Oklahoma Sooners Unofficial 40

Latest Episodes:

U40: OU football's General Manager is probably a little bit different than most Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

Oklahoma football introduced Jim Nagy as Oklahoma's new General Manager. And Carey says there is way more to OU's vision than most college programs right now. We talk about our impressions of Nagy's approach and what he had to say yesterday. Brent Venables also spoke to the media for the first time since the Armed Forces Bowl. He dropped some injury news and we have plenty to say about that as well. John Mateer took to the podium and his comments gave people a first look at who he really is. So who is he? Brent's explanation about cancelling the spring game did make a lot of sense. But some of us still think it would have been smarter to put together some type of game for the good of OU's pocket books, especially with OU needing as much money as possible for revenue sharing and NIL. Josh updates us on the latest in recruiting and with Future Freaks coming up. Also, can Porter Moser save his job? What does it mean if the men's basketball team makes the NCAA Tournament? Could he still be fired? Should he? We break down everything spring in this edition of the Unofficial 40.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40! Spring football has begun. Let’s start with meeting the new GM Jim Nagy

11:00 - Discussing how OU’s front office will work with the coaching staff when it comes to recruiting

34:00 - John Mateer

47:00 - First impressions of the transfers/freshmen

1:06:00 - Future Freaks Weekend ahead

1:20:44 - Hoops; SEC Womens Tourney + Men get a big win on Senior Night

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U40: Jim Nagy is OU's new General Manager. We break it down. Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

OU announced they have hired former Executive Director of the Senior Bowl, Jim Nagy, to fill their General Manager role for OU football. Carey, Josh, Eddie and George are here to breakdown the hire and what happens next. Fans have reason for excitement as this is one of the biggest and flashiest hires in college football this offseason. How do Nagy and Brent Venables and Joe Castiglione work together? Will there be any issues to work through regarding personnel, recruiting, scouting, NIL, etc.? And what are we hearing about how Nagy fits into the athletic department? Just a lot to work through on a huge news day. We also get in some Porter Moser talk as OU basketball needs to continue to momentum down the stretch. The latest in recruiting and a hot start on the diamond for the OU baseball team. It's a big day, join us!

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40! Oklahoma makes significant waves with GM hire of Jim Nagy

35:00 - Structuring the front office & the future of scouting departments in CFB

49:00 - Hoops

1:00:00 - OU QB commit Jaden O’Neal drops in On3 300; OU QB target Bowe Bentley rises

1:14:00 - Spring football talk

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U40: Go away ice and freezing temps. It's time for spring sports Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

The ice has cleared from the roads and we were finally back in the studio for a marathon edition of the Unofficial 40. Joe Castiglione released an email detailing OU's plan with NIL moving forward and it caught some people by surprise. Isn't money still king when it comes to NIL though? We discuss. The SEC and Big Ten are trying to take control of the College Football Playoff. Are we OK with that? The baseball team is off to a strong start. But we are looking forward to seeing more. Got warmer Oklahoma! And we dive back into the basketball situation. Is the panel unanimous on moving on from Porter Moser? Josh is here to talk recruiting and new info since the Monday Recruiting Report. We also discuss Steve Wiltfon's new intel surround OU QB target Bowe Bentley. All that on more on a brand new edition of the U40.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40!

10:00 - Joe C letter to the fans

27:00 - SEC/Big Ten looking for change in CFB

45:00 - Baseball/Softball

54:00 - More Porter Moser discussion … it’s time

1:34:00 - Recruiting/Sooners making in-roads

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U40: Who is on the hottest seat in the athletic department Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

The guys gather back after a freeze took over OKC on Wednesday and we're airing grievances. Men's basketball is falling off a cliff once again, so where do things stand with Porter Moser? And with that said, where do things stand with Joe Castiglione. With Brent Venables coaching for his job in 2025, how far behind is Castiglone? The guys discuss where everything currently stands in the athletic department. We're also breaking down what has gone wrong with the OU basketball program. How much has a lack of NIL hurt OU hoops? And who would even take over the job at Oklahoma the way things are. It also seems like the new entertainment district is dead with a new mayor taking over in Norman.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40! We had a ball with the Thunder, JP Losman moving on to Washington U

13:00 - DeMarco Murray is staying at Oklahoma despite a flirtation with Penn State

25:00 - Men’s basketball is embarrassing … let’s have a discussion about the athletics department

50:32 - Josh dishes on HS FB recruiting and NIL

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U40: Could the OU spring football game disappear? Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

With just one more football game left, we're about to officially hit the offseason. But the Thunder are getting back Chet Holmgren Friday night! In other OU news, signing day has come and gone and we wonder how coaches and front offices will co-exist in the recruiting game. OU fans were criticized by the SEC announcers during the OU-Auburn basketball game and it sent us down a rabbit hole of exciting OU basketball teams over the years. We also talk about the future of spring football games. George used to cover the NFL and we talk about NFL offseasons vs. college offseasons and how they might start looking more and more similar. There is a framework being worked on by members of the Power 4 conferences to rein in NIL and make things more manageable for colleges. But there is still so much work to be done to make NIL what it was supposed to be. And can it ever really be what it was supposed to be? And happy Superbowl weekend everybody! Whether the Chiefs or Eagles win, there will be Sooners on one side taking home a NFL Championship.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40! Things are going great for the OKC Thunder. National Signing Day is dead

10:00 - Some Nate Dreiling background info

15:00 - Talking hoops. Will OU make the NCAA Tournament?

50:30 - Will spring games be canceled in the future?

