Multiple reports (Brett McMurphy leading the way) have scoped in on Arizona as the most likely next Pac-12 to Big 12 flip, and now meetings are being scheduled.

Arizona’s board of regents called a meeting for Tuesday afternoon, and the Pac-12 is supposed to meet Tuesday morning, according to WildcatAuthority’s Jason Scheer.

This comes less than a week after news breaking of Colorado rejoining the Big 12 from the Pac-12. The Pac-12’s struggles center on not having a media rights deal done after their current deal ends after this upcoming school year. Meanwhile, the Big 12 jumped the Pac-12 in line last fall, getting a deal done early and undercutting the Pac-12’s bargaining power.

Arizona (or any other Pac-12 defector) would make $31.7 million with the Big 12’s media rights package, according to McMurphy. Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff is expected to present numbers to his Pac-12 members in Tuesday morning’s meeting, according to Scheer, but Scheer reports that the number is “expected to be as low as $20 million per school.”

“All I keep saying is, you know, we’re just waiting to get a deal,” Arizona president Robert Robbins told Max Olson on Wednesday. “And then everybody has to evaluate the deal on its merits. I’ve been pretty steadfast in that stance.”

Arizona has been in the Pac since the Pac-10 was formed in 1978. Before that, the Wildcats spent 16 years in the WAC. Without Colorado, USC and UCLA heading into the 2024-25 school year, the Pac-12 is already down to eight schools. The Pac-12 announced last week that it would pursue expansion after getting a media rights deal done.

After Colorado’s move, McMurphy reported that the Big 12 was after one to three more schools to fill out its ranks entering the 2024-25 school year. Oklahoma and Texas are set to leave the conference for the SEC after this school year and with the addition of Colorado, that would put the Big 12 at an odd 13 teams.

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

In the spring of 2014, former four-star basketball recruit Austin Grandstaff decommitted from Travis Ford and Oklahoma State and weeks later committed to the other OSU (Ohio State). I was a senior in college at the time, and it piqued my interest — or, to be more specific, it ticked me off — so much so that I created an anonymous twitter account (all the rave back in the day!) called The Okie Pokie.

I started writing for Pistols Firing Blog later that summer.

My last post, almost a decade later, is today.

I’m leaving Pistols Firing Blog in the capable hands of Marshall Scott, who bought the biz from Kyle Porter several years ago and has been gracious enough to let me ride shotgun with him since.

As you might expect this announcement comes with a wave of emotions for me. I remember attending my first game as a credentialed media member covering OSU — a hoops game against Baylor inside Gallagher-Iba that was downright rowdy. I remember the Bedlam shootout of 2017 and the long night of grinding out content afterward with Porter. I remember when Tyron Johnson committed to transferring to OSU and the excitement that washed over me. More recently, and more vividly, I remember crying behind the uprights on the east side of Boone Pickens Stadium when OSU beat OU in November 2021. It was just days after I did lab work at the doctor and had a suspicion my cancer had returned — and days before I learned from my oncologist that I was right.

I’ve lived through numerous seasons of life while covering the school I grew up loving, but this new season is carrying me elsewhere. My wife and I are expecting our second child later this year, a Hail Mary connection made possible through IVF that puts to shame any Rudolph-to-Washington connection I ever witnessed, and I no longer have the bandwidth and emotional energy to commit to a second job in addition to a second child. I want to be more present for my family and to more fully immerse myself in my responsibilities at CBS Sports. If I’m being honest, I selfishly want to become a fan again as well. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve cared about OSU sports from the sidelines. 

I want to say thank you to everyone who made my time at PFB possible. And I will, I promise. But I first want to share some scattered thoughts in the space below as I reflect on my time with the website. So humor me, if you will, as I say some goodbyes and thank yous, and dish out some parting thoughts.

The Okie Pokie

Had I known that creating The Okie Pokie — which later turned into a volunteer role at PFB, which turned into a part-time role at PFB, which turned into a full-time role at CBS Sports — would have the impact it would have way back in 2014 … I mean, talk about sliding doors moments.

It scares me to think how vastly different my life would be now.

