Hey all!

Me and my 3 daughters are headed to Norman from Idaho for our first game at OU! What advice and tips do you have for someone who isn't from the area? I want to make sure we have a game plan for gameday so we make the most of our time. I'm also interested in hearing any tips on fun things for kids to do. We'll be there on Thursday afternoon so if you have any go to places that kids enjoy we would appreciate it!

Boomer!

First - looking to buy 4 tickets on the west side (shade). What are the best sections to look at? Assume the higher rows in the lower bowl have more shade from the overhang?

Second - ticket prices seem astronomically high compared to what I remember seeing last year. Is it safe to assume they will drop as we get closer, or should I buy now?

Third - I've been to the fair the day after the game, but never the day of. Given the 2:30 kick, realistically what time should we arrive at the fair grounds?

Thanks for the help in advance!

Venables gave an update on the battle at starting kicker, the favorites at the returner spots and Andrel Anthony's status on Tuesday.

Random question, but does anyone know where I can get this hat? I've found quite a few that look similar, but none that are exactly the same.

He’s the Sooners top commitment for 2025 and a much needed offensive lineman.

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What’s up here?

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Been saying we need to get him in this class somehow/someway, his film goes CRAZY, he has no business leaving the city of Norman after this year.

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probably a nothing burger but interesting choice of apparels with Chad Simmons being there too

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Some news I have confirmed...

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Fasusi is one of the more fluid, elite looking athletes I have seen Oklahoma attain on the recruiting trail in some time. He has great arm length, thick glutes, but looks like a sprinter below the knees, with an upper body built to quickly acquire some more thickness and strength.

Consistently, all I have heard is how “raw” he is. While he does need to get stronger and put on some additional strength, by the end of this season, I think he may be a well prepared prospect coming into the spring semester for the Sooners.

For me, calling someone a “raw prospect” has to be quantifiable. Typically it means lack of strength, fluidity or poor technique such as losing balance/control, consistently not fully understand assignments, lacking the prerequisite SAQ to play at the next level. I don’t see that with Fasusi.

With Fasusi, I see a player who blends tenacity with elite physical traits while being thoroughly committed to learning the nuances position.

He does lack the “stun” in his hands but that will come with time but I love watching him get out of his stance going left (or right) in pass blocking scenarios. He swallows up long defenders and has great instincts, knows where the ball is and is always there for a blockout even if he doesn’t get the pancake.

Similar to Cayden Green, I see traits in Fasusi that could make him elite at the guard spot as well and maybe he could see some early snaps if he initially takes that route.

Hope you all enjoy the videos and evals!

*** We will start with 2026 four-star safety Isaiah Williams.

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Right now, I like where OU stands but numbers will be an issue at the safety position in 2026. Unless attrition helps like it did with 2025, the Sooners taking more than two safeties in 2026 would be stretching it a bit, according to a few sources.

So how might the safety room play out and where does OU stand with some of their top targets at the position? I’ll dive into that and Williams visit below, but will also inform you to expect my 2026 class predictions in the near future as well.

On to the important info…

First, I’d predict four-star Frisco (TX) Lone Star safety Jordan Deck to be the Sooners’ class as things stand today. On that same note, despite Rivals250 and four-star safety Markel Ford being committed to Texas A&M, I would have some confidence that Oklahoma is still squarely in it. I also am being told that Oklahoma is likely to host Ford (again) fairly soon. However, that is another topic for another day (reminder Ford also visited OU for Party at Palace AFTER his commitment to Gig’em). I will dive more into all of that down the road regarding Ford — possibly in class prediction writeup.

Now, having said all of that, Oklahoma is also in a very good spot with Isaiah Williams as well. The elite Texas Gulf Coast safety target has only been to Norman one time, but those around him — and those well-connected to his recruitment — seem to feel that Oklahoma, and safety coach Brandon Hall, have made a significant impact with Williams already.

That impact has Williams set to return to Norman when the Sooners host Tennessee to open up conference play in their inaugural season in the SEC. That’s also when the prodigal son, Josh Heupel, returns to Norman for the first time as a head coach, and since his ousting as the Sooners’ OC after the disappointing 2014 season ended.

The Tenn game is going to be huge for recruiting, and Williams isn’t the first big-name, and won’t be the last that we will discuss for that weekend, either.

OUinsider has already reported at least five Rivals100 offers set to visit that weekend, with multiple being in the top 30 overall. That’s five-star status, for those checking at home.

