2019 College Football Season Preview: Oklahoma Sooners

2019 College Football Season Preview: Oklahoma Sooners

In the weeks leading up to the season, I’ll be previewing some of the top programs in college football. Today I cover the defending Big 12 champion, Oklahoma University. All stats according to sports-reference.com

2019 Coaches Poll Ranking: 4

2018 AP Final Ranking: 4

2018 Record: 12-2

Coach: Lincoln Riley

Conference: Big 12 

Summary: Oklahoma rode the best offense in the nation in yards per game (570.7) and points per game (48.4) to a playoff spot behind the dynamic and Heisman-winning play of quarterback Kyler Murray. The eventual number one pick racked up 4361 passing yards, 42 touchdowns, and a 69% completion percentage. He also rushed for 1001 yards and 12 touchdowns. After the season, though, Oklahoma lost four starting linemen, their top receiver and Murray to the NFL. That’s a lot of talent to give up. Fortunately, the team returns arguably the best receiver in the nation in CeeDee Lamb and their best rusher in Kennedy Brooks (1056 yards, 12 TDs). If new transfer Jalen Hurts can prove Alabama wrong and light the nation on fire, watch out. The defense, on the other hand, was a pathetic 102nd in points allowed and a difficult-to-believe 116th in yards given up. With an average defense, this team likely could have won a national championship. The good news: Experience shouldn’t be an issue, as only one defender left for the NFL. The bad news: Do you really want anybody to return from a defensive effort like that? 

Most Valuable Player: CeeDee Lamb, WR Oklahoma returns only one starter on the offensive lineman, center Creed Humphrey, and is also trying to replace arguably the greatest single-season quarterback in Sooner History in Kyler Murray. Someone in their offense will need to step up to make plays, and my money’s on Lamb. Ranked as the 24th best returning player in the nation by Pro Football Focus, Lamb actually had a higher yards per catch ratio and more touchdowns than even Marquise Brown, though Brown had a little under 200 yards more due to ten more catches. Either way, Lamb is set to have a huge season leading the Sooner receiving corps and helping new quarterback Jalen Hurts get comfortable in the Big 12.  

Biggest Game: Oct 12, vs. No. 10 Texas It was a special year for the Red River Rivalry this season as the two teams faced off not once, but twice: Once in the regular season and once in the Big 12 Championship. The games were split, but Oklahoma got the last laugh by beating Texas to win the conference. The regular-season loss at the hands of the longhorns was Oklahoma’s only loss until the playoffs. This year, Tom Herman’s group is hungry to prove that they’re back, and Oklahoma is determined to keep Texas victories in the past. Who will prove victorious? I’m getting excited just thinking about it. 

One Big Question: How will Jalen Hurts adjust? Jalen Hurts lost his job at Alabama to Tua Tagovailoa. Now that he’s at a new school, will he prove Nick Saban wrong? Oklahoma is banking on Hurts to play like the quarterback who led Alabama to two national championships, not the one who lost his job to a freshman. If Hurts plays well, Oklahoma will likely be a contender and may even have a third straight Heisman-winning quarterback. I would be legitimately shocked if he didn’t. The then-Alabama quarterback had over 3600 combined yards rushing and passing his freshman year in 2016. His numbers took a hit in his sophomore year before being replaced last season, but if Hurts can be the quarterback he was as a freshman, he could light the football world on fire. 

My Prediction: 11-2, Lose in the Big 12 Championship to the Texas Longhorns I can’t just pick the favorites for every conference, can I? To be fair, I think Oklahoma is going to be very good this year. Their offense looks like it has the weapons to be another great one, and there’s chatter about a three-peat Heisman performance at quarterback. That is a legitimate possibility. Meanwhile, their defense has to get better, right? Right? But Oklahoma is no longer the top-coached, easily-most-talented, write-them-in-and-forget-about-them team in the conference.  Texas beat Oklahoma once last year, and there’s a lot of talent on that team, led by Heisman candidate Sam Ehlinger. Oklahoma is still an elite program, but they’re no longer the top team in the Big 12. 

For my previous season previews:

#1 Clemson

#2 Alabama 

#3 Georgia

-By: Alex Spieldenner