I’m always hesitant to share with others what I do for a living even a decade later because it feels so hilarious that this has been a “job.” I am incredibly fortunate and don’t take it for granted. Sometimes good opportunities fall into the laps of talented people, sometimes they go to the fortunate and undeserving, and I fully believe I was 100% the latter and not the former. 

It’s so funny to look back now on The Okie Pokie — where I could let my alter ego and unfiltered OSU thoughts go wild — and think how that turned into my career. I tweeted countdowns to the football season, tracked closely offers to recruits and monitored which recruits were followed by which coaches. Somehow, Kyle Porter saw what I was doing and thought hey, this dude could help me build my business. You probably have opinions on Porter already, but mine is simple: man, that guy was an idiot for seeing something in me. (But seriously: man, I am so grateful for him, his obviously flawed talent evaluation and his friendship.)

OSU fans are the best

If you’ve lived life long enough you probably have a story about how a church group or a friend group or a pickleball group or some group of people impacted your life and was there for you in tough times.

I’m fortunate enough to say that for me I think there were at times I had an entire fanbase behind me.

When I first got cancer in 2021, OSU fans bought shirts and sent Venmos to help support our family. When my cancer recurred in late 2021 and I had to go through four more rounds of chemo, OSU fans were again there for my family and I; a friend started a GoFundMe and a ton of people I’ve never met or only stumbled across online chipped in to again support us financially, on top of — of course — buying more shirts. I’m still paying bills off, but they are an infinitely less crushing burden than they would have been if not for your help.

During that time, I got emails and direct messages of encouragement from random strangers, meals were delivered to the hospital to help my wife, and prayers were sent our way in ways that helped us feel loved and supported — especially my wife, who was juggling a full-time job, a toddler, and a full-grown adult infant who was constantly sick and sleeping and couldn’t help much.

I remember near the end of my three months of chemo, when I was really feeling the cumulative effect of months of rigorous treatment, losing weight and my spirits were dwindling rapidly, Dave Hunziker caught wind that I was in distress. So he called me out of the blue one day. We talked about OSU sports, about family, kids, life, healthcare. I don’t remember much of the conversation if I’m being honest — I was in a chemo fog — I just remember that Dave Hunziker called me to encourage me. That meant so much to me. OSU fans’ support both before cancer, during cancer and after cancer has meant so much, too. I’m a combative soul by nature and tend to go against the grain, which shows at times in my writing, but through it all I think most OSU fans were kind and respectful to me when a lot of times I deserved neither kindness nor respect. 

Too many ‘Thank Yous’

I promise not to get sappy in this space — but I’d be remiss to not mention a few people who have impacted my life while at PFB. I’ll keep it brief, I promise….

Thank you, Kyle Porter. You believed in me, invested time in me, and groomed me to be a better writer, editor and person. 

Thank you, Marshall Scott. You gave me space when I needed time off in recent years, when I suspect others would not have been so gracious. Your kind soul and biz acumen is a killer 1-2 combo as a boss. 

Thank you, Kyle Cox. You’re a machine of a writer with a soft heart whose friendship I cherish. I’m so impressed by how much you’ve grown as a writer, and trying to grow PFB alongside you has been one of the joys of my life. 

Finally: Thank you, Lacey. You put up with wild working hours over the years and somehow never flinched, even when I was banging out a softball news story on Fridays at 9 p.m. or grinding out 1,200 words on a three-star recruit over a holiday weekend with family. Your encouragement sustained me through good times and bad, and I’m grateful for your support.

Parting thoughts

On New Years Eve in 2021, I was in the hospital wrapping up my second of four rounds of T.I.P chemo. I was in a dark place emotionally. Covid was spiking across the country, and with my immune system susceptible to infection as is, I was scared of what a covid infection would mean for me. So at a time when I needed family and friends most, I rejected visitors — even my wife, Lacey, at times — and grit my teeth through treatment. If I could just get through this alone and come out on the other side unscathed, I thought, it’d be worth the isolation. (In hindsight: what an idiotic thought process!)

So just before the New Year, with fear of death front of my mind and the feeling of death from the pandemic all around me, I made about 30 minutes worth of videos for my wife, my daughter and my family offering them my wishes — in the event I didn’t make it home — for their life.

