WHAT IS UP, SOONER NATION…

I’m Casey Mallon, and you are officially back in a SOONER STATE OF MIND.

The portal is WIDE open, the NIL landscape is shifting under everyone’s feet, and Oklahoma football is at the center of it all. In this episode, we break down the 21 Sooners currently in the transfer portal, including a few names that absolutely raised eyebrows—and we dig into the uncomfortable but very real truth of today’s game: getting paid now means you have to earn it. The Sooners learned that lesson the hard way with the Jaydn Ott situation, and going forward, every NIL dollar is going to come with expectations and accountability.

We dive deep into OU’s biggest roster needs, starting with a tight end room that—let’s be honest—has been a liability for far too long. From the departure of Joe Jon Finley to the possibility of fresh blood (and fresh ideas) at the position, we talk about why tight end production—at least in blocking—is no longer optional in the SEC. And yes, we give flowers to Jaren Kanak, who somehow became the most productive tight end on the roster after starting the year at linebacker.

It’s also a big-picture episode. We zoom out and talk about Nagy’s first full offseason as GM, why this staff is better positioned than people realize, and why—despite a frustrating ending—this team overachieved against a brutal schedule. A broken-thumb quarterback weeks before Texas, 10 wins, a playoff game, and hosting postseason football in Norman? If you offered that in August, you’d take it every single time.

From there, we jump into the Rose Bowl recap, Indiana’s rise from “afterthought” to national title contender, and the absolute meltdown happening across college football fandom. Notre Dame tears, Texas flexing a Cheez-It Bowl, BYU outrage, playoff expansion chaos—it’s all on the table. And yes, we talk about why playoff byes should come with home-field advantage, because momentum matters.

This one’s passionate. It’s honest. It’s unfiltered. And it’s very, very Sooner.

Head over to BLEAV.com, search Sooner State of Mind, and you’re locked in.
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play, and Amazon Music.
Want the video version? Find us on YouTube at The Football Dudes.

And in case you forgot…
My name is Casey Mallon — and I’m in a SOONER STATE OF MIND. ️

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