Can we have a moment of silence for Alabama. Hehehehehe. The got knocked out cause of Oklahoma. Well a little bit of Clemson too but mainly Oklahoma.

Vanderbilt had a part in it also but yea ultimately the bad loss to OU effectively knocked them out ha

Hindsight 20/20, but I have to wonder if Dillion Gabriel stayed and our offense injuries were fewer, I would expect 9 or 10 wins this year.

Hindsight 20/20, but I have to wonder if Dillion Gabriel stayed and our offense injuries were fewer, I would expect 9 or 10 wins this year.
I think that's exactly what would have happened.

H NIL will stop being the pay-to-play mechanism that it was never intended to be and those contracts will actually be for name, image, and likeness deals. .

this was ALWAYS where NIL was going .... and it won't stop until the players are employees and have a CBA .. (or there is Federal legislation )

If there's any rumors being spread then it's by Cale Gundy. And I have a problem believing that he would do that.

he is a very disgruntled fired former employee ... so he 100% would

he is a very disgruntled fired former employee ... so he 100% would

Cale gives no sign of being disgruntled. He is on the radio constantly and speaks very positively about OU and his time there. He knows he screwed up and shows no signs of blaming the Univ of OK. That doesn't mean he doesn't wish they hadn't fired him, but he understands why it had to happen. Everyone isn't bitter. There are some people who accept responsibility for their mistakes.

How he feels about the university vs how he feels about OU’s current leadership and coaching staff might be two very different things, however. In fairness I don’t think we have much insight there.

he is a very disgruntled fired former employee ... so he 100% would

I don't think he is disgruntled. He got caught by the cancel culture and paid a heavy price. He is smart enough to realize that and knows it is a society problem, not just an OU problem.

Hindsight 20/20, but I have to wonder if Dillion Gabriel stayed and our offense injuries were fewer, I would expect 9 or 10 wins this year.

He still would’ve been running for his life while the line pulled it together (even if they were healthy) but he was able to get rid of the ball much quicker and was better at eluding pressure and sliding up into any semblance of a pocket to make throws so that would’ve helped a ton. But SL still would’ve been the OC and while he’s been a good OC elsewhere, this clearly wasn’t a good fit for whatever he liked to do and I’m not sure how much DG improves that. I have to think he saw some of the things that happened this season coming to an extent and that probably made his decision easier. That said, he is excellent from a ball security standpoint and if we just limited QB turnovers and play average offense, we probably win at least 2-3 more games out of Mizzou, SC, Ole miss, and Tennessee and are in both the Texas and LSU games through the 4th quarter.

At the time, I think they made the right decision but in hindsight obviously you would rather have had DG. I’m also not sure he necessarily wanted to come back. The OC that he followed left, he likely saw some of the issues coming, Oregon had a much easier path to the playoff, he grew up a fan of Oregon and his sport idol growing up was Marcus Mariota and he was going to get more money at Oregon even if we tried to outspend them. We pay him as much as we can and we likely would’ve lost Arnold which at the time was something they absolutely wanted to avoid. JA just ended up being a bust for us. Unfortunately we called heads and the coin landed on tails.

Cale gives no sign of being disgruntled. He is on the radio constantly and speaks very positively about OU and his time there. He knows he screwed up and shows no signs of blaming the Univ of OK. That doesn't mean he doesn't wish they hadn't fired him, but he understands why it had to happen. Everyone isn't bitter. There are some people who accept responsibility for their mistakes.

he talked all year about OU having only an average Defense ... that is not remotely true on any level .. and shockingly he was pretty silent about it after the domination of Alabama

this was ALWAYS where NIL was going .... and it won't stop until the players are employees and have a CBA .. (or there is Federal legislation )

I just meant that hopefully NIL deals will just be what they are in professional sports and the direct payments would be part of a CBA. NIL wouldn't be part of the CBA, just like it isn't in professional sports. The CBA handles how athletes are paid by the teams / leagues. Beyond that, athletes can make as much NIL money as they can on their own based on their individual IP rights. The original ruling was not about paying players to play, it was about NOT obstructing their rights to make money on their personal IP, but it was quickly co-opted as an end-around way to pay players to play for a school.