I never deleted those videos from my phone. Never watched them, either, because that pain is still too real and too fresh on the mind. But the heartache and earnest longing for more life, and the feeling of wishing I had been more as a husband, a dad, a friend, remains with me. 

Reflecting on it now, in some sense I’m grateful to have sunk to that low.

Because you know what I didn’t make a video about? How the Travis Ford era came to an end. How Justin Gilbert’s INT in 2013 Bedlam should have been an INT. How Mike Gundy should have handled the OAN controversy. How Mike Boynton should’ve taken Cade and Co. to the Final Four.

Because none of those things ultimately matter.

I made videos about my family and friends and my girls because they are what matter most to me.

Sports are an amazing distraction from life because it can provide an escape and offer a communal experience — both good and bad — to partake with others. But it is just that: an escape. For those with dumb luck, it’s a job, but it is not life or death or in the end all that meaningful. I didn’t sit in my hospital bed in 2021 contemplating what death meant and suddenly think about how OSU should have had a more sound running scheme under Mike Yurcich or should recruit more four and five-stars under Mike Gundy. I thought about my family and my wife and my daughter and my friends. That was it. I thought about what I might leave behind and the lives I touched, both good and bad, and how I might be remembered.

I don’t want my last words on this website to end with me standing on a soapbox preaching as if I found the meaning of life and have perspective no one else has. I haven’t, and I don’t. But if I can leave you with something to think about, I hope you will make time to contemplate what matters and what doesn’t in your own life. At one point I cared so much about a player who went on to average 2.4 points per game in his college career that I inadvertently made a career out of caring about such things. Over time and through hardships, I have learned where those things stand in my life and what is, and should be, a priority for me in however many days or months or years I have left here. I hope you can do the same.

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

The long summer is winding down, and fall camp starts Wednesday.

Yes, Wednesday.

As Oklahoma State readies for its 2023 season, here is a look at what I think the Cowboys’ depth chart could looks like entering fall camp. OSU kicks off the year with Central Arkansas on Sept. 2, so things could obviously change a month from now. And that’s not even to mention that I probably won’t bat 1.000 entering fall camp.

With the caveats aside, here is what I think OSU’s offense looks like (we’ll do defense Tuesday):

Quarterback

QB1 — Alan Bowman (redshirt senior)
QB2 — Garret Rangel (redshirt freshman)

Although this is still an open competition entering fall camp, Alan Bowman feels the heavy favorite. The Texas Tech/Michigan transfer has a ton of experience in different styles. Need a guy who can sling it in a spread offense? Bowman did that at Tech. Need a guy who can control a game under center? Bowman got that experience on two College Football Playoff teams at Michigan.

I am, though, excited to see how far along Garret Rangel and Gunnar Gundy have come. The two got thrown to the wolves last season when Spencer Sanders went down with injury. With that experience in mind, I’m intrigued with how much they grew this offseason.

Running Back

RB1 — Ollie Gordon (sophomore)
RB2 — Jaden Nixon (redshirt sophomore) or Elijah Collins (redshirt senior)

Instead of RB1 or RB2, this should almost be percentages of carries because I think all three of these backs will work together this fall. It’s a good mix of styles with Ollie Gordon bringing the thunder at 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, Jaden Nixon bringing the lightning with his see-you-later speed and Elijah Collins being somewhere in the middle at a shifty 6-0, 220.

It has the looks of a good group, but it’s somewhat unproven at this point with the trio totaling 178 carries last season. Collins does have some experience as a featured back. He had 222 carries in 2019 but has averaged just 43 the past three seasons because of injury. And that’s not to mention him stepping into a new squad.

Wide Receiver

WR1s — Jaden Bray (redshirt sophomore), Brennan Presley (senior), Blaine Green (redshirt sophomore), De’Zhaun Stribling (junior)
WR2s — Talyn Shettron (redshirt freshman), Arland Bruce (junior), Rashod Owens (redshirt junior), Leon Johnson (senior)

Like with the running backs, expect all of these guys to get some run in 2023. It’s a new-look group where even some returning faces feel new. Jaden Bray and Blaine Green combined for five catches (all from Bray) all of last season with both dealing with injuries.

