In the opening take, Lee goes over the current state of OU's offensive line and talks about why he's not all that worried about that unit in the upcoming bowl game. After some brief bowl talk that includes a swipe at Mario Cristobal and Miami, the guys celebrate the return of Da'Jon Terry and Jacob Lacey and then do a deep dive into the current state of the defense as we look towards 2024 (08:30). Cayden Green's off to Missouri. We get Grant's perspective on the state of OU's offensive line (29:55). OU has picked up a tight end that Grant loves, as well as a running back who could be pretty good -- if DeMarco Murray lets him play (38:15). We've gotten some clarity on Tawee Walker's situation. How has OU not found a scholarship for this guy (42:30)? The guys give their thoughts on OU's 2024 signing class (48:55). Grant nailed his prediction for OU's 2024 schedule. We provide our thoughts on what will be one of the most difficult schedules in the nation (1:04:30). We have a live production meeting trying to decide on our next recording. Then we give our thoughts on bowl games featuring other Big 12 teams (1:11:20). Lee complains about New Mexico State and Marshall both losing their bowl games (1:18:40). We decide to pick some of the bigger upcoming bowl games. Lousiville-USC/Texas A&M-OSU/Missouri-Ohio State/Ole Miss-Penn State/Iowa-Tennessee. Come for the USC and OSU talk, Kyle McCord is mid and is transferring to Syracuse, and make sure you stay for Lee's hot takes about the Big Ten (1:27:00). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 301 - Feeling Good About the Defense, SEC Schedule Release, and Bowl Season

We open the show with some brief talk about the upcoming segment breaking down Washington State's Week 5 game against Boise State. After that they jump into the news that Kevin Wilson has reportedly been added to the staff as an offensive analyst (2:50). The Washington State-Boise State game was a good watch and super interesting. John Mateer played pretty well against the best team he saw all season. He made one horrible mistake, but him and Ben Arbuckle continue to raise Washington State's offense (15:25). We take a look at OU's 2025 schedule and try to predict what OU's Vegas win total will be. What should be the expectation for number of wins in 2025 (50:40)? Grant jinxed the basketball team months ago. Yes, we finish up the show with our half-baked thoughts on the men's team being bad. Lee also has a quick plug for a separate podcast (1:00:55). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 376 - Kevin Wilson Returns, Mateer vs. Boise State, & OU's Win Total

The guys are back and jump right into what Brent Venables said Wednesday at his pre-spring press conference. Venables had another incredibly long opening statement. He also announced players who will not be active during spring practice (2:05). Venables also confirmed that he did not call OU's defense in 2024 (16:30). OU will not have a spring game in 2025. Grant is not happy about college football slowly transitioning to more of a pro football model. Can the "Crimson Combine" be successful (19:10)? Thoughts on Jim Nagy being named OU's GM. What do we hope he's good at? Is the NFL front office model the future? Grant's open to this being a good hire, but the OU football program has not earned the benefit of the doubt the past three years (32:40). Grant takes a look at the preseason SP+ rankings. Let's all nervously laugh at OU's super hard schedule (50:45). Lee goes over some of the things John Mateer said at his first OU press conference. We finish up by breaking down Mateer's performance against Fresno St. during the 2024 season. Mateer did not play well (57:45). Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 377 - Spring Brings a New GM, the "Crimson Combine", & Injury Updates

After some brief basketball talk the guys get to talking about the ramifications of Jayden Gibson suffering a small setback in his recovery from his knee injury (1:50). Javonnie Gibson has a lot of people talking early in spring practice. Is this real (16:00)? We're all rooting for Jaren Kanak to be a good tight end (21:20). Who knows what's going to happen with the running back room (28:15)? Grant's excited about what he's heard about Troy Everett. Lee wants to know if it's okay to be positive about the offensive line again (32:50)? Let's talk about David Stone and what the defensive line could look like, but we must remind everybody that OU's secondary is a problem. And Grant wants to talk about Taylor Heim (41:15). Breaking down John Mateer's performance against Hawaii in Week 8 of the 2024 season. The stats were terrific (47:50). We give some love to the OU men's basketball team who looks to be on their way to the NCAA Tournament (57:45). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 378 - Javonnie Gibson Might Be Good & Can We Be Positive About the O-Line?

