needs to punch Michigan in the mouth early
01:16:15 — Programming note: Lee on 107.7 The Franchise postgame show
01:18:42 — Around college football and Week 2 setup
01:20:02 — Tennessee-Georgia Tech, Auburn and Gavin Freeman thoughts
01:22:12 — Ole Miss-Louisville and LSU-Clemson thoughts
01:25:24 — Oregon-Boise State and Boise as a G6 contender
01:26:21 — Week 2 picks begin
01:26:54 — Missouri at Kansas
01:29:26 — Alabama at Kentucky
01:31:25 — Mississippi State at Minnesota
01:35:38 — Iowa State at Iowa
01:36:51 — Ohio State at Texas
01:38:50 — Final thoughts before OU-Michigan weekend
Subscribe to the West of Everest YouTube channel
Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and please leave a five-star rating and review if you enjoy the podcast.
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1 hr 36 min
September 05 Ep. 433 - OU’s Offense Actually Looks Different in 51-0 Shutout Of UTEP
Ep. 433 - OU’s Offense Actually Looks Different in 51-0 Shutout Of UTEP
The Sooners opened the 2026 season by shutting out UTEP 51-0 Friday night at Owen Field. The guys discuss their likes and dislikes from the game and read your 3-Word Reviews!
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Oklahoma opens the season with a 51-0 shutout
03:44 — Tight end usage was not just offseason talk
04:37 — Grant: 12 personnel looked like OU’s base offense
08:05 — John Mateer looked comfortable and the offense looked balanced
10:31 — Easy explosive plays in the passing game
11:04 — Rocky Beers looks like a real weapon
11:56 — Mateer looked like his pre-injury version
12:48 — Noah Best starts at center as a true freshman
14:58 — Likes on Offense -- Isaiah Sategna looked like the best player on the team
18:15 — Lee liked Lloyd Avant’s debut
19:47 — Grant liked the easy downfield passing game
20:44 — Ben Arbuckle deserves credit for adjusting the offense
21:15 — Jonathan Hatton flashes on his second carry
22:53 — John Mateer’s efficiency and Hayden Hansen’s catch
26:21 — Elijah Thomas gets involved early
28:10 — Trell Harris wins immediately against zero coverage
28:40 — Dislikes on offense
35:53 — Overall offensive verdict: good, but run-game explosiveness remains a question
36:06 — Likes on defense
37:24 — OU pitched a shutout and people still had defensive complaints
42:15 — Taylor Wein and P.J. Adebawore stood out
45:15 — Wyatt Gilmore and Cole Sullivan stand out
47:17 — OU forces two takeaways in Week 1
47:56 — Dislikes on defense
55:56 — 3-word reviews
01:07:17 — Final verdict: OU looked like a good team
01:07:39 — Mateer’s yards per attempt and deep passing encouragement
01:08:08 — Why Jake Maikkula is needed for Michigan
01:08:34 — Encouraging signs on Maikkula’s status
Subscribe to the West of Everest YouTube channel
Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and please leave a five-star rating and review if you enjoy the podcast.
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1 hr 10 min
September 03 Ep. 432 - OU-UTEP Preview: What The Sooners Must Show in Week 1
Ep. 432 – OU-UTEP Preview: What The Sooners Must Show in Week 1
The show begins with the latest injury news on Oklahoma’s offensive line. Just when Jake Maikkula appeared to be the main injury concern at center, Ryan Fodje — listed as the top center on OU’s Week 1 depth chart — suffered a lower-body injury. The good news: reports indicate Fodje’s MRI was negative, and Jake Maikkula is progressing well.
Lee and Grant also break down Oklahoma’s Week 1 depth chart, revisit their pre-fall camp “unanswerable questions” and ask which ones actually got answered.