Those players are elite 2026 DT Deuce Geralds, four-star QB commit Jaden O’Neal, elite DT Tank Carrington, four-star ATH/CB Brandon Arrington and a few others. Geralds and Carrington are ranked 28th and 25th, respectively, in the 2026 class. Those are the likely five-stars so far. O’Neal is 63rd and Arrington is 52nd. All are four-stars or above, obviously.

As for Williams, he has been telling people that he wants to make a commitment decision before the calendar year turns over to 2025, so as long as Coach Hall and the Sooners have room, I’d expect Oklahoma to press for Williams fairly aggressively.

Despite most viewing the Sooners as the potential team to beat for Williams, there are other programs that he has his eye on like Texas and Ohio State. They are the other two teams you hear a lot about with Williams, so it won’t be easy for Oklahoma to reel the big-time safety in.

*** We hinted at multiple Rivals250 defenders set to visit Oklahoma for a game this season. Yes, we named a bunch in the note above that are visiting when Oklahoma hosts the Vols on September 21st, but that won’t be the only big visit weekend.

Sources seem to think the Bama game in
November will be one that has a chance to be another huge recruiting weekend.
.

That Bama game is also one that we continue to hear will be when OU gets to host 2026 Rivals250 EDGE rusher Jake Kruel again.

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I was able to see and speak with Kreul this summer after watching him compete like a man on a mission at Rivals 5-star Challenge this past July in Jacksonville (FL). The twitchy EDGE rusher was almost impossible to block, and the fast-riser really turned some heads with his performance that week.

Kreul told OUinsider at the time that he was headed to OU again for a game, and said, “I am excited to see a SEC game there… but I’ve already been to OU two or three times already because of my relationship (with Miguel Chavis).”




The Sooners were the first big school to offer Kreul and that made a significant mark, he said.

“Coach [Miguel] Chavis was my first big offer and I will aways remember that.”


Oklahoma seems to be in a good spot early on for the 2026 IMG Academy DE. That said, Oklahoma will have its work cut out for it, with programs like Miami, Clemson, LSU, Ohio State and Texas also being teams that Kreul has his eyes on.

*** We will have more recruiting info throughout the week as OU looks to have its 2025 class almost finished, outside of Michael Fasusi deciding on Wednesday between OU, A&M and Texas, and four-star LB Christian Jones still deciding sometime in October as of today.

That means more and more 2026 content as OU heats up on big-name targets in that class. The good news is Oklahoma is off to a HOT start for that class as well. We will see if that can continue, so stay tuned to OUinsider VIP.

Fun Fact:
RJ Young blocked me on Twitter a few years ago because I commented “bro, are you not an OU fan anymore?”

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How much has Gracen Halton improved from last season? Plus quick notes on David Stone and Jayden Jackson, Davon Mitchell and Danny Okoye.

I subscribe to all sites and listen to every podcast under the sun for the Sooners. What I’m not seeing or hearing is a ton about Stone. PT or BD any updates on how he’s looking and why JJ is always listed far ahead of him.

How hard would it be to buy 3 seat's together for the Friday Night home game with Tulan? I use to be a season ticket holder, but things got hard and I had to let them go. Now the rub and what brings me here. I was just told my liver cancer has grown and they want to put me on the waiting list for a liver, and in the mean time they may do surgery while waiting on the list. So I want to see MY SOONERS kick Tulans Butt but I want to take my only two friends with me. So if anyone can help me out or set me on a path were I can buy some, I would truly appreciates it. BOOMER!!!

For me, the trip to Columbia might be the one I have circled the biggest on my calender.

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Hey everyone I dove into the recruitment of four-star linebacker Christian Jones and made the case for his final two schools Oklahoma and Nebraska.

Any new info on Fasusi?

I have been asked this question a lot over the last since last night, so I thought I should just go on here and lay it out for everyone:

*** First, it's felt like the Sooners have been trending for the last month or so. Even before this latest surge from the Sooners, Oklahoma was seen as a program that would always be in line to potentially land the 2025 Lewisville (TX) five-star OL, Michael Fasusi.

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*** As of late, we have seen Texas recruiting analysts talk about Fasusi a bit differently. It went from March, April, and May -- when picks were being put in for the Longhorns at a feverish rate -- to the present where most of the buzz for Fasusi seems to be moving toward the Sooners.

*** That 'buzz' for the Sooners has had some feel like the Horns are going to move in another direction at offensive tackle right now. Will that end up being the case? Will Texas focus on "help out now type of transfers" as some sources seem to believe is their thought? I don't know.