The show announces a new presenting sponsor, Lee gets bleeped, and then we finally start talking about OU football. The guys are back on the practice field following spring break. Is anybody else getting a clear Dillon Gabriel/Jeff Lebby 2022 feeling with Mateer/Arbuckle? Is the Mayfield/Riley 2015 analogy more fitting? Plus fun nostalgic MTV Spring Break thoughts (2:50)! OU released a mic'd up video of Arbuckle and Mateer. There's a couple of interesting takeaways, mainly regarding two apparently key WRs (14:00). Lee doesn't understand the unnecessary expectations that was thrusted on two promising young offensive linemen. Grant doesn't find it to be that big of a deal (21:00). More reactions to the Oklahoma Breakdown Podcast as they recently talked about OU's running back room. Why does that position group not have any difference makers at the moment (32:40)? Mike Gundy's Bedlam spring proposal (42:40). Breaking down John Mateer's play in Washington State's 29-26 win over SDSU in Week 9. This game showed us something about Mateer that hopefully is a very positive sign for the future (46:00). For basketball fans, we talk about OU's first round exit to UConn in the NCAA Tournament (1:13:55).

Ep. 379 - Unnecessary Expectations and Why No Difference Makers at RB?

Grant's feeling a bit more hopeful about the 2025 season lately, while Lee talks about having reasonable hope compared to blind hope. Nevertheless the vibes coming out of spring ball have been pretty good, particularly surrounding the WRs. Grant says it's reasonable to be excited about many parts of the roster, but there are 3-4 position groups with serious questions (2:05). We watched practice video of pass catchers taking on DBs in 1-on-1s and we've got a lot of thoughts. Probably the most we've talked about the tight ends in a long time (18:20). We also got 1-on-1s of the O-Line taking on the D-Line. Several practice thoughts commence. It seems reasonable to expect David Stone to make a jump based on the evidence on hand (37:35). It appears Lee's conspiracy theory about Gentry Williams was wrong (50:05). Brent Venables appeared with Josh Pate in a recent interview. Lee has many thoughts-- most of them negative, but we did learn at least a couple of things (53:40). Trae Young is now the assistant GM for men's basketball, but what does that mean? Rants about players transferring all the time (1:10:20). Lamenting the death of the traditional spring game (1:19:30). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 380 - 1-on-1s Reaction & Venables Continues to be Long-Winded

We don't waste any time as Grant jumps into the news that Javonnie Gibson has been injured (1:15). Trejan Bridges (13:00)?! Davon Mitchell has entered the transfer portal. Grant is not surprised in the least bit, while Lee finally watched Mitchell's HS senior highlight tape and was not impressed (19:10). So, the Crimson Combine is this weekend (29:45). Grant absolutely hated watching Washington State-Utah State from November 2024. This game showcased perhaps the best Mateer high-level quarterback moment so far, but also included some head-scratching mistakes and decisions. Stay tuned for a cameo from DJ Graham (34:10)! Grant wants to talk about OU men's basketball picking up a terrific guard out of the transfer portal (1:01:50). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 381 - Javonnie Gibson's Injury Harshes the Buzz of the Crimson Combine