1:05:00 - REPORT: Framework for house settlement structure

1:15:00 - Super Bowl Sunday with the Sooners

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U40: More from OU's big recruiting weekend, latest on staff hires Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

The Sooners are hitting the recruiting trail and making a mad dash to make big impressions. And it looks like they are. Coaches are all over the country making visits to homes and high schools. And even though Brent Venables doesn't have an official defensive coordinator, it's not slowing him or his staff down from making good impressions on defensive talent. But the surprise so far is what Ben Arbuckle and the offensive staff have been doing on the recruiting trail. After a very successful junior day, the Sooners picked up a commitment from 4-star WR Daniel Odom. Are they close on another big time pass rusher? We also delve into OU's build of a personnel department with a General Manager. The process is underway. What to expect? We've got that too. We've got some hoops talk and of course some updates on George's wedding. And it appears betrayal is in the air as one key member of the Scoop staff has already said he won't be coming.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40!

8:00 - What’s the latest on Oklahoma 2026 QB recruiting

20:00 - 4-star WR Daniel Odom commits + wrapping up Junior Day

21:50 - 4-star DE Kevin Ford ready to commit?

29:24 - 4-star safety Kaiden Hall impressed with visit

34:20 - Football staff on the recruiting trail

42:00 - First impressions of Ben Arbuckle as a recruiter

46:00 - No Jim Knowles. Who does Brent Venables hire?

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U40: High School recruiting is a thing again, still in neutral on Knowles movement Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

It's Wednesday and we're still waiting. As we continue to monitor the Jim Knowles/defensive coordinator situation, we're still waiting in neutral with no new news developing at the time of the podcast. Why is that? We explain. It's also ramping up on the recruiting trail as coaches are out making visits. There is also a massive junior day coming up. Josh McCuisition is here with all the details of what's going on with the high schoolers. We talk a little bit about the national championship and the men's hoops team finally wins a SEC basketball game. And they did it in blowout fashion. It's snowing in Houston and we're stuck waiting on Knowles. Plus much more on this edition of the Unofficial 40.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40! Jim Knowles watch continues

7:00 - Ohio State wins the Natty!

20:23 - Latest on Oklahoma’s pursuit of Ohio State DC Jim Knowles

38:00 - Recruiting - Junior Day ahead

1:21:00 - Hoops

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U40: We're back talking Jim Knowles Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

The gang is back as we've seen plenty of reaction to us naming Jim Knowles as a potential candidate for the open defensive coordinator job. And we're here for everyone's doubts. We think it's crazy too. Josh gives his thoughts on the Navy All-American game and Ryan Fodje's day at center. We're also looking at OU's two-deep and we keep getting positive vibes about the future of the offensive line. How has OU done in the portal since it started? George has some kind of depressing numbers to share. And we also talk about the possibilities of Jaren Kanak as an offensive player. And of course our thoughts on the national championship game and the coaching carousel.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40! Spring semester has begun. But for real … is Jim Knowles really a target?

18:50 - Navy All-American Recap

32:00 - Projecting Oklahoma’s two-deep in 2025

43:00 - George doing research and presents his findings

52:00 - Jaren Kanak to H-back?

1:13:00 - CFB Roundtable

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U40: Josh from the Navy All-American practices, OU DC rumors swirl Jan 09, 2025

Show notes

Josh took off to San Antonio for a day of Navy All-American bowl practices where he caught up with OU commitments Ryan Fodje and Trystan Haynes. Find out from Josh how guys performed and some of the takeaways from talking to players after practice. We recap the latest from the portal as R Mason Thomas is back and the Sooners land a couple of nice defensive additions from the portal. Which goes to speak how players are viewing the defense without a defensive coordinator. And on that subject, what about the rumors that are surfacing about Ohio State DC Jim Knowles having potential interest in coming to Norman. We talk about it, after Eddie forces Carey and George to stop being coy. We talk a little bit of hoops as the Sooners need to rebound from an embarrassing loss at Alabama. And we end it with some CFP talk.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the U40! Josh is in the beautiful city of San Antonio, Texas for the Navy All-American game practice

20:00 - R Mason Thomas leads the pack of returning players to the program in 2025

28:30 - Marvin Jones Jr. (Florida State), Kendall Daniels (Okla State) joining the program

38:00 - What’s going on with the DC search?

50:00 - Hoops updates; Conference play has begun

58:00 - CFP Playoffs

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U40: The future of OU football's front office is being built now Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of the Unofficial 40, we are talking about the changes to Oklahoma football from a General Manager perspective. Chuck Lillie is leaving for a GM role with West Virginia and everyone wants to know what that means. We are diving into OU's plans for the future as the football program will develop a front office structure more similar to the NFL. What that means and who that affects are questions that still need to be answered. But we breakdown what we know and what that means for the future of OU football and college sports in general. With the outflow of players to the portal, we're also starting to get a feel for what the team is going to look like next season. A lot of unanswered questions there too at certain positions. But we feel pretty good about the overall strength of this roster as things stand today. One player we're still waiting on to declare his future is R Mason Thomas. He put out an interesting video today. And Michael Fasusi shined this week during Under Armour practices. Josh tells us what that means moving forward. And we have some general CFP discussion to round things out.

THE FULL RUNDOWN FOLLOWS BELOW:

0:00 - Welcome back to the Unofficial40! Chuck Lillie departing for GM role with West Virginia

4:30 - What does restructuring of the football front office mean? Here’s an elementary understanding of what’s goin on behind the scenes

28:00 - Will 2025 be the most talented *defensive* roster?

37:00 - What’s going on with R. Mason Thomas? And Florida State’s Marvin Jones Jr./Oklahoma State’s Kendal Daniels visited Norman

45:00 - Michael Fasusi named MVP at Under Armour

1:03:00 - Thoughts on CFP

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