I just meant that hopefully NIL deals will just be what they are in professional sports and the direct payments would be part of a CBA. NIL wouldn't be part of the CBA, just like it isn't in professional sports. The CBA handles how athletes are paid by the teams / leagues. Beyond that, athletes can make as much NIL money as they can on their own based on their individual IP rights. The original ruling was not about paying players to play, it was about NOT obstructing their rights to make money on their personal IP, but it was quickly co-opted as an end-around way to pay players to play for a school.

the only reason the NFL doesn't work that way .. (companies paying players extra just to come to X team) .. is that the CBA doesn't allow it ..

once you open the NIL door you can't cap it in any way ... except with a CBA ..

He still would’ve been running for his life while the line pulled it together (even if they were healthy) but he was able to get rid of the ball much quicker and was better at eluding pressure and sliding up into any semblance of a pocket to make throws so that would’ve helped a ton. But SL still would’ve been the OC and while he’s been a good OC elsewhere, this clearly wasn’t a good fit for whatever he liked to do and I’m not sure how much DG improves that. I have to think he saw some of the things that happened this season coming to an extent and that probably made his decision easier. That said, he is excellent from a ball security standpoint and if we just limited QB turnovers and play average offense, we probably win at least 2-3 more games out of Mizzou, SC, Ole miss, and Tennessee and are in both the Texas and LSU games through the 4th quarter.

At the time, I think they made the right decision but in hindsight obviously you would rather have had DG. I’m also not sure he necessarily wanted to come back. The OC that he followed left, he likely saw some of the issues coming, Oregon had a much easier path to the playoff, he grew up a fan of Oregon and his sport idol growing up was Marcus Mariota and he was going to get more money at Oregon even if we tried to outspend them. We pay him as much as we can and we likely would’ve lost Arnold which at the time was something they absolutely wanted to avoid. JA just ended up being a bust for us. Unfortunately we called heads and the coin landed on tails.
I might have read more into the original Dillon Gabriel question than was there. I took it as where would the team be if we had the OL that we thought we were going to have at the end of 2023 and had the WRs healthy. With that offense Gabriel would have been very successful.

Farooq transfer portal now too. Sounds like OU is going to need all new WRs from the portal!

I might have read more into the original Dillon Gabriel question than was there. I took it as where would the team be if we had the OL that we thought we were going to have at the end of 2023 and had the WRs healthy. With that offense Gabriel would have been very successful.

You are correct. That was my question.

Williams Nwaneri from Missouri is entering the portal. OU was his second pick during recruiting. He only played 38 snaps for Missouri in 2024, appearing in only four games.

the only reason the NFL doesn't work that way .. (companies paying players extra just to come to X team) .. is that the CBA doesn't allow it ..

Sure, but it doesn't prevent athletes from entering NIL agreements, obviously. That's what the original case was addressing. It doesn't really even address the concept of using NIL as a way to compensate an athlete to play somewhere, as far as I know. I know that's what it turned into and everyone uses that language interchangeably, but NIL is inherently not about paying someone to play. It's just their personal IP. But it is the playing that brings market value to that IP.


once you open the NIL door you can't cap it in any way ... except with a CBA ..

Which, it could be argued, would also be a violation of the Sherman Act. That's why CBA's should stick to direct compensation for playing for a team with the athletes free to generate whatever revenue they can from their personal NIL. Since the supreme court essentially said that limiting an athlete's NIL rights is anticompetitive, then the ruling could possibly be applied to all agreements involving professional athletes.

I'm not saying that's how it's working in college sports right now, just that it's how I think it should be approached going forward, now that schools can directly compensate athletes for playing for their school.

^^^^ I'm not sure if we are saying the same thing, but, I think the most basic purpose of a CBA is to compensate people for voluntarily giving up legal rights. So when players agree to a common draft, or service time limits to achieve free agency, they are exchanging their free right of job movement for the security of guaranteed pay structure and limited employees for their job classification (roster limits.

Sure, but it doesn't prevent athletes from entering NIL agreements, obviously. That's what the original case was addressing. It doesn't really even address the concept of using NIL as a way to compensate an athlete to play somewhere, as far as I know. I know that's what it turned into and everyone uses that language interchangeably, but NIL is inherently not about paying someone to play. It's just their personal IP. But it is the playing that brings market value to that IP.