Among the newcomers (Stribling, Bruce and Johnson), Stribling has garnered the most hype through spring ball. Listed at 6-3, 205, Stribling had 1,073 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in two seasons at Washington State. But Bruce and Johnson each bring interesting aspects with Bruce being a dynamic slot guy and Johnson being a towering 6-foot-5.

And there always seems to be a freshman receiver turn heads in the offseason. Last year, Kasey Dunn raved about Stephon Johnson’s fall camp, and Johnson ended up showing what all the hubbub was about toward the end of the year. So be mindful if you hear names like Tykie Andrews, Camron Heard or Jalen Pope before the season gets going.

Offensive Line

LT1 — Dalton Cooper (redshirt senior)
LT2 — Jack Endean (freshman)

LG1 — Jason Brooks (redshirt junior)
LG2 — Taylor Miterko (redshirt senior)

C1 — Joe Michalski (redshirt senior)
C2 — Austin Kawecki (redshirt freshman)

RG1 — Preston Wilson (redshirt senior)
RG2 — Cole Birmingham (redshirt senior)

RT1 — Jake Springfield (redshirt senior)
RT2 — Calvin Harvey (redshirt freshman)

A position group that is rarely sexy to break down but always means a ton. The 2022 season was another of injuries and “musical chairs” up front, so here is to hoping the Cowboys’ O-line can stay healthy and productive in 2023.

My biggest points of interest come at center and the return of Cole Birmingham. Starting with the center spot, Preston Wilson took a majority of his snaps at center last season but transitioned more to guard in the spring while Michalski made a move from guard to center. And that’s while we’ve heard rumblings of the upside of youngster Austin Kawecki.

Birmingham missed last season with an injury but started all 14 games of the 2021 season, starting at both guard and tackle during the year. If there’s someone I have listed as a two that I think could crack into the opening day lineup, it’d be Birmingham and it could come at a variety of positions. It might’ve been more accurate to list Birmingham at LT2, LG2, RG2 and RT2.

Tight End

TE1 — Josiah Johnson (redshirt senior)
TE2 — Quinton Stewart (redshirt junior)

No longer lumped together with the fullbacks under the moniker of “Cowboy back,” tight ends are their own thing again. The Cowboys brought in Josiah Johnson from UMass this offseason after Johnson caught 50 passes for 465 yards and five touchdowns in the past four seasons.

Stewart has bided his time. A member of the 2020 recruiting class, Stewart has caught one college pass — a two-yard touchdown against OU last season.

Full Back

FB1 — Braden Cassity (redshirt senior)
FB2 — Jake Schultz (redshirt senior)

The fullback side of the old Cowboy backs, Braden Cassity and Jake Schultz each made starts last season. With OSU expected to play a little more under center than in previous seasons, a lot of lead blocking could be up to Cassity and Schultz this season.

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news.

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OSU Bullets

• A couple of Cowboy wrestlers medaled at the Poland Open yesterday (PFB)

• Nothing new here but a primer on the candidates for further Big 12 expansion (CBS Sports)
– Why the Big 12 should add Washington and Oregon and pass on UConn
– Two things that elude folks in this process: the Pac-12 presidents should bear more blame and FOX has to approve any expansion candidates while ESPN has it in their contract (Twitter)

• A solid synopsis of the realignment scenario on Saturday’s Bullets (PFB)

• ICYMI – re-introducing you to the Colorado Buffaloes (PFB)

• Does anyone else think about Terrence “TC” Crawford when they see Terence Crawford, the boxer, compete? (247 Sports)

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Non-OSU Bullets

• Helpful graphic showing when produce is in season
• The 25 best tv shows over the last 20 years
• Three ways to love the littlest (faith-based)

The value (and compensation) for Lionel Messi coming over to Inter Miami is insane:

Lionel Messi is already having a huge financial impact at Inter Miami CF.

The MLS club expects annual revenues to double in year one, and owner Jorge Mas says the club's valuation could increase by more than $1 billion.

Here's a breakdown of the numbers ?