*** What I do know is that Texas has been pushing for Fasusi for quite some time and that if they do not land Fasusi, they will most certainly take a swing at getting one or two OT's in the portal.

*** Now, having said that, I would also caution my Future Cast meaning it's done to OU. I by no means think it's the case. I still think Texas and Texas A&M have another run in them for the elite offensive tackle. A&M has continued to talk with Fasusi. They have continued to try and make their pitch to the elite OL. What I gather is that a lack of production to NFL (Dan Moore was last offensive tackle picked to NFL in 4th round of 2021 draft). That has been the question and the hold up for some in Fasusi's camp, according to a few sources. Though I don't think that is the end-all.

*** A&M has quietly been hanging around here and sometimes that is all that is needed for a late push and win. Though, I am not there with them quite yet. One thing if for sure, and that is Gig'em does continue to have constant dialogue and at least still have Fasusi's ear. Again, sometimes that is all that is needed to open the door more, and that is exactly what A&M is working on doing. So we are watching them closely.

*** As for Texas, it's always been the late NIL surge that has me worried when it comes the Sooners' chances to land Fasusi. It still does, if we are being honest and upfront. I still believe there is that chance that Texas does make a late NIL push that puts the Sooners in a 'get very close or match the NIL' type of scenario if they still want to land the Lewisville. (TX) five-star OL.

Either way, Texas is going to play the NIL game and play it big at the offensive tackle position. It's just a matter of if it will be strictly portal OT's or will they manuever some funds to also play the NIL game as we expected with Fasusi. As noted, that is also what we have been and what we will continue to watch closely on the Texas side, because Fasusi does like the Horns. That's never been a secret.

*** Now, for the Sooners...

Fasusi has long told me that Bill Bedenbaugh is his favorite coach to talk with and he knows that Sooners OL coach will "get him right and get him to the league," Fasusi told me on Father's Day back in June following his OV with Oklahoma.

Source last night called BB "so honest that Fasusi just connects with him." That honesty and willingness to be upfront with people (including media in interviews) has always been an endearing part of Bedenbaugh's coaching style. It's also turned some away, but those are the types that the staff would generally say wouldn't fit the OU culture to begin with.

Another thing that I found interesting was a source that told me they felt Fasusi was going to end up at OU back in late June/early July contacted me when I put in the pick to OU. They were one of the sources that had Missouri trending quietly for Lamont Rogers as well. That ended up being correct in the end. That same source told me last night via text, "You are spot on with that Fasusi pick," the source said. "Always thought he was going to OU and that thought has been felt by others considering OU at that same OL position for a bit."

Now, let me clear this up. Don't go taking that as fact. Don't go taking it as that means it's done with Fasusi. That would be the wrong way to approach that quote. However, I would take that for what it is and that is a very positive statement by someone that knows the landscape of DFW recruiting, as well as someone that has been dealing with elite OT recruiting for 2025 class.

Lastly, you all have asked my confidence level on the FC? I would put it at a six or seven. But closer to a six. I think OU feels they are in a good spot. I think Texas and Texas A&M feel they are having to make up ground on the Sooners. Both of those programs contending with OU are working on last second surges to try and close out the five-star and pull a surprise in the final six days of his recruitment. Those things can still happen, but I also feel the Sooners are going to play ball with NIL (or at least we are hearing they are going to do so), and be VERY competitive in their pitch down the stretch as well.

So with Fasusi's affinity for Bill Bedenbaugh and what the Sooners' staffer can do for him and his goal to the NFL, along with the Sooners willingness to try and close out here as best as possible, I like OU for Fasusi. More so when you also add that the other two programs after him also feel the Sooners are in pole position heading into the final week before the five-star announces.

Naturally, if that starts to change, Parker and I will undoubetly keep you all informed and update you all in an expediant manner.

Personal Note: If I miss and Fasusi doesn't choose the Sooners, I will take the L. Won't be pretty on here and I know the hate will be deserved from you all. I am ready for that if it gets to that point, but the funny part is that I am the most conservative FC picker that I know, outside of maybe very few others. I folowed by gut, along with the pick being based on the information I have had over the last few weeks/last month or so. That information hasn't really changed and when it's a steady flow like it has been, it's usually right. I guess we will see come Aug 22nd if that is truly the case.

Stay tuned for more information on Fasusi, fall camp and more on OUinsider.com VIP. Thanks for being members.