Then Lee and Grant preview Oklahoma vs. UTEP. They discuss UTEP quarterback EJ Colson, the Miners’ new-look offensive line, UTEP’s defensive strengths, and what OU’s defense should do against an overmatched opponent. For Oklahoma, the big questions are mostly on offense: can the Sooners run the ball consistently, can the tight ends help in the run game, will Ben Arbuckle show more 12 personnel and 13 personnel, and can John Mateer push the ball downfield while staying healthy?
The episode ends with the return of the weekly picks segment. Lee and Grant pick five Week 1 games against the spread: Coastal Carolina at West Virginia, Baylor vs. Auburn, Clemson at LSU, Louisville vs. Ole Miss, and SMU at Florida State.
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Opening Take: Football is finally here
02:58 — Kickoff weather at Owen Field and a hot Friday night vs. UTEP
03:19 — OU, UTEP and the 2000 season opener comparison
05:07 — Lee’s OU hat falls, and Grant has thoughts on the old OU logo
06:22 — Ryan Fodje and Jake Maikkula injury updates
09:32 — Is OU telling us Caleb Nitta just isn’t very good?
12:40 — Maikkula’s MCL timeline and possible Michigan return
15:16 — Week 1 depth chart nuggets begin
15:38 — Parker Livingstone or Elijah Thomas at X receiver
19:44 — Running back depth chart: Lloyd Avant or Xavier Robinson
20:33 — Tory Blaylock injury status and Jonathan Hatton’s opportunity
24:14 — Defensive depth chart lists 12 positions
25:09 — Wyatt Gilmore backing up Taylor Wein
26:47 — Tank Carrington fourth on the depth chart despite strong buzz
27:10 — Bishop Thomas, Nigel Smith and interior defensive line depth
28:21 — LeBron Bauer shows up at cheetah
28:56 — Tristan Haynes vs. Dakota Fields as the fourth corner battle
29:49 — Omarion Robinson’s flexibility at both safety spots
31:15 — Revisiting the pre-fall camp unanswerable questions
31:53 — Trell Harris makes it through Fall Camp healthy
35:42 — Is the running back room healthy going into Week 1?
37:02 — Did Bo Bentley win the backup quarterback job?
40:09 — Elijah Thomas becomes the obvious fall camp riser
40:49 — Did OU’s offense ever have its way with the defense?
44:02 — OU vs. UTEP preview begins
44:36 — Line update: Oklahoma favored by 40.5
45:38 — UTEP’s move to the Mountain West and EJ Colson’s path
47:05 — Colson’s 2025 production at Incarnate Word
47:31 — UTEP’s new offensive line and veteran defense
48:21 — UTEP’s sack production and healthy receiver additions
50:28 — Grant’s No. 1 defensive goal: no explosives
51:38 — OU’s run defense opener history under Brent Venables
52:37 — EJ Colson’s mobility and potential broken-play threat
53:20 — Can OU completely strangle UTEP’s offense?
54:24 — Can OU pitch a shutout or hold UTEP to one score?
54:49 — Defensive players to watch: Tank Carrington, PJ Adebawore and Cole Sullivan
55:47 — Wyatt Gilmore, Jake Kreul, Danny Okoye and Michael Boganowski
56:49 — What Oklahoma’s offense needs to show
57:29 — Hayden Hansen says OU is not one-dimensional anymore
58:03 — How much 12 personnel and 13 personnel will OU actually use?
58:26 — Grant wants to see whether the run scheme has really changed
59:20 — OU needs to impose its will in the run game
59:57 — Grant wants John Mateer to push the ball downfield
01:01:09 — Lee wants OU to average at least six yards per carry
01:01:55 — Why last year’s opener showed OU could not run consistently
01:03:42 — Grant’s No. 1 offensive goal: stay healthy
01:04:06 — OU-UTEP predictions
01:08:10 — Other Week 1 games worth monitoring
01:12:01 — Coastal Carolina at West Virginia pick
01:14:53 — Baylor vs. Auburn in Atlanta
01:16:58 — Clemson at LSU preview and pick
01:21:40 — Louisville vs. Ole Miss in Nashville
01:23:21 — SMU at Florida State on Monday night
01:25:10 — Last year’s picks records and Week 1 context
01:27:08 — Football is back and Grant is going to Minnesota’s opener
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1 hr 29 min
August 31 Ep. 431 - The Big Season Preview Is Back!