1. Social Media… pic.twitter.com/YETkN2bAwj

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) July 29, 2023

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

It’s a big match every time Daton Fix and Austin DeSanto lock up, and the Cowboy keeps getting the better of the Hawkeye.

This time the two met overseas, where Fix beat DeSanto 6-3 in the finals of the Poland Open on Sunday. It’s another notch in Fix’s belt in his rivalry against DeSanto. Fix is 3-0 against DeSanto in college bouts, and Fix beat DeSanto back in June to secure a spot on the senior national team.

To get to the final, Fix beat Ramaz Turmanidze of Georgia (the country, not the state) and Bulgaria’s Georgi Vangelov.

Dustin Plott claimed a bronze at the event, beating Iman Mahdavi 10-0 in the third-place bout while also picking up wins over Denys Pavlov (Ukraine), DJ Washington (Indiana) before falling to Bulgaria’s Mihail Georgiev 3-2.

It’s the continuation of a solid summer for Plott, who won a freestyle national championship at the U23 level.

A wrestler’s wrestler, this is how Plott looked after the tournament:

Congrats to @dustinplott1 on winning ?in Poland!!! @coach_fix @_Greatest_Ever1 @TheBTH0MPS0N @CowboyWrestling pic.twitter.com/DW5D7oqo0M

— Cowboy Wrestling Club RTC (@CowboyRTC) July 30, 2023

Incoming OSU freshman Brayden Thompson also competed in Poland. A runner-up at the U20 world team trails, Thompson lost his two matches at the event, but it should be good experience for the young grappler.

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news.

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OSU Bullets

• The Cowboys made the cut for a touted WR prospect from OKC. [PFB]

• On what value Colorado adds to the Big 12 [Tulsa World]

• Once again, Berry kills it. On the Big 12 running laps around the Pac-12. [The Oklahoman]

• This silliness on the platform formerly known as Twitter is exhausting. There is one backfield.

I love you brother . ?? https://t.co/WIcydAzgrv

— Thurman Thomas (@thurmanthomas) July 29, 2023

• 34 days.

Soon.#GoPokes | #okstate pic.twitter.com/PJnKNwrrFa

— Oklahoma State Univ. (@okstate) July 29, 2023

• The treasure trove.

So idk if @OSUMBB’s @mec_jpeg (iykyk) and @BrooksManzer had any fun looking at old basketball stuff in my room today, but I had a blast hosting them! Spain trip for hoops right around the corner #okstate #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/y32yWt1qO1

— Doug Shivers (@casdas29) July 30, 2023

• Just gonna leave it.

#GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/snEMnlFkm5

— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) July 30, 2023

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Non-OSU Bullets

• What we need to do to spread severe weather data to everyone. [The Economist]

• As a resident old, I’m aghast.

this quote from @JustineBateman is wild, but i absolutely believe it https://t.co/EziAXSSd9h pic.twitter.com/tcclf4YHyx

— Tyler Coates (@tylercoates) July 21, 2023

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

Oklahoma State made the cut for one of the top recruits in the state.

Jaden Nickens, a four-star 2025 wide receiver from OKC, released his Top 8 on Saturday and the Cowboys made the cut.

Along with the Cowboys, Nickens included Oklahoma, Arkansas, UNLV, Texas Tech, North Texas and UTSA.

Crazy?? * recruitment still open* pic.twitter.com/Obf889q05v

— Jaden Nickens (@jaden_nickens) July 29, 2023

The 6-foor-3, 190-pound wideout seems destined to make plays on the turf, but he’s also a stud on the hardwood.

Nickens played for Bradley Beal Elite on the AAU circuit. Before Mike Gundy came calling, Mike Boynton offered Nickens a hoops scholarship. And you know how much Gundy likes a two-sport athlete.

Here’s a look at Nickens’ gridiron skills.

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

Thanks for stopping by – here’s your daily dose of Oklahoma State sports news.

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Three Thoughts

• Conference expansion hitting the Big 12 is the perfect situation for July/August, the perfect time to contemplate different combinations for the future.

