West of Everest: An Oklahoma Football Podcast

The guys are back for a full summer reset as the 2026 college football season gets closer. The guys start with the three most interesting things about OU football in 2026, including whether Brent Venables’ Oklahoma defense can be even better this season, why the Sooners may be underrated nationally, the importance of John Mateer taking a step forward, and what to make of Oklahoma’s difficult SEC schedule. Then, Lee and Grant play a John Mateer “Would You Rather” quarterback game, comparing Oklahoma’s QB to several major names around college football, including Arch Manning, CJ Carr, Marcel Reed, Darian Mensah, Gunnar Stockton, Rocco Becht, Connor Weigman, Kevin Jennings, Sam Leavitt and more. Later, the guys hit on Owen Heinecke’s preliminary injunction before diving into the wild Brendan Sorsby gambling/NCAA/Texas Tech/Big 12 situation, what it says about NCAA enforcement power, and why courts are becoming such a major part of modern college football. The episode wraps with thoughts on OU baseball winning the national championship and how the Sooners got hot at the perfect time. West of Everest is an Oklahoma football podcast hosted by Lee Benson and Grant Benson. Chapters / Timecodes 00:00 — Intro: West of Everest is back04:50 — Ratings, reviews, and growing the show05:30 — Top 3 most interesting things about OU football in 202606:00 — Why OU’s defense may be underrated nationally10:00 — David Stone, Kip Lewis, Owen Heinecke and Oklahoma’s defensive ceiling11:20 — Comparing Brent Venables’ OU defense to his Clemson defenses15:35 — OU player ratings, David Stone hype, and Kip Lewis appreciation21:00 — John Mateer, Ben Arbuckle and Oklahoma’s offensive continuity23:00 — Running back room concerns: Xavier Robinson, Tory Blaylock, Lloyd Avant and Deland McCullough27:10 — Can tight ends really fix Oklahoma’s run game?28:25 — Oklahoma’s 2026 win total and brutal SEC schedule30:35 — Michigan, Georgia, Texas and OU’s season-defining early stretch35:15 — John Mateer “Would You Rather” quarterback game begins37:30 — John Mateer or Connor Weigman?39:35 — John Mateer or Kevin Jennings?41:10 — John Mateer or CJ Carr?43:30 — John Mateer or Josh Hoover?46:40 — John Mateer or Marcel Reed?48:15 — John Mateer or Sam Leavitt?51:10 — John Mateer or Darian Mensah?57:00 — John Mateer or Gunnar Stockton?59:30 — John Mateer or Rocco Becht?01:01:10 — John Mateer or Arch Manning? this season, why the Sooners may be underrated nationally, the importance of John Mateer taking a step forward, and what to make of Oklahoma’s difficult SEC schedule. Then, Lee and Grant play a John Mateer “Would You Rather” quarterback game, comparing Oklahoma’s QB to several major names around college football, including Arch Manning, CJ Carr, Marcel Reed, Darian Mensah, Gunnar Stockton, Rocco Becht, Connor Weigman, Kevin Jennings, Sam Leavitt and more. Later, the guys hit on Owen Heinecke’s preliminary injunction before diving into the wild Brendan Sorsby gambling/NCAA/Texas Tech/Big 12 situation, what it says about NCAA enforcement power, and why courts are becoming such a major part of modern college football. The episode wraps with thoughts on OU baseball winning the national championship and how the Sooners got hot at the perfect time. West of Everest is an Oklahoma football podcast hosted by Lee Benson and Grant Benson. Chapters / Timecodes 00:00 — Intro: West of Everest is back04:50 — Ratings, reviews, and growing the show05:30 — Top 3 most interesting things about OU football in 202606:00 — Why OU’s defense may be underrated nationally10:00 — David Stone, Kip Lewis, Owen Heinecke and Oklahoma’s defensive ceiling11:20 — Comparing Brent Venables’ OU defense to his Clemson defenses15:35 — OU player ratings, David Stone hype, and Kip Lewis appreciation21:00 — John Mateer, Ben Arbuckle and Oklahoma’s offensive continuity23:00 — Running back room concerns: Xavier Robinson, Tory Blaylock, Lloyd Avant and Dylan McCullough27:10 — Can tight ends really fix Oklaho

Lee and Grant Benson are back to preview the Missouri Tigers visiting Norman this weekend. Should OU be on upset alert off the emotional high of beating Alabama? Are there any healthy bodies in the RB room they can turn to? Is John Mateer capable of playing better? But first, we read your Three Word Reviews following last weekend's banger vs The Tide. Subscribe to the show on YouTube: @WestofEverest | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter/X: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter/X: @LeeBensonTweets

We're back off a refreshing bye week to discuss OU's second consecutive CFP elimination game, this time deep in the heart of Dixie: Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Does OU's overmatched defense have any chance of slowing down Alabama's incredibly good—and certainly not fortunate—offense? The Benson Bros have a lively debate. Plus, we read your Three Word Reviews from the Tennessee game, and go over our Picks of the Week. Subscribe to the show on YouTube: @WestofEverest | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter/X: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter/X: @LeeBensonTweets

Grant is back with Lee to discuss OU's daunting road trip to Neyland Stadium this weekend vs. Tennessee. Do John Mateer and the Sooners have what it takes to go into incredibly hostile territory and escape with a dub? One host thinks so, and another...not so much. But first, Grant gives his delayed thoughts on the bitterly disappointing loss to Ole Miss. All that, plus Picks of the Week. Subscribe to the show on YouTube: @WestofEverest | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter/X: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter/X: @LeeBensonTweets

The Benson Bros are back to discuss OU's massive home matchup with Ole Miss. Will Veny be able to get over the proverbial hump as Lane Kiffin brings his squad into Norman for the first time? Is Kiffin playing mind games with Venables bringing up his propensity for stealing offensive signs? That, plus the picks of the week. Lets get a dub this week, eh? Subscribe to the show on YouTube: @WestofEverest | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter/X: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter/X: @LeeBensonTweets

Lee is back this week with Grant to talk about Oklahoma's first ever trip to the state of South Carolina to play a tackle football game. Can they continue their impressive knack for winning the week after playing Texas, or will they lose on the road following that game for the first time in 43 years? But first, Lee and Grant re-litigate last weekend's debacle at the Texas State Fair in excruciating detail. Subscribe to the show on YouTube: @WestofEverest | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter/X: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter/X: @LeeBensonTweets

Texas hasn't played poorly in the Red River Shootout in 13 years. Will this finally be the year that the Longhorns live up to their first 5 games and play a stinker? Will John Mateer defy the odds and return early from his broken thumb to etch his legacy in Red River lore? Lee and Grant are back this week to discuss the best, most competitive rivalry in American sports. Let's roll. Subscribe to the show on YouTube: @WestofEverest | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter/X: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter/X: @LeeBensonTweets

The Benson Bros are back after a week off to discuss John Mateer's chances of playing in 10 days against Texas. Plus, is this finally the week for Jaydn Ott? What are our expectations for Michael Hawkins against probably the worst opponent OU will play this season? All that, plus Picks of the Week. Subscribe to the show on YouTube: @WestofEverest | Like the show on Facebook: @westofeverest | Follow Grant on Twitter/X: @GrantBenson25 | Follow Lee on Twitter/X: @LeeBensonTweets