After a spring that left many observers feeling optimistic concerning the Sooners, Oklahoma has emerged as soon as once more because the favorites to win the Huge 12. Not likely a shock contemplating they’ve received the convention greater than anybody since its inception. Even after they depart for the SEC, it can take a long time for anybody to match the 14 convention titles Oklahoma has received since 1996.
Oklahoma has as many convention titles as the opposite eight groups to win the Huge 12. Take away Texas A&M, Colorado, and Nebraska who left within the final spherical of realignment and the Sooners have 4 extra convention championships than the 9 remaining members of the Huge 12 mixed.
Three out of 4 analysts over at Athlon Sports activities picked the Oklahoma Sooners because the favorites to win the Huge 12. Right here’s what Allen Kenney needed to say concerning the Sooners. Allen Kenney, Ben Weinrib, and Mark Ross be ok with the Oklahoma Sooners’ possibilities of profitable the convention in 2022.
The boldness they’ve in a crew that misplaced a ton this offseason comes from their confidence in Brent Venables as a soccer coach and Dillon Gabriel at quarterback. Right here’s a snippet of what Weinrib needed to say concerning the Sooners.
Brent Venables was about as sturdy of a rent because the Sooners may have hoped for, as he’s intimately acquainted with this system. And for all that the crew misplaced by way of the switch portal, they did usher in doubtlessly the very best quarterback within the convention in Dillon Gabriel. – Weinrib, Athlon Sports activities
Along with their new quarterback and their new head coach reinvigorating a program that was “shut” however seemingly drifting farther from nationwide title rivalry, the schedule performs out within the Sooners’ favor in 2022.
OU additionally has a positive schedule in ’22 that may convey Baylor, Kansas State and Oklahoma State to Norman. All of it factors to a spot within the convention championship recreation for the Sooners, at minimal. – Kenney, Athlon Sports activities
The lone dissenting opinion comes from Steve Lassan who thinks the Baylor Bears must be the favorites.
I may make a case for a few groups right here, however on the finish of spring observe, I’d go Baylor over Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for the highest spot. Texas and Kansas State are intriguing wild-card groups that would push for a visit to the convention title recreation if issues break proper. The Bears aren’t with out considerations, nonetheless. Coach Dave Aranda’s crew misplaced defensive standouts Terrel Bernard (LB) and Jalen Pitre (DB), whereas the offense misplaced its prime three statistical receivers and working again Abram Smith. Additionally, Baylor had a plus-12 turnover margin and received 4 video games by one rating final season. These numbers are inclined to trace at regression the following yr. Nevertheless, Oklahoma is in transition below its new workers, and Oklahoma State loses fairly a little bit of expertise on protection and has a couple of gaps to refill entrance and on the ability spots on offense. Texas doesn’t lack for expertise, however can coach Steve Sarkisian discover the precise solutions alongside the offensive line and on protection? It is a wide-open convention, and with uncertainty working excessive, I’ll belief Aranda to push the precise buttons as soon as once more this yr. – Lassan, Athlon Sports activities
Whereas Oklahoma could also be thought of the favorites by many to win the Huge 12, Baylor, Oklahoma State, and Texas can have their say within the convention title race as properly. As Lassan factors out, Baylor could expertise some regression, however they’re nonetheless an excellent crew and will have an upgraded quarterback state of affairs going from Gerry Bohanon to Blake Shapen.
Oklahoma skilled loads of turnover from a protection that wasn’t pretty much as good because it ought to have been in 2022. Particularly, the losses of Nik Bonitto, Isaiah Thomas, Perrion Winfrey, Brian Asamoah, and Delarrin Turner-Yell, who can be taking part in on Sundays this fall. Throw within the switch of Pat Fields to Stanford and that’s a ton of expertise and manufacturing out the door.
That’s to not say the Sooners can’t enhance upon a protection that completed 76th in yards per recreation and sixtieth in factors per recreation in 2022. If the potential is matched with manufacturing, the Sooners’ protection can be pretty much as good as any within the Huge 12 this season.
Marcus Stripling, Ethan Downs, and Reggie Grimes can be robust to cease off the sting. Jalen Redmond can be a pressure within the center. The Sooners nonetheless have a robust secondary with Woodi Washington and D.J. Graham, Key Lawrence, and Justin Broiles coming again. Throw in a scheme that received’t sit again and let quarterbacks get comfy, and the Sooners’ protection ought to have the ability to reply all of the questions in Venables’ first yr in Norman.
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