• Brett McMurphy reported on Thursday that the Big 12 is looking at adding one to three more teams (PFB)
• This (free) piece does a good job of orienting around the other pieces in play/the whole picture (247 Sports)
• Berry Tramel on the Big 12’s prospects ($$$) are terrific, these are the logistical details that are “need to know”:

The Big 12 won’t expand past 16, I don’t believe, because the extra network funding isn’t promised beyond 16. 

If Pac-12 prospects play hard to get, (Brett) Yormark can mention UConn, warning the Pac schools that the Big 12 has other options, and I wouldn’t want to play poker with Yormark.  

[NewsOK]

From what it sounds like, the Big 12 is open to taking 16 but says they want 14 to create a sense of scarcity.

• This was pretty incredible – college football’s best offensive lineman said one of the two toughest players for him to block was OSU’s Collin Oliver (PFF)

• Athletic Director Chad Weiberg nails exactly how it feels to be a Cowboy fan in this round of realignment:

“All I know is,” he said, “it feels a lot better on this side of it than the other side.”

[NewsOK]

Two Quotes/Tweets

• This is one heck of a collector’s item for a Cowboy fan.

I love signing these. @okstate helmets with @thurmanthomas pic.twitter.com/vXPm3QpIUm

— Barry Sanders (@BarrySanders) July 29, 2023

• Malcolm Rodriguez still looking the part in Detroit:

Rodrigo ? pic.twitter.com/BGm4UspwJm

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) July 28, 2023

One Question

• Can we add the Griz instead of any Pac teams?

can. not. wait. pic.twitter.com/Og5ZLl0PKy

— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) July 28, 2023

Most Viewed of the Week

• No. 1

• No. 2

• No. 3

• No. 4

• No. 5

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Non-OSU Bullets

• How to do great work
• Top “adventure experiences” across the US
• Physical activity cures all

“We want solutions, but what we really need are attitudes.

You don’t need abs, but rather an attitude of training. You don’t need the answer, but rather an attitude of curiosity. You don’t need an easier life, but rather an attitude of perseverance.

Attitude precedes outcome.”

James Clear

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

The Cowboys’ staff might have found its next diamond in the rough.

Brien Taylor, a defense lineman at Blinn College, announced an Oklahoma State offer on Thursday night.

Extremely blessed and honored to receive a scholarship offer from THE Oklahoma State University #AGTG #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/wtPuz2UGS9

— Brien Taylor (Bteezy) (@BDTJ13) July 28, 2023

Listed as a 6-foot-6, 270-pound freshman on Blinn’s 2022 roster, Taylor had 20 tackles last season including 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in seven games.

Oklahoma State appears to be Taylor’s first offer — it’s the only one he has tweeted out anyway. And he doesn’t even yet have a profile on the major recruiting services. Regardless, he doesn’t look like a guy who has one offer and no star rating.

We lovin fall camp @CoachFields120 @Canen_Adrian @BLINNFBRECRUIT #jucoproduct pic.twitter.com/8EcQX4jITH

— Brien Taylor (Bteezy) (@BDTJ13) August 8, 2022

He included a picture Tyler Lacy in his offer post, which seems like a decent comparison for Taylor. Lacy spent his time in Stillwater as a defensive end/defensive tackle tweener. Lacy was listed at 6-4, 285 on last season’s roster. He fits the mold of big defensive ends the Cowboys have on their current roster in guys like Anthony Goodlow (6-5, 283), Nathan Latu (6-4, 265) and Kody Walterscheid (6-6, 281).

The Cowboys have 13 players committed in their 2023 class with two true defensive linemen in Luke Webb and Armstrong Nnodim. Eligibility is still a little hard to keep track of in the post-pandemic era, but Oklahoma State’s 2023 roster lists two defensive linemen as super seniors (Goodlow and Latu). Meanwhile Walterscheid, Isreal Isuman-Hundley, Collin Clay and Xavier Ross are all listed as redshirt seniors.

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Read this original article at Pistols Firing Blog.

Carson Cunningham and Colby Powell react to Colorado returning to the Big 12, who’s next and the Pac-12 fallout.

You know what helps the show and helps us make more shows? When you rate us on Apple Podcasts or subscribe to our pod: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | SoundCloud

As always, we appreciate our sponsor Chris’ University Spirit.

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