The Football Brainiacs

Continuing with our plan this offseason to share some content that a couple members of our community have been creating for close to a year now!

I am happy to be able to announce that TFB supports The Champion Standard Podcast!

Our guys @soonerbrad and @Birddawg have been pumping out some high-quality podcasts that talk about Xs and Os, hot topics, and OU football talk in general. This podcast represents the views and opinions of Rob and Brad and TFB is not part of their operation, but we do endorse it wholeheartedly!

Each time a new podcast drops I will post it here for the community. Give the guys a listen, sub to their YouTube channel, and include their pods on your mobile devices!

Also, keep an eye out in the spring for Rob and Brad’s tailgate which we here at TFB are planning on supporting!

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Spring Ballin’

Norman, OK – Springtime in Sooner Nation isn’t just about blooming bradford pear’s— it’s about blooming rosters, hard resets, and championship expectations across every sport. With co-host Brad back from a “non-vacation” (aka a moving madness), the latest Champion Standard episode, “Spring Ballin’,” goes full-circle into all spring round-up.

🏀 Men’s Hoops: A Fight, a Fall, and a Face Reborn

OU’s tourney return ended early at the hands of UConn, but there was no shame in losing to the back to back champs.

“We came out hot. It looked like we belonged. Then UConn settled in — they’ve been built for this. Two straight titles, man. That’s a machine.” – Brad

Despite the loss, the future brightened instantly with the announcement that Trae Young would be joining as Assistant GM. The Sooner legend brings more than just name recognition — he brings branding firepower and a shot of NIL adrenaline.

We’ve got the dollars. That’s not the issue. It’ll never be the issue for OU—basketball, softball, football, you name it.” – Champion Standard

“Trey Young’s a walking brand. And now he’s part of the program. That’s a game-changer.”

Still, Porter Moser remains a lightning rod. The seat may not be hot, but it’s warm.

👑 OU Women’s Hoops: Baranczyk Lands the No. 1 Recruit

Jenny Baranczyk continues her rapid ascent, bringing back the shine to OU women’s basketball. After a strong SEC debut, she landed the nation’s No. 1 recruit — shaking up the landscape and making TikTok headlines along the way.

“You don’t get the top player in the country without serious resources and a serious plan. OU’s has both.” – Rob

Stat Watch:

Knocked out by UConn in the NCAA tournament
OU’s program now nationally relevant again
The pod suggests Baranczyk is building a brand-driven machine — and they’re bullish on her sticking around if OU keeps the momentum.

🥎 Softball: A Loss, A Lesson, and A Legacy in Motion

The OU softball dynasty hit a rare speed bump, dropping their first SEC series to Tennessee. But the reaction? A shrug of champions who know adversity builds dynasties.

“Tennessee celebrated like they won the WCWS. That’s the respect we’ve earned — queens of the mountain. We’ll be back

Quick Stats:

Record: 34–3
Series loss: 1–2 vs. No. 10 Tennessee
Ella Parker: Battling a slump, still flirting with a .400 avg
Pitching: Sam Landry and Deal showing flashes; second, third arms still developing
Don’t worry, though — Patty Gasso has this team tracking toward peak form by May.

⚾ Baseball: SEC Bruisers Bring Fire Early

OU Baseball dropped a tight series to LSU, but the show hosts were in awe of the SEC’s depth.

“Eight of the top ten teams in the country are from the SEC. Eight! It’s a gauntlet.”

Baseball SEC Top 10 Teams:

Tennessee
Arkansas
Georgia
Texas
LSU
Bama
Ole Miss
Oklahoma
The grind is real — but the hosts agree: OU belongs.

🏈 Spring Football: New Faces, Same Pressure

The football segment was buzzing, especially with John Mateer shining this spring.

“He’s always smiling — he’s just having fun. And that tells you he’s in total command.”

Offensive Highlights:

John Mateer + Ben Arbuckle = seamless chemistry
Fasusi & Fodji: Massive OL freshmen making waves early
X-Rob: A fan favorite looking to break out
Okoye: Rob’s favorite Edge to emerge in the coming months.
Tight End Room Update:

Devon Mitchell transferring out — “He must had ate himself out of OU?” joked the hosts.
🛡️ Defensive Talk: Rock-Solid Interior, But Where’s the Edge?

Defensively, OU is strong up the middle, but there are questions on the perimeter.

Interior D-Line Trio:

David Stone
Jaden Jackson
Dominic Williams
“That three-man rotation is straight-up terrifying. They stop the run cold.”

Linebackers:

Kip Lewis: 2 pick-sixes in ‘23
Kobe McKinzie: Filling in admirably for Stutsman
Sammy Omasego: Emerging depth piece
But edge rusher remains a need.

“RMT needs a sidekick. Whether it’s Marvin Jones Jr., PJ Adeboware, or Danny Okoye — someone has to step up.”

Secondary Concerns:

Corner depth shaky
Gentry Williams health key
Eli Bowen: Can he avoid the sophomore slump?
“We can’t portal our way out again. Jay Valai has to develop someone now.”

🧠 The Nagy Factor: A GM Move That Could Change Everything

Jim Nagy’s arrival as GM is a seismic shift. The pod believes his $2.5M/3-year deal is an outright steal.

“That’s a GM contract at clearance prices. He’s going to absolutely outperform it.”

They expect to see his fingerprints soon — particularly during the spring portal window.

🔚 Final Whistle

With basketball season closing and diamond sports heating up, the Sooners are navigating a pivotal spring. The energy is up. The vision is clear. And everyone’s eyeing September for the ultimate test.