WHAT IS UP, SOONER NATION?!
I’m Casey Mallon, and you are officially locked into a SOONER STATE OF MIND.

We are five days away from Oklahoma playoff football, and the hype is REAL. In this must-listen episode, we set the table for a massive College Football Playoff first-round showdown as the #8 Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) host the #9 Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) on Friday, December 19th in Norman. The Tide may be slight favorites, but don’t forget — OU already walked into Tuscaloosa in Red November and walked out with a 23–21 win, snapping Alabama’s 17-game home winning streak.

Before we dive headfirst into OU vs Bama, we take care of some big-time Sooner business:

• “Tate the Great” Sandell brings home the Lou Groza Award, capping one of the greatest kicking seasons in Oklahoma history

• A look at Sandell’s clutch kicks vs Michigan, Tennessee, and Alabama — distance and moment matter

• Brent Venables calling Sandell the MVP of the Tennessee win — and he wasn’t wrong

We also touch on the wider college football landscape:

• The increasingly tragic Michigan situation and what it means for the program, the portal, and Bryce Underwood’s future

• Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy, becoming Indiana’s first-ever winner and leading the Hoosiers to the CFP as the No. 1 seed

• Could Oklahoma see Mendoza and Indiana in Pasadena? One step at a time…

Then it’s full focus on Oklahoma vs Alabama:

• Why Alabama’s recent play (Georgia loss, offensive struggles) matters — but why you can never sleep on the Tide

• Ty Simpson’s numbers since the OU game and why yards don’t win games — points do

• Brent Venables is 4–0 in same-season rematches as a defensive play-caller, including the legendary Clemson vs Notre Dame shutdown in 2020

• As OU head coach, BV is 2–0 vs Alabama, outscoring them 47–24 with six turnovers and two pick-sixes

We break down the injury report and what it means:

• Gentry Williams and Kendel Dolby out

• Jayden Jackson questionable

• R Mason Thomas still uncertain — and why getting him back would be a massive boost

On the offensive side, we get real:

• The national slander of OU’s offense vs the reality of winning football

• What we liked from the LSU game

• Why Mateer’s footwork is everything

• The importance of establishing any run-game consistency

• Why Kanak needs more targets and why checkdowns are free money

Plus:

• A bold idea for a “Best of the Rest” postseason tournament

• Why the expanded playoff still isn’t perfect

• And why this season still has national championship potential

This episode is about belief, data, defense, and the Sooners doing things the hard way — and doing them right.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. The moment couldn’t be bigger. The vibes couldn’t be stronger.
Sooner Nation, it’s time to lock in.

Subscribe to Sooner State of Mind on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Amazon Music
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Because you already know…

My name is Casey Mallon — and I’m in a SOONER STATE OF MIND.

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WHAT IS UP SOONER NATION…
I AM CASEY MALLON — AND YOU ARE NOW IN A SOONER STATE OF MIND!

Buckle up, fam… because LSU came into Norman and tried to turn Saturday into pure SEC chaos — wind swirling, refs doing SEC-ref things, turnovers flying, momentum swinging like crazy — and yet again, these Sooners refused to break.

In this episode, we dive deep into OU’s gritty, gutsy showdown against LSU:
Peyton Bowen’s massive end-zone INT — Billy Bowman energy.
David Stone barking pre-snap like a field general.
Sategna making RIDICULOUS grabs.
Mateer’s roller-coaster afternoon — the good, the bad, the “WHY GOD,” and the clutch.
OU’s defense keeping the Sooners alive again and again.
And the elite trait the nation still underestimates: this team’s character under pressure.

We break down every possession, every momentum swing, every officiating meltdown (SEC refs… we need a word), and what this game really says about OU heading into the final playoff race.

Plus…
Why Texas fans continue to embarrass themselves
Why OU’s résumé already outshines most of the country
Why being battle-tested actually matters
What the playoff committee can’t afford to ignore
And how the coaching carousel — Golesh, Silverfield, Sumrall, Weis Jr., Golding & Kiffin — ties into postseason chaos

And of course…
SUBSCRIBE on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts & Amazon Music so you never miss an episode.

Head over to BLEAV.com → Shows → Sooner State of Mind for more OU content.
Watch the show on YouTube by searching The Football Dudes.

Because at the end of the day…
My name is Casey Mallon —
And I’m in a SOONER STATE OF MIND.

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WHAT IS UP SOONER NATION?!
I am Casey Mallon, and YOU are now in a Sooner State of Mind, the place where passion meets playoff dreams and Brent Venables’ defense hits like a midnight flyer rolling straight out of Birmingham.

OU walked into last weekend with two teams between them and the College Football Playoff. After handling business in Norman against Mizzou, that number is down to ONE. The Sooners took punches, dealt plenty back, battled SEC refs straight outta cartoon villain school, and still slammed the door shut with another dominant defensive performance. Now it’s time to look ahead as OU prepares for a season-defining showdown with LSU — and absolutely everything the Sooners want is still right in front of them.

From Mateer’s clutch legs to Sategna’s speed kills moment, from Peyton Bowen’s blocked kick to Big Wein sack celebrations, this episode has the full breakdown of OU vs. Missouri, the latest CFP Top 25 drama, and why LSU might be walking straight into a defensive buzzsaw in Norman.

Hit that subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music, because the road to the postseason runs THROUGH the Sooner State of Mind.

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