Which, it could be argued, would also be a violation of the Sherman Act. That's why CBA's should stick to direct compensation for playing for a team with the athletes free to generate whatever revenue they can from their personal NIL. Since the supreme court essentially said that limiting an athlete's NIL rights is anticompetitive, then the ruling could possibly be applied to all agreements involving professional athletes.

I'm not saying that's how it's working in college sports right now, just that it's how I think it should be approached going forward, now that schools can directly compensate athletes for playing for their school.

A CBA wouldn’t prevent players from entering into NIL agreements but massive NIL agreements only exist for the most part because they’ve become a legal way for donors to pay the players. I guarantee most of these companies/people paying seniors in high school hundreds of thousands of dollars aren’t doing it because they they think partnering with the person is going to generate a huge return because the athlete reps their products or becomes a spokesman for them. Most of these players don’t have that type of pull until at least their second or third year and a huge percentage of them don’t pan out at all and end up transferring to a lower tiered school. For the ones that do pan out, a bunch still transfer. If you think fans are mad when that happens, imagine how the big time donors feel when they dump $500k into a guy who gets good and jumps ship after a year.

I think if a CBA goes into effect and they can put these guys under contract, most donors are going to gladly put their money into the collectives that are used to fund that stuff and it will benefit the players because the money will be guaranteed for them too. You may still have some crazy donors willing to throw money at young guys but I think that problem will start to take care of itself and become more based on merit as the players start actually making a name for themselves than potential alone.

Jackson Arnold commits to Auburn:

https://www.on3.com/college/auburn-tigers/news/former-oklahoma-quarterback-jackson-arnold-commits-to-auburn-out-of-ncaa-transfer-portal/

His time here at Oklahoma didn't pan out and I hope him the best. I have to think that had the circumstances been different, things could have been different.

It would not surprise me if he does well there, the best QB in the NCAA would have looked mediocre at best here this year.

Bauer Sharp may do well at LSU also where he isn't the #1 receiver & focal point of offense.

I think Burks is the only WR that hasn't hit the portal yet.

BV better have some magic up his sleeve with the portal, this is a total rebuild on offense basically.

How he feels about the university vs how he feels about OU’s current leadership and coaching staff might be two very different things, however. In fairness I don’t think we have much insight there.

Exactly.

It would not surprise me if he does well there, the best QB in the NCAA would have looked mediocre at best here this year.

Bauer Sharp may do well at LSU also where he isn't the #1 receiver & focal point of offense.

I think Burks is the only WR that hasn't hit the portal yet.

BV better have some magic up his sleeve with the portal, this is a total rebuild on offense basically.

GIbson also still on the roster as are all of the freshman guys.

Keep in mind, we beat Auburn with our terrible offense and their QB played decently against us until he was forced into the kind of mistake that Arnold made all season. He might do well there but there is certainly no guarantee of that and Hugh Freeze's seat is nearly as hot as BVs.

Burks is staying, but changing to # 4.

GIbson also still on the roster as are all of the freshman guys.

Keep in mind, we beat Auburn with our terrible offense and their QB played decently against us until he was forced into the kind of mistake that Arnold made all season. He might do well there but there is certainly no guarantee of that and Hugh Freeze's seat is nearly as hot as BVs.

I probably should have clarified amongst the starters/group that was injured/quit whatever & all hit the portal.

Burks announced he's coming back which is great news.

There are obviously no guarantees but it won't be surprising if he has more success than OU. Almost anything is a better situation than OUr offense was this year.

Burks is staying, but changing to # 4.

Did you see his little video with BV? I thought it was kind of funny... but wondered if BV knew what was up due to the recording.

Sounds like John Mateer is going to officially enter the portal over the next few hours and commit to OU shortly thereafter today so hopefully that kickstarts our portal efforts. Told his team last night.

Yep sounding like great news this morning, we had to get him & hopefully some of these other pieces will commit and fall into place now.

Has anyone watched him play this year? I can't say I really know much about him.

A CBA wouldn’t prevent players from entering into NIL agreements

Yes. I don't think it should and the supreme court pretty much signaled that it can't be prevented or limited.

Did you see his little video with BV? I thought it was kind of funny... but wondered if BV knew what was up due to the recording.

Yes, he acted like he didn't know.i

Yep sounding like great news this morning, we had to get him & hopefully some of these other pieces will commit and fall into place now.

Has anyone watched him play this year? I can't say I really know much about him.

