What’s the best way to measure team’s success? Number of wins in a year? Players winning individual awards? Amount of future NFL stars? Any way you ask the “Q’s”, the “A’s” are all impressive answers for the Sooners. They’re coming off a second STRAIGHT season at 12-2, making the College Football Playoff, AND a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. Lincoln Riley looks to continue the success that he has had with the Oklahoma Sooners over the past two seasons.
Prestige Ranking (If NCAA 20 Came OUt): 5*
The Sooners have rich history between 7 National Titles, players like “The Boz”, and almost 900 wins for the entire program. In fact, 4 more wins and they reach 900. If they win 2 more games than both Notre Dame and Nebraska this season, they’ll move up to 6th all-time. That’s what you get from a good program who will celebrate 125 years this year.
Season OUtlook
Offense
Despite losing their second straight Heisman Trophy winning quarterback and second straight 1st overall pick, the Sooners will be either lining up Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts or the top QB from the 2019 recruiting class, Spencer Rattler. All indications are that Hurts will lead the offensive charge. They also lost wide receiver Marquise Brown to the first round. However, they won’t take too hard of a hit because CeeDee Lamb will return after a stellar sophomore year with 65 catches for 1,150 yards and 11 scores… One more than Brown. Lastly, the Sooners will continue to be balanced in attack when they return Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks who ran for 950 and 1,050 yards respectively. The leading offense in points per game has only reloaded.
Defense
The downfall of the Sooners last year was that the couldn’t keep their own offense OFF the field. Does that sound counter intuitive? Yes, by all means. Just think about it. The defense was so bad last year that they gave up 33 points a game, good enough for 101 out of 130 teams. The defense was giving up points as fast as the offense was scoring them. This year’s version of the Sooner defense is a year older and more experienced with only 3 seniors expected to be starters and the rest is mostly juniors. A drop in points per game is expected.
2018: 12-2 (9-1) Big 12 Champions
2019 Projection: 14-1 (10-0)
In 2019, the Oklahoma Sooners will take the next step. They’ll get over the hump and go to the National Championship game. Their lone loss will come in said game. The reasoning is that Clemson is VERY good and so is Alabama like always. It’s also for the sake of being right. Fortunately, Sooners have a favorable schedule. The tougher teams that they play, will have to come to Norman. Sooners repeat as Big 12 Champs along with heading to the Natty.
Big Games
Red River Rivalry
The best rivalry in sports that you can’t say 3 times fast. Oklahoma will play Texas in Dallas. Ironically, it will have been less than a year since the Sooners beat Texas… in Dallas. Except, that was in the Big 12 Championship game.
Big 12 Championship Game
For the 3rd time in 12 months, the Oklahoma Sooners will (probably) play Texas in Dallas and beat them.
National Championship Game
Obviously the Semifinal game is 100% hypothetical and so is this. However, the possibility to get to this pinnacle is plausible. Lastly, Oklahoma and Lincoln Riley could surprise some of the high powered teams.