Daily Mullets (November 25)

No posting on the site yesterday because of Thanksgiving — sorry I didn’t warn you guys. Hope everyone’s green bean casserole dreams came true. Tom Herman playing LSU so hard right now.

Happy Thanksgiving

Tom Herman to Baton Rouge?

As LSU was pounding Texas A&M in College Station on Thursday evening, the storm clouds gathered.

The LSU Tigers have zeroed in on Houston’s Tom Herman as their next head coach and could have a deal in place as early as Saturday, sources said Thursday. But another source said Herman hasn’t ruled out an offer from Texas, which has been expected to make Herman its top choice if Charlie Strong is fired. [ESPN]

I’m convinced Herman’s agent is forcing Texas’ hand here. From everything I’ve read and all the People Who Know Stuff I follow, Herman wants Austin. And I am terrified. Also, good job good effort, A&M.

When SEC teams score like this it's great offense. When Big 12 teams score like this it's terrible defense. Narratives.

— Carson Cunningham (@KOCOCarson) November 25, 2016

Giving Thanks

Great story here by Jenni Carlson about a preferred walk-on who had to hang it up for good.

As he sat near the Theta Pond one sunny afternoon about the same time his former teammates were across campus getting ready for practice, he said he has actually come to appreciate what happened. Not only might it have saved his life — a doctor once told him his condition was a little like having a dagger sitting near your heart; it might never cause any problems, but if it did, it could be deadly — but it definitely bettered his future. [NewsOK]

It’s pretty easy to forget about the players we watching being real human beings who have lives outside of football/basketball. This was a good reminder.

Bedlam Should Get Weird

Jake trotter on the fourth de facto Big 12 title game in Bedlam in the last six years.

The Cowboys have a chance to reach double-digit wins under Gundy for the fifth time since 2010. And on the heels of seven consecutive wins, the Cowboys — like Oklahoma — have played their way into the top 10 of the rankings and into the playoff conversation. “That makes it fun,” Mayfield said. “I’m excited about it. A high-stakes game always makes it interesting. “It’s going to be another good one.” [ESPN]

I’m here for all of it.

Big 12 teams as Thanksgiving dishes

I’m always leery of posts like this, but it was well done. Here is OSU as green bean casserole.

It’s always there, even if you don’t see it. It’s a traditionally underrated side dish, yet always sought after. Honestly, it’s one of the best dishes on the table. Not the most popular, not the most talked about, but consistently good. [CRFF]

The West Virginia/Texas ones made me laugh, too.

Hoops speeds up

Great notes here by Mark Cooper on OSU hoops.

In terms of total possessions, Wednesday’s game was the slowest game of the year for Oklahoma State. There were 77 possessions. That’s still more possessions than any OSU game last season. According to KenPom.com, Oklahoma State ranks 10th in the country in adjusted tempo. The Cowboys were 333rd (of 351) a year ago. The difference is, so far, about 16 possessions per game. Players obviously take to the faster pace. On a night like Wednesday when things are going right, everyone except the opponent does. [Tulsa World]

Underwood is playing the ball Ford always promised us. Berry Tramel wrote a glowing review of him and the Pokes’ play in Maui as well.

It was a stunning revelation. Under first-year coach Brad Underwood, OSU basketball is back. Not necessarily back to Final Fours or Sweet 16’s. Who knows about that? But back to being relevant. Back to being interesting. Back to being fun. [NewsOK]

Sinor For Heisman

Sad this dude can’t get any Heisman love!

Where he’s most effective, however, is forcing offenses far away from the OSU goal line. Sinor leads all FBS punters with 63 percent of his kicks downed inside the 20, with 29 such punts this season, two off his school-record of 31 set as a freshman a year ago. He also ranks among the national leaders by allowing just 1.4 yards per return, a number he happily shares with his coverage unit. [NewsOK]

Punts inside the 20 is the new points per drive.

Justice Hill’s load

I would not hav guessed Hill has the second-most carries in the Big 12 behind D’Onta Foreman.

D’Onta Foreman has 299 plays from scrimmage. That is 109 more than any other player in the Big 12. 292 of those plays have been rushing attempts. Justice Hill is second in attempts at 171. [LGG]

I wonder what this number would look like if Chris Carson had been healthy all season. Also, Joe Mixon missed a game because of his parking ticket incident.

Unrelated

These are wildly unrelated, but Baylor’s helmet for the Tech game and Zach Lavine’s 360 from the FT line are two of the best things I’ve seen all week.

Here is a closer look at the new lid we will be wearing on Friday #SicEm ? pic.twitter.com/wU09Dybfzm

— Jeff Barlow (@JeffEquipBU) November 23, 2016

Better video of Andrew Wiggins snapchat of Zach LaVine doing 360 from free throw line ???? pic.twitter.com/ixGs2n6Avj

— StreetHistory (@streethistory) November 23, 2016

More PFB

Playoff committee redefining reality … What Oklahoma State is getting in Trey Sterling, good interview here … Pokes also picked up a TE from Texas … THANKSGIVING POD with Eddie Radosevich … Five thoughts on Oklahoma State’s win over Georgetown.