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

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