Oklahoma-Florida State GameDay: X-Factor

John Hoover: Satisfaction

Oklahoma may use one thing in its favor. Something. However the climate’s going to be excellent, the followers are going to be 80 % Seminoles, and the depth chart has been wracked by departures. What’s the group’s mindset in its first recreation with out 15 switch portal defectors? Are they only ending out the string, so to talk? Or are they honestly motivated to tackle a rugged FSU squad in a largely meaningless bowl recreation. Aside from a 24-year streak with out a shedding season, and this being Brent Venables’ first bowl recreation (it was only one yr in the past that he took the visor from Bob Stoops in San Antonio), there’s nothing however delight on the road for Oklahoma. Do the Sooners have any? And can that be sufficient?

Ryan Chapman: Turnovers

Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis has achieved a wonderful job taking good care of the soccer all yr lengthy. He’s solely thrown 4 interceptions in 2022, however the OU secondary might have to choose him off a couple of occasions to assist maintain the Sooners within the recreation. Already the inferior group on paper, Oklahoma must face up to quite a lot of opt-outs in key positions to keep away from its first shedding season since 1998. Turning Florida State over may go an extended strategy to flipping OU’s fortunes in Orlando, because the Sooners look to keep away from the same destiny to the final time they took the sector in Tenting World Stadium towards Clemson.

Josh Callaway: Perception

Does Oklahoma consider they’ll win this recreation? As a result of if they do not, on the danger of sounding very cliche, they’ve already misplaced. The Sooners have to come back into this matchup actually believing they’ve a shot to spring the upset right here. Being the underdog to this degree would not occur to OU fairly often, so it is not a place most of those guys are used to being in. If they have been attacking follow with the fitting mindset and do the identical on Thursday night time, they might discover themselves proper on this recreation to the tip and thus with a shot. If they’re flat and hoping for a robust begin to get the ball rolling, it may get away shortly. Oklahoma’s mindset is so essential in a spot like this. As a result of if their vitality is not the place it must be from the bounce, the Seminoles would possibly put a beatdown on the Sooners just like what Brent Venables’ Clemson Tigers did the final time OU was on this recreation.

Ross Lovelace: First quarter

With Oklahoma’s depth scenario, if the group will get down by a couple of scores early and the turnovers start to pile up it could possibly be an extended night time. Oklahoma’s first quarter has dictated a number of video games this season, each for good and for unhealthy. Alternatively, a robust begin may go a great distance for the Sooners and be a key to having success. In opposition to Oklahoma State, OU coasted for 3 whole quarters due to its dominating begin. Florida State’s offense is quick, and Jordan Travis is a veteran. Giving him further possessions, particularly within the first quarter, could possibly be expensive for the Sooners. If Oklahoma desires to remain on this recreation and have an opportunity to win late, the way in which the Sooners begin the sport is crucial.