Oklahoma just flipped the transfer portal on its head. In ONE WEEK, Brent Venables and Jim Nagy reshaped the roster — upgrading the two-deep, reloading the trenches, and setting the tone for the SEC era.

On this episode of Champion Standard, we’re joined by Charlie from The Football Brainiacs for a no-BS, insider breakdown of OU’s massive portal haul, the truth behind the exits, and what still has to happen before spring ball.

We cover: • Why OU got better despite losing 27 players • The real plan behind the portal strategy • The truth about PJ rumors and NIL inflation • Jason Witten landing in Norman 👀 • What positions STILL worry us • Why depth, not stars, will decide OU’s season

No fake smoke. No click-farm rumors. Just real football talk from people who actually know.

👉 LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS 👉 Full breakdowns & film study at ChampionStandard.com 👉 Follow The Football Brainiacs for the most accurate OU intel

Boomer.

0:00 Portal week explodes with rapid-fire OU commitments 7:45 Why losing 27 players still made OU better 16:30 Breaking down the WR and OL departures 26:10 PJ rumors, NIL inflation, and why OU won’t overpay 36:20 Defensive holes at DT, safety, and cheetah 48:00 Jason Witten hire and what it means for OU 56:45 Remaining portal needs and final targets 1:03:30 Final verdict on OU’s portal strategy

Portal chaos is here. The season is over, but the most important two weeks of Oklahoma’s offseason are just beginning.

In this episode of The Champion Standard Podcast, Brad and Rob:

Break down all of OU’s current transfer portal entries (21 and counting), with a position-by-position look at who left and why some departures hurt more than others. ​

Pull up the updated depth chart and show how thin OU has become at offensive line, wide receiver, and in the defensive back room, even as the 2026 signing class starts to plug a few holes. ​

React live to OU’s first portal addition at tight end, Hayden Hansen from Florida, and explain why his size, experience, and fit in Arbuckle’s tight end-friendly scheme make him a priority get for 2026. ​

Lay out the “must get” list from the portal:

4 offensive linemen (including a center and at least one tackle)

2 wide receivers, including a potential alpha WR1

A pass-rushing defensive end to replace R Mason Thomas’ impact

A defensive tackle with real interior rush juice

Linebackers to protect against a possible Kip Lewis departure

A hybrid Cheetah and a couple of veteran DBs. ​

Talk NIL strategy: why OU should prioritize proven P4 vets with high floors (Big Ten/SEC experience) at OL, EDGE, and Cheetah instead of rolling the dice on FCS or G5 flyers when the goal is a playoff run. ​

They also compare OU’s retention plan to programs like Indiana, discuss whether OU needs a portal QB after losing Michael Hawkins, and preview which names to watch as visits and commitments heat up before the window closes. ​

⏱ Topics: 0:00 – Intro: Bud Wilkinson, the standard, and portal-season anxiety 1:45 – Who’s in the portal? OU’s 21 departures by position 15:00 – Offensive line exodus and why tackles “don’t grow on trees” 28:30 – DB room hits, Marcus Strong surprise, and what Indiana did right 44:00 – Live: OU lands TE Hayden Hansen, why it matters 58:00 – How many instant-impact transfers OU needs (and at which spots) 1:15:00 – Alpha WR, alpha pass rusher, and the Cheetah wishlist 1:30:00 – Linebacker and DT targets, plus portal timeline and next steps. ​

Hit subscribe, drop your portal questions in the comments, and let us know which positions you think OU must fix before this window closes.

Brad and Rob look back at the Alabama playoff loss and unpack the hard lessons that only postseason football teaches. This was a game defined by missed opportunities, unforced errors, and moments that never fully made sense in real time. Oklahoma did not play with the same edge or intent that defined the previous four weeks. Instead of dictating terms, the Sooners absorbed pressure, retreated into their shell, and allowed the game to tilt away snap by snap. Playoff football does not wait for you to settle in, and this game was a reminder that when your mentality slips even slightly, the margin disappears entirely.

From there, the conversation turns forward. A hard look at the depth chart. Where Oklahoma is built to survive playoff football and where it is not. Which positions need immediate upgrades, where depth failed to hold, and how this loss clarified the difference between being a good team and being a championship-level roster. The offseason now has a clear purpose, and this episode lays out what has to change. Then it turns into a Champion Standard conversation.

🔥 The transfer portal reality 🔥 The linebacker and cheetah depth problem 🔥 Why the roster math matters 🔥 NIL allocation offense vs defense 🔥 Why December and January decide seasons now 🔥 And why Oklahoma cannot afford to get this offseason wrong

This is what building looks like. This is what accountability sounds like. This is the Champion Standard.

📖 Full long form breakdowns and offseason analysis 👉 www.championstandard.com

🐦 Join the conversation on X 👉 @CstandardOK

0:00 Fast start false comfort OU jumps out early 3:35 The three plays that flipped the game 6:00 The pick six explained coverage trap and QB eyes 10:00 Why the defense felt off despite solid stats 15:50 Portal reality check linebacker and cheetah concerns 24:25 NIL budget debate offense vs defense 45:57 The strongest case for sticking with Mateer 53:06 The real 2026 wake up call December decides every