Champion Standard Podcast | Chomp Talk with Mossis Madu
Posted on: May 18, 2025
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Chomp Talk with Mossis Madu
As the Oklahoma Sooners step into the ring for round two in the SEC, few voices can balance nostalgia, realism, and insight like former Sooner running back Moses Madu. In his recent return to the Champion Standard podcast’s “Chomp Talk” segment, Madu joined hosts Rob and Brad to talk about everything from the Sooners’ running back room to the future of college football, NIL chaos, and why expectations in Norman might need tempering.
First Impressions of Jaydn Ott
“He Can Go”
The spotlight early in the conversation landed on Jaydn Ott, the highly-touted transfer from Cal who joins OU’s backfield this season. Madu admitted he didn’t know much about Ott when the news first broke. But after watching film, combing through social media clips, and digging into stats, his view changed dramatically.
“I was like, this kid can go,” Madu said. “He’s the closest thing to a home-run threat we’ve had in a minute—probably since Eric Gray.”
Ott, who led multiple statistical categories, brings speed, shiftiness, and breakaway potential. Madu noted that adding a player of Ott’s caliber deepens a running back room that already includes Xavier Robinson (whom both hosts are high on) and Taylor Tatum, despite the latter’s ball security struggles last season.
But Madu emphasized something else: contrast. Ott provides a different style from the power and burst of guys like Robinson. That contrast, he says, is vital if Oklahoma hopes to compete week in and week out in the brutal SEC.
NIL, the Portal, and the Semi-Pro Future
Madu, now a coach and full-time dad balancing softball games and recruiting trips, didn’t hold back on his views of how the college landscape has changed—and what it means for programs like Oklahoma.
“I really think the college game’s going pro. You’re going to see scouting departments just like the NFL. They’ll have guys watching film 24/7. The portal and NIL changed everything.”
That’s where Jim Nagy’s hiring as a behind-the-scenes football administrator stood out to Madu. The former Senior Bowl director and longtime NFL scout brings the kind of experience OU needs to navigate this new frontier. According to Madu, bringing in someone who’s negotiated with agents and evaluated talent at the pro level is more critical now than ever.
“In today’s game, a guy like Nagy is just as important as your strength coach or OC. Maybe more.”
But while Madu embraces the professionalization of college football, he also lamented what’s been lost—especially for players from his era.
“Back when I played, we had $150 a month after rent. I joke that my booster was my girlfriend’s mom,” he said, laughing. “Now these kids are getting life-changing money—and I’m not mad at it.”
Still, he sees the chaos. Players quitting mid-season, promises not being met, the portal spinning nonstop. He floated ideas like multi-year contracts and transfer windows—mechanisms that could inject structure into the madness.
OU’s 2025 Outlook: Brutal Realism
Perhaps the most sobering moment came when Rob asked Madu for his early prediction for the 2025 season.
“I don’t think we have to be on suicide watch like last year,” Madu joked. “But it’s gonna be tough. I’d be happy with seven wins.”
Seven wins? For a program of OU’s pedigree, that sounds low—but Madu laid it out clearly: it’s about the trenches.
“Skill guys? We’re fine. But we’re not there yet in the trenches. It’s different in the SEC, man. You feel it.”
While Rob and Brad were floating 8-9 wins, Madu’s view was grounded in recent history. Last year’s 6-7 finish exposed glaring holes on both lines, and despite a strong offensive line class and elite interior DL prospects like David Stone, Jaden Jackson, and Da’Jon Terry, Madu believes it’ll take time for the units to raise the bar.
“That’s always the difference—Big 12 vs SEC. It’s the big boys up front.”
Brad countered that OU isn’t that far off—maybe one or two years from being ready—but Madu was firm: three to four years, especially with how everything reset after coaching changes and transfers.
The NIL Tug-of-War: Loyalty vs. Survival
Madu also touched on the deeper ethical tension NIL has introduced—what happens when tradition collides with cold, hard cash.
For kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, NIL is a golden ticket—not just for them, but for their families. But Madu still worries about what’s lost in the process: team loyalty, fan connection, and recruiting for the right reasons.
“We’ve got to find a way to keep the tradition of college football alive. Otherwise it just becomes another league.”
He floated ideas like player contracts, loyalty clauses, and caps—not to hinder players, but to protect the sport’s soul.
The Thunder Surge & J-Dub’s Bounceback
After the deep dive into football, the show shifted gears to basketball, with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff run in full swing. Rob and Brad praised the team’s resilience, especially in their Game 7 win against the Nuggets.
“They went on a 50–25 run to end the half—crazy,” Brad said.
Jalen Williams (J-Dub) finally had a breakout game with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) did what stars do, pouring in 35 effortlessly.
But the hosts were just as hyped about role players like Alex Caruso (+40) and Cason Wallace (+38)—guys whose defensive energy transformed the series.
“Caruso was like a human gnat on Joker,” Rob said.
They previewed the upcoming matchup against Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, predicting a bruising, physical series. Still, both hosts believed the Thunder were built for this—fast, deep, and tenacious.
“I called it months ago,” Rob reminded Brad. “This team will win the whole thing.”
Final Word: A Real One Returns
Moses Madu doesn’t sugarcoat it. His blend of affection for the program and realistic assessment is exactly what OU fans need right now. With the transition to the SEC, a brutal 2025 schedule, and uncertainty up front, OU is facing a prove-it year.
But that doesn’t mean it’s doom and gloom.
If Ott delivers, if the trenches develop, and if young pieces gel fast, Oklahoma could surprise some people. And with the sport evolving faster than ever, Madu’s perspective—that of a player, coach, and now Fan—might be the Sooners’ best reality check.
“I’m always rooting for ‘em,” he said. “But you’ve got to keep it real.”
