Big 12 Preseason Power Rankings: No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners

*The 2021 season produced two new title contenders within the Large 12 Convention as Baylor and Oklahoma State confronted off within the Large 12 Championship Sport. The convention introduced plans to interchange Texas and Oklahoma in 2025 by including Houston, UCF, Cincinnati and BYU in 2023. The 2022 season would be the final season of the Large 12 Convention because it’s been recognized for the final decade.

There’ll inevitably be extra seismic shifts this season after UCLA and USC introduced intentions to depart the Pac-12 for the Large Ten Convention. Whether or not the Large 12 provides extra faculties or has extra members poached by different conferences stays to be seen, however this would be the final 12 months with simply 10 member establishments within the convention. Subsequent up within the Large 12 preseason energy rankings is the Oklahoma Sooners. You possibly can learn earlier installments of this sequence beneath.

No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys.

No. 4 Texas Longhorns.

No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats.

No. 6 TCU Horned Frogs.

No. 7 Iowa State Cyclones.

No. 8 West Virginia Mountaineers.

No. 9 Texas Tech Crimson Raiders.

No. 10 Kansas Jayhawks.

No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma enters uncharted waters this season, proper earlier than it enters extra uncharted waters when it jumps to the SEC within the coming years. The Sooners haven’t needed to substitute a coach that left Norman for sunnier skies and sandier seashores in 75 years. Greener pastures didn’t seem to be the precise match contemplating Oklahoma has loads of pastures.

OU thought it might be finest to usher in a well-recognized face in Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Though Venables doesn’t have head teaching expertise, he’s conversant in Norman as the previous defensive coordinator of the Sooners. Venables might want to work quick as he has to construct this system and tradition from the bottom up.

In keeping with The Athletic’s Max Olson, Oklahoma has to interchange 68% of its manufacturing on offense and 60% on protection. There may be little in the way in which of returning confirmed playmakers. The expertise is there, however the gamers and the teaching workers are unproven. That makes Oklahoma’s flooring uncharacteristically low for this season. The ceiling continues to be as excessive as a Faculty Soccer Playoff berth due to the expertise.

Offense

UCF switch Dillion Gabriel will begin at quarterback for the Sooners. New offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby introduced Gabriel in to interchange Caleb Williams after the 2 briefly labored collectively at UCF. Now Gabriel and Lebby have teamed up in Norman to offer some familiarity to a workforce mired in change.

Gabriel might want to keep wholesome as there isn’t a lot depth behind him. True freshman Nick Evers has loads of potential, however that potential gained’t be realized this 12 months. Junior school switch Common Booty may be recognized extra for his identify than being the highest junior school quarterback as a freshman final season, however Booty has no expertise on the DI stage.

Former Tennessee switch Eric Grey will play a bigger function this season after the departure of Kennedy Brooks. True freshman Gavin Sawchuk may play a bigger function as nicely. The Sooners additionally return Marcus Main, however Grey would be the major playmaker for this group.

Oklahoma misplaced a ton of expertise at receiver, however retained (in my view) the perfect receiver from final season. Marvin Mims has been criminally under-utilized whereas at Oklahoma. Now, the Sooners don’t have any different choice than to function him. Mims and Theo Wease give OU a dynamic one-two punch at receiver. Drake Stoops additionally returns whereas the Sooners added Missouri switch JJ Hester and Arizona State switch LV Bunkley- Shelton within the switch portal.

Hester and Bunkley- Shelton ought to present some depth, however Mims and Wease would be the stars at receiver. Brayden Willis returns at tight finish and true freshman Jason Llewellyn may contribute as nicely.

Guard Chris Murray and deal with Anton Harrison return on the offensive line this season, however the Sooners have to develop extra expertise and consistency up entrance. Savion Byrd ought to get his likelihood to shine. Byrd is tremendous gifted, although younger and inexperienced.

California switch McKade Mettauer will begin at left guard with three years of expertise beneath his belt with the Golden Bears. Of be aware, Mettauer’s youthful brother, Mabrey, is a extremely recruited quarterback at The Woodlands (TX) Excessive. OU landed an impression switch at left guard and will get a quarterback out of it sooner or later as nicely.

Andrew Raym figures to begin at heart and Wanya Morris ought to fill out the beginning group up entrance. TCU switch Tyler Guyton figures to get a justifiable share of reps, however OU might want to develop some depth behind the beginning group.

Protection

Protection is Venables speciality. In different phrases, this defensive unit needs to be the precise reverse of what it was beneath Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch. The defensive unit was a turnstile for opposing gamers ready for his or her flip to attain a landing. OU had traditionally good offenses to offset the depressing protection. That ought to change beneath Venables.

There may be good depth at edge rusher with Reggie Grimes and Ethan Downs impressing the workers in spring ball, in line with The Athletic’s Max Olson. Hawaii switch Jonah Laulu can even play an enormous function. Marcus Stripling offers OU 4 gamers that may get after it at defensive finish.

Jalen Redmond returns on the inside defensive position. OU additionally introduced in Tulane switch Jeffrey Johnson to assist on the inside. If the Sooners can develop some depth behind these two, the defensive position needs to be in good condition.

DaShaun White and David Ugwoegbu will lead the linebacking corps as gamers returning with loads of expertise at OU. Danny Stutsman additionally returns and will play a bigger function this season. Freshmen Kip Lewis and Kobie McKinzie may play a task and supply some depth if wanted.

Woodi Washington will lead the secondary after a powerful near final season. DJ Graham can even get a shot to play a bigger function after a stable sophomore season. OU introduced in two transfers to assist out in Lousiville switch Kani Walker and Wyoming switch CJ Coldon. These two, together with Jaden Davis, ought to present the cornerback place with depth.

Billy Bowman is a reputation to regulate at security. Bowman is younger, however has a ton of expertise and will emerge as a star on the place. North Carolina switch Trey Morrison and Key Lawrence can even play bigger roles at security this season.

Schedule

Oklahoma has key video games in opposition to Baylor and Oklahoma State at house this season. Much more importantly, each of these video games come later within the 12 months. Oklahoma has began sluggish the previous few seasons. Though the vast majority of gamers and coaches from these groups are gone, adjusting to all of the turnover gained’t be straightforward. I may see OU struggling in massive video games in opposition to Kansas State and Texas early within the season earlier than closing robust late within the 12 months.

Oklahoma is the workforce with probably the most query marks coming into the season. It’s also the workforce with probably the most variance. These query marks coupled with that quantity of expertise makes this season arduous to foretell for the Sooners. OU may win a Large 12 championship, however may additionally miss out on enjoying within the championship recreation altogether. The schedule does arrange favorably for OU. The expertise is unmistakeable, however expertise doesn’t at all times win. Simply ask Texas.

Disclaimer: I can be posting my picks weekly on Tallysight as soon as once more this 12 months. That is simply my finest guess as of July and these picks are topic to vary as soon as I see what really finally ends up enjoying out on the sphere.