2024 College Football Preview - Oklahoma Sooners

As we navigate the quieter period of the sports calendar, the absence of football - my primary focus - is palpable. While the NBA Finals, College Baseball, and the NHL Finals are in full swing, and undoubtedly other events I've overlooked, my aim isn't to churn out content for the sake of volume. With the United Football League not being my cup of tea, it seems fitting to commence my college football season previews now. Anticipate a flurry of these in the coming weeks, culminating with the launch of College Football 25!

The first team under the spotlight in this series is the Oklahoma Sooners, a choice that will resonate with most of my readers. This year, the Sooners are embarking on a new chapter in Oklahoma history, stepping out of their familiar territory of the Big XII and joining the SEC. They have been a dominant force in the Big 12 conference for decades, clinching the conference title 32 times in 86 seasons.

As we approach the new season, there's a growing sentiment among various teams and fan bases that the Sooners may not be a competitive force in the conference for the foreseeable future. While I concur with this prediction for the upcoming season, dismissing the Sooners' potential for future competitiveness is premature. Their track record against current SEC teams stands at 110-49-8, and they've maintained a winning record against any team they've faced more than five times.

While the Sooners may face challenges in their initial seasons in the SEC, it's important to remember that college football is cyclical. I firmly believe that established programs like Oklahoma, despite experiencing downturns or even a decade of struggle, will inevitably rebound. Their 50 Conference Titles and 7 National Titles are a testament to this. The OU football program was built to stand the test of time.

Now, let's delve into the upcoming season. Any preconceived notions about the Sooners based on last year's performance should be discarded. This is a markedly different Oklahoma team. Venables promoted from within new coordinators following Ted Roof's departure to UCF and Jeff Lebby's appointment as Head Coach at Mississippi State.

Oklahoma has promoted Seth Littrell, the previous QB coach, and Joe Jon Finley, the former tight ends coach, to co-offensive coordinators. The offense, led by first-year starter and former #1 High School Quarterback of the 2023 class (depending on your source), Jackson Arnold, will feature only two returning starters this season - Senior Jalil Farooq and Sophomore Gavin Sawchuk. The addition of Deion Burks doesn't hurt either. The Sooners have also bolstered their offensive line in the offseason, hopefully providing Arnold with a solid foundation.

The trajectory of the upcoming season hinges significantly on Jackson Arnold's progress during the offseason. Last season offered us a glimpse of Arnold's potential—a mixed bag of promising moments and areas for improvement, to put it mildly. Given the schedule for this season, the Sooners could potentially secure ten victories if we witness Arnold's best form. However, if his performance is less than stellar, we might be looking at a six-win season.

It's important to remember that Jackson Arnold is just one factor in Oklahoma's success this year. The team's defense could be a game-changer, potentially tipping the scales in favor of the Sooners in two or three closely contested matches. With the departure of Ted Roof, the Sooners are set to embrace a new era under the guidance of Zac Alley, former Defensive Coordinator at Jacksonville State, and Todd Bates, previously a defensive tackle coach at Clemson, who is stepping in as co-defensive coordinators. Having worked with both Alley and Bates at different points in his career, Coach Venables now has the support staff he has been aiming for, setting the stage for a promising season ahead.

Complementing a coaching staff with strong synergy, the Sooners will take to the field under the leadership of fan favorites such as Danny Stutsman, Ethan Downs, Gentry Williams, and Billy Bowman. This forms a defense that will strike fear into their opponents. If the newly appointed Defensive Coordinators can streamline the defense and prevent teams like Kansas and TCU from scoring 30+ points, the Sooners will be in a strong position. Historically, Oklahoma has been known for its electric offenses but has often struggled to present a matching defense. This year, however, the scales may finally tip toward equilibrium.

Let's take a look at the Sooners' season

vs. Temple (August 31)
Temple finished last season with a 3-9 record, with wins against Akron, Norfolk State, and Navy. The Owls lost their starting quarterback from last season to the transfer portal, and Forrest Brock, who has 15 passing attempts at the Division 1 level, now holds the keys to the team. Best of luck to the young man, but if Oklahoma's defense doesn't lay a goose egg against Temple, the Sooners better hit that film room good. Sooners 1-0.

vs. Houston (September 7)
The Sooners will host the Houston Cougars in Norman in week 2. This Houston team is different from the 4-8 Cougars of 2023. Former Tulane Head Coach Willie Fritz now controls the team. Fritz brought Tulane into the AP Top 10 for the first time since the turn of the century in 2022 and won a Cotton Bowl with the Green Wave that season. Given the last two seasons at Tulane, where he only lost four games, I'm surprised he wasn't offered a better job than Houston. That said, Houston doesn't have Oklahoma's electric offense and powerful defense. Oklahoma goes up 2-0.

vs. Tulane (September 14)
Well, this is awkward. After playing Tulane's former head coach, Oklahoma will host Jon Sumrall's Tulane Green Wave. I'm glad Oklahoma has Tulane on the schedule because, after two teams like Temple and Houston, which we should steamroll over, we will oppose a team that I think will give us a scare. Sumrall is one of the most promising up-and-coming coaches in Division 1 football. He only has two seasons of being a head coach and is 23-4 after two seasons at Troy. His only losses are to Appalachian State, James Madison, a ranked Ole Miss, and a ranked Kansas State. If you want to count the 2023 Birmingham Bowl, you can count that too.