High lights. He's good, but everyone looks good in Highlights

His numbers are outstanding.... way better than Arnold.

Passing - 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns 7 interceptions. 65 % completion.

Rushing. - 826 yards, 15 touchdowns. 4.6 yard avg. Longest TD Rush was 68 yards.

Yes. I don't think it should and the supreme court pretty much signaled that it can't be prevented or limited.

A CBA can limit or eliminate NIL agreements, because it is a Collectively Bargained Agreement between both sides. The size and scope of outside employment can be regulated at any level both sides decide is important and worthy of securing an agreement. If management thinks it is a problem and provides an alternative or modification that is agreeable to labor, then the NIL could be regulated or eliminated.

A CBA can limit or eliminate NIL agreements, because it is a Collectively Bargained Agreement between both sides. The size and scope of outside employment can be regulated at any level both sides decide is important and worthy of securing an agreement. If management thinks it is a problem and provides an alternative or modification that is agreeable to labor, then the NIL could be regulated or eliminated.

a CBA would "in theory" eliminate booster "fake" NIL and would allow normal endorsement NIL ..

OU committed Luke Baklenko out of the portal. 6-6, 300 IOL from Stanford. went with OU over Auburn and MSU.

Has anyone watched him play this year? I can't say I really know much about him.

Not saying he's as good, but he has Baker Mayfield vibes.


https://youtu.be/L66M2qScxZM?feature=shared

Yes. I don't think it should and the supreme court pretty much signaled that it can't be prevented or limited.

Yes, but per the reasons I gave in the rest of my post, it would likely near eliminate it as it exists right now.

a CBA would "in theory" eliminate booster "fake" NIL and would allow normal endorsement NIL ..

Yeah that’s what I was alluding to.

I would think that "fake" NIL would be easy to get around. I imagine most boosters with enough money to pay a player big bucks have some way to channel that money through some kind of "player advertises something" deal.

https://x.com/On3sports/status/1868754639845572675?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam p%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

On3 on Mateer to OU.

I would think that "fake" NIL would be easy to get around. I imagine most boosters with enough money to pay a player big bucks have some way to channel that money through some kind of "player advertises something" deal.

Although salary caps are new to college sports, they have been exploited and perfected in the NBA, NHL and NFL for over 35 years. There are next to no novel concepts, IMO.

Although salary caps are new to college sports, they have been exploited and perfected in the NBA, NHL and NFL for over 35 years. There are next to no novel concepts, IMO.
Salary caps in pro sports apply to salary and bonuses. They don't apply to player endorsement money. Which is what NIL is. So including NIL in a salary cap would indeed be a novel concept.

Salary caps in pro sports apply to salary and bonuses. They don't apply to player endorsement money. Which is what NIL is. So including NIL in a salary cap would indeed be a novel concept.

endorsements from team ownership /representatives is very limited in pro sports .. and that is what we are talking about ... OU boosters are team reps ..

endorsements from team ownership /representatives is very limited in pro sports .. and that is what we are talking about ... OU boosters are team reps ..
They are not school officials, employees or in any legal way directly connected to the schools. Therefore suggesting that their financial dealings could be limited by a CBA between players and schools would be something completely new as far as I know.

They are not school officials, employees or in any legal way directly connected to the schools. Therefore suggesting that their financial dealings could be limited by a CBA between players and schools would be something completely new as far as I know.

other pro sports leagues dont' have boosters in the same way college sports do ... that 100% will be addressed in a CBA

other pro sports leagues dont' have boosters in the same way college sports do ... that 100% will be addressed in a CBA
But can it? A CBA would be a legal agreement between an association of the schools and a union of the players. Including donors in that would be very difficult and probably wouldn't stand up in court since the donors aren't employees of either. The courts have already ruled that the NCAA can't interfere with players receiving NIL, even as a part of recruiting. So why would the courts reverse that for any other association of schools. A CBA can't override legal decisions.

other pro sports leagues dont' have boosters in the same way college sports do ... that 100% will be addressed in a CBA

for a CBA to happen, the players would have to become employees of the university, which opens up one set of legal ramifications that universities don't want to take on, nor do the players, and a cba only works if it includes all sports, not just football, and football isn't going to give that power to rowing teams.

They are not school officials, employees or in any legal way directly connected to the schools. Therefore suggesting that their financial dealings could be limited by a CBA between players and schools would be something completely new as far as I know.

