Daily Bullets (Apr. 15): Gundy talks 2019 Quarterback Battle

Happy Tax Day. It was really cool to see swinging Pete in Butler cabin this year.

Bullets Rundown

• QB battle thoughts
• Cowboy report from Augusta
• Playoff modifications?

Scores

• MT: TCU 4, OSU 1
• WT: OSU 4, Texas Tech 2
• WG: Cowgirls are in fifth at the Big 12 championships
• BB: Kansas 7, OSU 6
• SB: OSU 12, Iowa State 5
• WS: OSU 3, UCA 0

OSU Bullets

• It’s possible to start reading the tea leaves on the quarterback battle after hearing about closed-door interactions with Mike Gundy.

During his April 3 and April 10 media sessions, Gundy was in an extraordinarily good mood. His history is clearly defined: When there is a feeling of security at the quarterback position, and confidence about his offense overall, Gundy is relaxed and cool.

When there is uncertainty or a negative trend at QB, he’s not so chilled or accommodating.

The relaxed/cool Gundy of the past two weeks suggests that he feels good about the development of redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Sanders. [TulsaWorld]

If Dru Brown was a blue chip that led Alabama to a title-game, sure, a true position battle would need to be played out and seriously considered. But it’s a bit of an unfair fight when a thoroughbred like Sanders is competed against regardless of how much experience one has.

• Here’s an excerpt from the Cowboy report from Augusta National – most importantly, Cowboy golfer Viktor Hovland finished as the high amateur in the field.

(Viktor) Hovland finished the tournament tied for 32nd. When asked what he plans to do now, Hovland said his eyes are on becoming a back-to-back national champion.

“Back to school tomorrow,” Hovland said. “Grind it out and try to get the repeat at nationals.”

Rickie Fowler was the highest-placing former Poke. He finished tied for ninth with a 10-under 278, three strokes behind Woods. [PFB]

• Conversations around modifications to the CFB playoff have a timeframe to be looked into.

(Wisconsin AD Barry) Alvarez wasn’t 100 percent in his statement but put it out there that there’s a potential window for expansion. Alvarez noted, “There’s a window I think a year from now where they can make changes. They left that available. It was initially I think an eight-year contract, but there’s an opening when they can make changes, so that’s available.” [Awful Announcing]

That’s a tricky one. I don’t think the committee is ready to go to eight-teams just yet, but a weighting modification that gives more credibility to Power Five champs could very well be on the horizon (hence the comments by Big Ten advocate Barry Alvarez).

• It sounds like four-star 2019 recruit Chris Harris, Jr. is still strongly considering the Pokes even after visiting the national runner-up Texas Tech Red Raiders over the weekend.

Rivals analyst and Texas Tech insider Ben Golan made his Forecast prediction for Harris Jr. to land at Oklahoma State official on Saturday morning, right in the middle of Harris Jr’s visit. Golan has an accuracy rate of 80.3 percent, according to Rivals.com.

Russ Wood also has Harris Jr. going to Oklahoma State. In the grand scheme of things, none of this matters if Harris Jr. doesn’t actually choose Oklahoma State, but a Texas Tech analyst choosing OSU while Harris Jr. is on campus seems like a pretty good indication of what the South Garland product is thinking. [CRFF]

• Pretty wild that LSU reinstated their basketball coach after he was caught discussing the (illegal) recruitment of a blue-chip on wiretap.

Non-OSU Bullets

• Porter on Tiger’s Masters’ win was very good

• I appreciated this faith-based look at Palm Sunday, the second triumphal entry