Like I said, Tulane will give Oklahoma enough of a scare to wake the team up, which I think can be good as the Sooners head into the conference schedule. I see the Sooners coming out on top as they prepare for Tennessee. Sooners 3-0.

vs. Tennessee (September 21)
On paper, I see the Sooners winning their first SEC Conference game against Josh Heupel's Volunteers. With this matchup being in Norman, the Sooners have a huge competitive advantage, and Sooner Nation will show up in full force that weekend, which plays a HUGE role in why the Sooners will win. My question is how the moment's magnitude will impact Oklahoma. Tennessee's Freshman Quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, is supposed to breathe new life into the Volunteers, but since this is his first game, the moment may get too big for him. If played at a neutral site, this game would be 50/50, and I would not be able to pick a winner, but as I said, since it's in Norman, the Sooners prevail. Oklahoma 4-0.

at Auburn (September 28)
Auburn is entering its second season under HC Hugh Freeze and has a truckload of returning starters, including QB Payton Thorne and RB Jarquez Hunter. Despite this, the Tigers had the worst passing offense in the conference, and if the Sooners' defense can shut that aspect of the game down, they should have no problem walking away from Auburn with a W. Oklahoma 5-0.

vs. Texas (October 12)
I am trying to figure out what to make of this game. Texas has one of the most talented rosters in College Football this season, which is why they fall somewhere in the Top-4 of almost every pre-season Top-25 list. The only game on Texas's schedule that is almost a guaranteed loss is against the Georgia Bulldogs. Despite the roster's plethora of talent, Steve Sarkisian is not the kind of coach who will go 11-1. They will lose another game, and most likely, it will be to Oklahoma because no matter the skill gap, this rivalry is always a tossup. I'll admit, I'm being a homer here, but I have Oklahoma winning this game. Sooners 6-0 as we head to the second half of the season.

vs. South Carolina (October 19)
I don't want to speak ill of Shane Beamer because he is one of my favorite coaches in College Football right now. He loves his players, and his players love him, but chemistry is only some of what is needed to be a successful football team. Last season, the Gamecocks took a step back from Beamer's first two seasons. With a redshirt freshman quarterback leading them into the future, I don't see this season being pretty for South Carolina (this may be a fun season preview to do). Oklahoma is going to Cock Block South Carolina from winning this game. Sooners 7-0.

at Ole Miss (October 26)
Lane Kiffin has his Rebels primed and ready to go for what could be the best season the Rebels have seen in decades. Last season, the Rebels finished with a 10-2 record with losses to just Alabama and Georgia, and they have several starters returning to get another crack at winning the SEC. Ole Miss is a safe bet to include in this year's playoffs. The Sooners can win this game, but Ole Miss, dare I say, is a National Title contender this year. The game is in Oxford, and if the Rebels are coming off a win against LSU in Death Valley, the Rebel Loyal will show up in full force. Sooners 7-1

vs. Maine (November 2)
Maine is an FCS team that finished last season with a 2-9 record. Need I say more? Sooners 8-1

at Missouri (November 9)
Missouri and Eliah Drinkwitz are coming off of the Tigers' best season in recent years, and I have reason to believe Mizzou isn't trending downhill in 2024. This group of Tigers is full of vets and guys who have been together for a few seasons, which is rare these days. They will be coming off a bye week and will have plenty of film on what to and not to do. If Missouri is healthy, they could be in a spot to win the conference this year, and that said, the Sooners get a loss in Columbia. Sooners 8-2

vs. Alabama (November 23)
It's hard for me to determine what I think of this season's Crimson Tide since once Saban retired, 40 players left for the transfer portal or were drafted. The Alabama Standard is still the Alabama Standard. Kalen DeBoer did compete in the National Title last year and is now at the head of the most storied program in College Football. With Studs like Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker, and Malachi Moore returning, the Sooners will have their work cut out in Tuscaloosa. I'm not the smartest man on Earth, but I know better than to bet against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Sooners 8-3.

at LSU (November 30)
Last season, Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers' only impressive win was against Missouri, but they did not lose in Death Valley. If this game were played anywhere else, it would be easy for me to pick the Sooners to win this game, but you don't go into Baton Rouge and win a game unless you are perfect. The Sooners' saving grace may depend on how well LSU's new starting quarterback, Garrett Nussmeler, performs. If he is on fire on November 30, the Sooners will finish the season 8-4, but I'm holding strong that Oklahoma's defense will be a force this year. This is the game the Sooners win because of an experienced defense. The Sooners finish the year 9-3.

Perhaps you believe I'm way too optimistic, so I'd like to hear your thoughts on how you believe this season will go for the Sooners. Leave a comment with your thoughts, and give me suggestions on what team I should preview next! ​