OU gets a big-time running back out of the transfer portal. Grant's super excited, while Lee is taking a more cautious approach (1:30). Jim Nagy has done an excellent job so far-- will he be able to bring in a tight end that actually helps (19:10)? Sam Franklin has entered the transfer portal. Grant thinks some other RBs will be out of here this spring (24:20). OU also brought in a solid interior offensive linemen who could challenge Troy Everett for the starting center job. What's the next position Jim Nagy is looking to fill from the portal (27:45)? Not much to take from the Crimson Combine. Is there any way to make a spring event, that's not the spring game, interesting (40:00)? Do you buy that Javonnie Gibson may be back for the start of the season (47:40)? We read some listener comments that are positive, pessimistic, and critical (52:35). The Nico Iamaleava saga (1:06:30). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 382 - OU Upgrades Running Back Room as Spring Portal Opens

The show opens with random NFL Draft and sports time zone talk before jumping into the David Stone situation. The guys had two very different reactions when the news broke last Friday. There's a lot to get into here (5:20). How did David Stone's freshman season compare to some recent other 5-star defensive linemen? Some guys are good right away, some aren't. Grant just wants more information about how these things happen, while Lee feels bad for Stone's situation. Where does the SOUL Mission come in here (26:30)? Breaking down John Mateer and Washington State's late-season 38-35 loss to New Mexico. It was a tale of two halves for Mateer and Ben Arbuckle shoulders some blame for this loss (47:45). Grant does not want OU to accept being a lesser tier program (1:11:10). You get Lee's live reaction to the Bears taking Colston Loveland at No. 10 for some reason. And Taylor Tatum is still on OU's roster (1:15:00). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 383 - What Does the David Stone Story Say About OU & College Football?

After a brief intro the guys jump into talking about Gavin Sawchuk entering the transfer portal (2:15). The Sooners pick up a new wide receiver out of the portal and we have no idea if he will be a relevant player in 2025. Grant wishes OU would have paid a lot of money for the Cal transfer tight end (12:50). The Sooners picked up a new kicker out of the portal and we hope he makes field goals when asked to do so (22:40). We wanted OU to pick up a new corner out of the portal, but that didn't happen. The Sooners also lost a quarterback to the portal. Does this mean Hawkins has improved (31:10)? Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman got drafted over the weekend plus the guys deal with some technical difficulties. Is it a problem that OU only had 2 players drafted in 2025 (38:30)? A shocking Dillon Gabriel draft position. Grant was bored by Shedeur Sanders taking up all the oxygen over the weekend (51:00). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 384 - Sawchuk Exits, a New WR Enters, and OU's Lack of Drafted Players

The guys are back and open the show talking some nonsense before diving into what you're really here for: hot OU Football talk. What's happened since our last episode? We've got you covered. And OU's season win total is set at 6.5 (3:20). SEC Media Days happened. It's over. Not much came out of it. Brent Venables talked for a long time. He mentioned some young players we may get to see play this fall. We couldn't get through much of the players so we're just gonna assume they didn't say anything of note. Plus some guy asked a really weird question about Navy (13:30). How are we feeling about Javonnie Gibson's injury (36:55)? Jackson Arnold made his second SEC Media Days appearance, but this time for a new team (40:45). Where do we think the SEC media will pick the Sooners to finish? Grant is putting a lot of stock in OU-Michigan (50:00). Thoughts on Joe Castiglione's upcoming retirement (1:04:35). The recruiting for 2026 doesn't sound like it's going very well, but a good 2025 season can easily reverse that trend. Are you pumped to tailgate on the North Oval (1:21:30)? Grant thinks this upcoming college football season is going to be pretty interesting. He doesn't see any obvious picks to win the National Championship (1:25:30). We read some comments from the WoE Facebook page and Lee admits he recently suffered a really stupid major injury (1:29:00). Some updates on the future of the podcast and how it may change in the coming weeks and months (1:34:00). | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter: @LeeBensonTweets

Ep. 385 - SEC Media Days, Joe C's Retirement, & Summer OU Temperature Check

Opinion and analysis of Oklahoma Sooners football from the viewpoints of a local media member and an OU fan living outside The Sooner State. New episodes every Thursday during football season.

Ep. 301 - Feeling Good About the Defense, SEC Schedule Release, and Bowl Season

West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

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