Ep. 431 - The Big Season Preview Is Back!
Game week is finally here, and the Big Season Preview is back!
But first, Grant can’t believe a stat he just learned about a SEC team from the 70’s, the guys discuss the ongoing battle for the starting center spot, and acknowledge that OU recently announced its 2026 team captains.
Then, it’s time for the Big Season Preview as Lee and Grant go through five preseason prompts built around certainty, cautious optimism, skepticism, crazy-but-possible outcomes, and things they may not want to say too loudly. Topics include Oklahoma’s dominant run defense, whether OU will force more takeaways, whether the Sooners could have the best defense in college football, whether Deland McCullough fixes the running back room, whether John Mateer becomes OU’s most dynamic runner, whether the 12 personnel and under-center buzz is real, Elijah Thomas and Jonathan Hatton hype, PJ Adebawore’s NFL upside, the possibility of a 1,000-yard rusher, whether OU could produce two 800-yard receivers, and the uncomfortable possibility that Oklahoma could still finish 7-5 or worse.
The guys also include predictions from the West of Everest community, including thoughts on Mateer, Ben Arbuckle, the tight end room, Danny Okoye, OU’s turnover total, Brent Venables’ contract extension and the Sooners’ 2026 floor.
Finally, Lee and Grant revisit their past preseason predictions from 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 before making their final 2026 record picks. The show closes with quick Week Zero thoughts on TCU, Memphis, Jackson Arnold, CJ Bailey, USC, Lincoln Riley, Gary Patterson and the arrival of real college football.
Chapters/Timecodes
00:00 — Opening Take - Oklahoma’s goal: three takeaways per game
04:20 — Grant reacts to the 1970 Tennessee takeaway record
08:43 — West of Everest moves to two episodes per week during the season
09:27 — Center position remains the biggest pre-UTEP storyline
10:08 — Ryan Fodje may be leading the center battle
16:48 — Oklahoma names nine captains
17:29 — Big season preview begins and the show is about to get better because the offseason content machine is almost over
22:02 — Prompt 1: “I am so certain of this that I haven’t even considered an alternative”
28:20 — Prompt 2: “I’m pretty sure this will happen, but I’m not ready to commit”
36:50 — Prompt 3: “I’m hearing the positive talk, but I still need to see it”
44:06 — Prompt 4: “That’s crazy, but it could happen”
59:28 — Grant’s boldest prediction
01:00:51 — Prompt 5: “I’m just going to keep my thoughts to myself”
01:02:29 — Predictions from the West of Everest community
01:11:03 — OU’s floor should be higher with a great defense and returning QB
01:12:46 — Looking back at West of Everest preseason predictions
01:13:19 — 2024 prediction review: Lee 9-3, Grant 8-4, OU finished 6-6
01:14:23 — 2023 prediction review: both picked 9-3, OU finished 10-2
01:16:47 — 2022 prediction review and maybe Grant’s worst take ever
01:20:55 — 2021 prediction review: Lee 11-1, Grant 12-0, OU finished 10-2
01:23:46 — Lee clarifies criticism of Venables is not an endorsement of Riley
01:24:44 — Final 2026 OU record picks
01:29:05 — Quick national college football thoughts from Week Zero
01:30:20 — TCU, Jaden Craig and Josh Hoover’s value
01:31:21 — Memphis, Jackson Arnold and pressure issues
01:32:33 — CJ Bailey, Virginia and the offseason quarterback hype machine
01:33:46 — USC, San Jose State and another Lincoln Riley-style game
01:35:39 — Looking ahead to UTEP
Subscribe to the West of Everest YouTube channel
Follow the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and please leave a five-star rating and review if you enjoy the podcast.
Follow West of Everest on X, Instagram and Facebook.
1 hr 36 min