Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops needs only nine more victories to pass Barry Switzer for the most wins in school history. Stoops should have plenty of time to add to that record after agreeing to a contract extension Thursday that will last through the 2020 season.
"Josh and I have spoken, and I've also had one conversation with one of his representatives, and we're just going to get through the draft and then when we get to later spring, maybe summer -- there's no rush -- but we'll have some kind of conversation," he said. "And listen, we would love to get Josh extended, no doubt. But it's got to be a number that works for him and works for us, and that's been my conversation with them, and they know the same. We're all on the same page.
"Josh wants to be here. That's the first thing: Does the player want to be here? That gives me hope that we'll get something done at some point. I can't guarantee you it'll be this year. The good thing is, we have time. And I think I did say on that podcast, we tried in Carolina to get Cam Newton done at this time, and it didn't work. We weren't on the same page with his agent on where the value is to where they saw it. And so we just said, hey, no hard feelings, we're all on the same page here, and we just pushed pause. He played that season, and then after that season, we got it done pretty quick that next offseason. We were more on the same page. So I guess what I'm saying is, you can't force it; it happens when it's supposed to happen. And if it happens this year, great. If it doesn't, I'll be very positive that we'll get it done next year."
Whether it's this offseason or next offseason, the Bills and Allen remain on pace for a long-term marriage.
Before that, the Bills will need to walk through the formality of exercising the fifth-year option on Allen and Edmunds. First, Beane will focus on the draft next week and then get to the rest of that family business.
Stoops has won nine Red River Shootouts against arch-rival Texas, with an average margin of victory of 26 points. Every Oklahoma home game has sold out during Stoops' tenure, which could be the most impressive achievement for the OU Board of Regents that will have to approve the extension when they meet in September to consider.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.