I think the conferences and schools are anxious to get the money defined and under control. Boosters have been allowed to operate because it wasn't. When players and the schools agree on a system that benefits both, and maximizes distribution to the players, then the NIL will fall under control.

But can it? A CBA would be a legal agreement between an association of the schools and a union of the players. Including donors in that would be very difficult and probably wouldn't stand up in court since the donors aren't employees of either. The courts have already ruled that the NCAA can't interfere with players receiving NIL, even as a part of recruiting. So why would the courts reverse that for any other association of schools. A CBA can't override legal decisions.

I think a CBA can override legal decisions, when both sides agree on conduct and payment that is different than legal decisions. That is because both sides collectively agreed.

for a CBA to happen, the players would have to become employees of the university, which opens up one set of legal ramifications that universities don't want to take on, nor do the players, and a cba only works if it includes all sports, not just football, and football isn't going to give that power to rowing teams.

Money and "The System" will win out. It always does. Might take a few years, but college athletics will get professionalized and organized.

Money and "The System" will win out. It always does. Might take a few years, but college athletics will get professionalized and organized.

only if the separate from the State owned universities. private schools might see this. but there is no way they become state employees of the universities. the regulatory hurdles, state compliance issues, and new rules that would impose on the players, is all just too much to overcome. OU football would have to separate from the University of Oklahoma legally for that to happen. all football programs around the country would.

only if the separate from the State owned universities. private schools might see this. but there is no way they become state employees of the universities. the regulatory hurdles, state compliance issues, and new rules that would impose on the players, is all just too much to overcome. OU football would have to separate from the University of Oklahoma legally for that to happen. all football programs around the country would.

Future OU Foundation employees!

for a CBA to happen, the players would have to become employees of the university, which opens up one set of legal ramifications that universities don't want to take on, nor do the players, and a cba only works if it includes all sports, not just football, and football isn't going to give that power to rowing teams.

once they are employees they very likely will become employees of RED and WHITE football LLC >.. or whatever it is called that will rent Owen field and license the colors and name for the team from OU

The big schools with lots of pull, the ones in the top 20 usually. Are they really anxious to get NIL under control when it doesn't cost them anything and gets the top players to play for them. A CBA would likely equalize things to some extent and do the big boys really want that? The players seem to be fine with the current system because they're the ones that have sued to block interference. Maybe us fans, the smaller schools and the unpaid players are the ones most worried about the system being broken. Even though it definitely is.

once they are employees they very likely will become employees of RED and WHITE football LLC >.. or whatever it is called that will rent Owen field and license the colors and name for the team from OU
Possible. And that would ruin everything college football has ever been about. Even what college has ever been about.

The big schools with lots of pull, the ones in the top 20 usually. Are they really anxious to get NIL under control when it doesn't cost them anything and gets the top players to play for them. A CBA would likely equalize things to some extent and do the big boys really want that? The players seem to be fine with the current system because they're the ones that have sued to block interference. Maybe us fans, the smaller schools and the unpaid players are the ones most worried about the system being broken. Even though it definitely is.

exactly this... the players don't want to unionize, because it will even things out amongst all sports, or amongst all teams, and the big schools don't want it either. they would rather just see how things play out. a CBA isn't coming anytime soon for college sports

Possible. And that would ruin everything college football has ever been about. Even what college has ever been about.

One could say this has already happened with the coming of the mega conferences, CFB playoffs, etc. The regionality of college conferences was once one of its greatest appeals.

exactly this... the players don't want to unionize, because it will even things out amongst all sports, or amongst all teams, and the big schools don't want it either. they would rather just see how things play out. a CBA isn't coming anytime soon for college sports

it would only be a football players union ..... they currently pay for all the other sports .... if they became employees they would no longer have to ..

Possible. And that would ruin everything college football has ever been about. Even what college has ever been about.

college football has never been more popular then it is now ..

it would only be a football players union ..... they currently pay for all the other sports .... if they became employees they would no longer have to ..

there is no way title 9 would allow the state to only collectively bargain with just football... it would have to be all sports.

there is no way title 9 would allow the state to only collectively bargain with just football... it would have to be all sports.

again they would not work for the state ..

also rev share from the schools is starting this summer for all sports .. 20 mil cap 90% is going to football and mens basketball players (and that has court approval)