James Hale joins Champion Standard for a deep-dive conversation on the current state of Oklahoma Sooners athletics. We break down the impact of Oklahoma’s new Athletic Director, what the hire means for the future of OU football and basketball, and where Porter Moser stands as expectations continue to rise in Norman. On the football side, we analyze the latest Oklahoma transfer portal news, what Brent Venables and his staff still need to address heading into the 2026 season, roster construction in the SEC, and how Oklahoma is positioning itself for sustained success at the highest level of college football. James Hale also shares insight on the long-term program alignment, and how leadership decisions at the top affect recruiting, NIL, and roster depth. We wrap things up with some Super Bowl talk, broader college football trends, and what Oklahoma fans should be watching closely over the next few months.

You can find James at www.thefootballbrainiacs.com and exclusive content at his patreon. https://www.patreon.com/diehardsoonerreport

00:00 – Show open, James Hale’s “every sport at OU” vantage point 05:00 – Why Roger Denny fits OU’s NIL and portal reality 13:00 – Power structure: Denny, Randall Stephenson, and Jim Nagy’s lanes 22:00 – Porter Moser’s hot Novembers and cold SEC reality 32:00 – Investment, NIL, and whether OU really wants big‑time basketball 50:00 – Staff movement, Jay Valai buzz 58:00 – What the new era means for OU’s championship standard across all sports

In this episode of the Champion Standard Podcast, Rob and Brad break down Oklahoma’s latest transfer portal moves, why the tight end room has completely changed, and how Jason Witten’s arrival could reshape the Sooners’ run game, recruiting pipeline, and long-term development.

They discuss Oklahoma’s portal losses vs additions, remaining roster needs, and why retention wins like Kip Lewis, Satonia, and Mateer returning matter just as much as splashy transfers. The conversation expands into the NIL Wild West, why the current system is unsustainable, and what real solutions could look like in college football’s future.

Plus, Rob and Brad preview the College Football Playoff National Championship, break down Indiana vs Miami, discuss roster age, physicality, and why experience is becoming the biggest edge in modern college football.

Topics include: • Oklahoma transfer portal recap • Jason Witten’s impact on the tight end room • Fixing OU’s run game • Player retention vs portal churn • NIL chaos and pay-for-play reality • CFP National Championship preview

00:00 – Champion Standard intro 01:05 – Oklahoma transfer portal overview 06:30 – Tight end overhaul & Jason Witten impact 14:10 – Fixing OU’s run game (realistic expectations) 22:00 – Retention wins: Kip Lewis, Sategna, Mateer 31:00 – OU schedule & tailgate outlook 39:30 – NIL chaos & pay-for-play debate 58:30 – CFP National Championship preview (Indiana vs Miami) 1:09:00 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

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

Episode Description

Oklahoma and Alabama meet again, this time in the College Football Playoff and under the lights in Norman. In this Trench Warfare episode of the Champion Standard Podcast, we break down why rematches favor defense, how Brent Venables attacks familiarity, and why this Oklahoma team is built for January football. From Alabama’s offensive identity and explosive reliance to Oklahoma’s defensive discipline, quarterback execution, and the physical reality of playoff football, this is a full film-room and mentality discussion with no shortcuts. If this game turns grimy, uncomfortable, and physical, that’s exactly how Oklahoma wants it.

Timestamps

00:00 – Friday Night in Norman and why this rematch is different 06:10 – The yardage and explosive play line Oklahoma must hold 09:15 – Who actually feels the pressure in this game 18:45 – Oklahoma’s defensive identity and discipline 22:50 – Why this Oklahoma team is stronger than the first meeting 29:10 – What the offense needs to do to win without reinventing itself 38:40 – John Mateer, pre-snap processing, and missed layups 56:55 – Physicality, mentality, and how this rematch ends

The College Football Playoff bracket is finally set — and the Oklahoma Sooners are IN. Now it is officially a Playoff Party on the Prairie as OU draws Alabama in Norman for a Friday night primetime showdown. Can Brent Venables beat Kalen DeBoer again and turn this into a full-blown rivalry? Did the Selection Committee get it right with Indiana, Georgia, Tech, Miami and the rest of the field?

Rob and Brad react live as the rankings are revealed, fill out the bracket in real time, talk OU’s path to the title, debate blue bloods, and even start planning the Bama tailgate menu. We will talk through • First thoughts on the final four • Who the committee helped and who they hurt • Best and worst possible paths to a title • Early gut picks on each matchup • Your questions and reactions from the live chat

Jump in the chat, drop your take, and ride with us as the bracket is revealed in real time.

👍 Like the stream 📩 Share it with a friend ✅ Subscribe and turn on alerts so you do not miss when we go live again ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Opening & Champion Standard intro 1:06 – Sooners LOCKED into the CFP 6:06 – Filling out the live CFP bracket 13:07 – Blue blood debate + Miami discussion 19:21 – Georgia is the team to avoid 25:32 – CFP Top 4 revealed 31:42 – OU draws Alabama… AGAIN 47:02 – Tailgate planning + food talk begins

The Oklahoma Sooners escaped with a 17-13 win over LSU in Norman, and Brad has thoughts.

The defense once again delivered turnovers and big-moment stops, but the offense struggled to find rhythm and protect the football. Three Mateer interceptions and stalled drives kept LSU in the game late. Can OU clean things up in time for a playoff push?

In today’s episode, Brad breaks down: • Biggest takeaways from Oklahoma’s gritty win • Where the offense must improve immediately • Playmakers who stepped up against LSU • What this means for the College Football Playoff picture • Could this team win ugly all the way into January?

🔥 Join the Champion Standard crew as we dive into the tape, stats, and what’s next for the Sooners.

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments: Is OU a playoff lock? Or is the margin for error too thin?

📍 Subscribe for more Sooners film, analytics, and postgame reactions!

#OklahomaSooners #BeatLSU #CFBPlayoff #BoomerSooner #ChampionStandard