From the dark, Knight rises as Sooners’ QB

Trevor Knight

It's official: QB1. (Photo courtesy: SoonerSports.com)

Four months ago, I declared Oklahoma’s quarterback derby over. After watching Blake Bell, Kendal Thompson and Trevor Knight behind center in the Sooners’ spring game, I thought the Belldozer had sewn it up.

I was far from alone in that sentiment.

Bob Stoops let everyone know where they can stick those assumptions on Thursday, confirming the rumors emanating from camp this week that the upstart Knight had come out of nowhere to topple the prohibitive favorite.

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Eating what you kill in the Big 12: Sooners’ streaming announcement good sign for the future

Big 12 logo

Fox Sports on Friday announced the broadcast details of Oklahoma's first game of the season, a pay-per-view affair against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.

Aside from the steep price for ordering the game, $39.95, the announcement included a nasty surprise: Dave Lapham will be providing color commentary for the contest.

After resigning myself to the prospect of spending four hours soaking in Lapham's frisbee-sharp wit, I scanned down the page and found a far more intriguing tidbit: "Outside of the state of Oklahoma, viewers can purchase a live stream of the pay-per-view telecast on SoonerSports.tv, OU’s premium digital website, for $44.95 to watch on their computer, mobile device or tablet. The purchase will include three free months of SoonerSports.tv and SoonersIllustrated.com."

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Look good, play good

With all of the changes to college football uniforms, I am one who’s glad that the Sooners haven’t made any changes to theirs. This is football—not a freaking fashion show.

However, I wouldn’t mind one minor change on occasion, and that is a reversal of OU’s helmet. Check out this one on the left. It doesn’t look goofy like some teams have done.

(Are you listening, Maryland? Holy crap, Batman! It looks like someone dropped acid before designing that thing. Yeah, I know they got it from the state flag, but whoever designed that was doing drugs, too.)

It would be cool to see the Sooners use the white helmet with red “OU” for home games—should blend in nicely with their red jerseys.

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Offseason Intelligence: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Mike Gundy

The Cowboys are the preseason favorite to win a conference for the first time ever. Never have the Pokes received the nod in the Big 8 or the Big 12.

Yes, Oklahoma State did win the Big 12 two years ago, the first conference win since splitting the Big 8 title with Oklahoma and Colorado in 1976.

How will the Pokes handle the pressure of having a target on their backs, especially with a coach who is undecided on his starting quarterback?

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Offseason Intelligence: Kansas State Wildcats

Kansas State was picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 conference last year, and the Wildcats wound up sharing the conference title with OU. They were picked eighth two years ago and finished second.

The Cats are expected to place sixth again by the media pundits this year, but no one should be surprised if they finish higher. Head coach Bill Snyder knows how to build a football team.

It might be difficult to surprise the pundits this year because he has lot of reconstructing to do and, once again, he has a cupcake schedule to refine his team. The Cats host North Dakota State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Massachusetts before embarking on the Big 12 schedule.

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Podcast: OU two-a-days with Eddie Radosevich

CLICK HERE to download.

With fall camp now in progress for the Sooners, Eddie Radosevich of SoonerScoop.com joins Homerism for a podcast to update us on the latest developments from fall camp.

Eddie and I discuss:

*The general mood around the program with practices underway;

*The effect of the new additions to the coaching staff;

*The strength of Blake Bell's grip on the quarterback position;

*Mike Stoops' comments about realistic expectations for the defense;

*The potential for immediate impact from some newcomers;

*And more.

(CLICK HERE to download the podcast. Subscribe to Blatant Homerism's Podcast through iTunes. Please rate and review the show if you get the chance, too. Thanks.)

Podcast: 2013 Sooners season preview

CLICK HERE to download.

Fall camp is well underway in Norman as Oklahoma heads into a season full of questions about the immediate future of the program. The Skinny joins Homerism for a podcast to sort out the answers.

The Skinny and I touch on:

*Bob Stoops' feisty offseason;

*The supposed quarterback derby;

*Mike Stoops' effect on the defense;

*Answers on the defensive line;

*And more.

(CLICK HERE to download the podcast. Subscribe to Blatant Homerism's Podcast through iTunes. Please rate and review the show if you get the chance, too. Thanks.)

Offseason Intelligence: Iowa State Cyclones

Paul Rhoads

Will the Cyclones make Paul Rhoads so damn proud in 2013? (Photo courtesy: KRUI)

Paul Rhoads and his Cyclones have upset four ranked teams in the past three years, but he may need a real miracle to pull one off this year. The Cyclones are picked to finish ninth in the media’s preseason poll, above the Kansas Jayhawks.

KU goes to Ames on November 23, which should be for the right to fight out of the conference cellar.

Offense

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Blake Bell is huge… just huge

Blake Bell

SoonerSports.com has a slick new redesign, but that's not the most eye-catching thing about the site today.

According to the site, redshirt junior Blake Bell, the presumed frontrunner in the ongoing quarterback derby, weighs 263 pounds. (H/t Wescott Ebberts of Burnt Orange Nation.)

Obviously, teams have been known to play games with published roster measurements. Even if that's maybe a little inflated, that's, like, really big. Like, Jamarcus-Russell-at-LSU big. Like, bigger-than-every-linebacker-on-OU's-roster-by-30-pounds big.

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Offseason Intelligence: Baylor Bears

Lache Seastrunk

The last time OU played a Thursday game in the regular season game was 1992 at Texas Tech. The last time the Sooners played in Waco, Baylor got its first ever win over Oklahoma.

The Sooners travel to Waco this year for a rare Thursday night contest on the new Fox Sports 1 network. This will also be the last time OU meets the Bears at Floyd Casey Stadium. Baylor is building a new stadium on campus by the Brazos River.

Offense

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