As Keith Jackson would say, "Whoa, Nelly." And Lee Corso might even get in a "Not so fast, my friend" if he started to read all the fodder about the chances of no other team but one from the SEC winning the BCS title.
Did everybody forget about Oklahoma?
The Big 12 looks to be the toughest conference in the country—sorry, SEC fans. Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Texas, Mizzou, Kansas and yes, even Nebraska all have shots at the conference crown.
While the SEC has Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn and LSU as potential title contenders, some of their schedules are just brutal. See Georgia's if you want to get some goosebumps.
And unless Florida gets some serious pass defense, it's going to be another strange year of lots of offense but porous pass defense. Tennessee has potential, but aren't they really a lot like Cal? Lots of good press, but can't quite get over that BCS title game hurdle in the last few years. LSU has a good shot, but wasn't that based a lot on the arm of Ryan Perrilloux?
Oklahoma, on the other hand, has quietly taken a little bit of a back seat to all the love the SEC has been getting. And it's just perfect.
Too often in the last five years, Bob Stoops' teams have come up short. Except for a Holiday Bowl win over Oregon (17-14) in 2005, the Sooners have lost in a Sugar, Orange and Fiesta Bowl (twice), including a waxing by USC (55-19, 2005 Orange Bowl) and West Virginia (48-28, 2008 Fiesta Bowl). That starts to sting after a while.
While the National Championship expectations are always there in Norman, so far, it's been quiet. Eerily quiet. Like the calm before the storm.
This year, phenom quarterback Sam Bradford returns with a most impressive resume. With a 176.52 QB rating, 36-8 pass ratio and almost 70 percent completions, this guy is a one-man wrecking crew. Yeah, he should be a Heisman front-runner.
Barring any sophomore slump, Bradford should be ready for the Red River Shootout after five games under his belt. RB DeMarco Murray, who led the team's rushes with an average 6 yards per carry until he went down with an injury, looks ready to pick up where he left off last season.
The only concern on the offense is losing their No. 2 all-time receiving leader in Malcom Kelly, but they do return an incredible TE Jermaine Gresham as well as WR Juaquin Iglesias. They just reload here, not rebuild.
The O-line looks just scary. This unit only gave up 14 sacks last year, and everybody with at least a half a year's starts is back.
Yep, you don't need to ask, "Where's the beef?" Duke Robinson (OG) stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 330 pounds. He is considered the best guard in the country by many pundits. His good buddy Phil Loadholt (OT) is 6-foot-8 and 350 pounds. Phil Steele ranks this line as No. 1 in the country.
So are there any problems? Not really. Remember, when Jason White left, there was concern over QB, and Rhett Bomar and Paul Thompson all performed well, despite some NCAA violations marring the program.
The D-line returns eight with starting experience, losing only DE Alonzo Dotson and a DT who started one game last year. The linebacker unit suffered some losses, and Stoops had to fill in some holes with JUCOs, but there is still experience there.
39 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Justin Goar 12 months ago
good point.
the sooners are lying in the weeds waiting to strike. i honestly think the sec teams will take each other out this year and you'll be left with who's left out of OU, OSU, and USC.
of course, OU will need to survive its conf championship game. a subject you know a lot about. the flipside of losing that game is what if usc and osu are #1 and #2 BCS teams respectively and OU is #3.
the sooners get that extra game against an opponent like mizzou (or for jimson's sake let's say KU) who may have a lofty ranking as well. if they win that game, it may give them the BCS decimal pts to leapfrog into the #2 spot.
it's not an unlikely scenario.
at any rate, while it may seem OU has been left out of the nat'l title talk, don't think for a second that the 12 teams on their schedule will overlook them.
good read!!
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Hmmm...I don't think USC and OSU will #1 and #2 simply because one will have a win over the other team since they play each other. But yeah, the way the pollsters mess things up (think OSU #1 and Michigan #2 scenario two years ago and how Michigan fans argued they shouldn't drop because they lost to the #1 team), it could happen.
What a mess that would be. I just hope there is no controversy this year. Seriously.
Oklahoma and USC had the same record as LSU so they could argue their case to be included in the BCS title game, although I do believe the BCS got it right this last January.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan 12 months ago
You can exclude me from that group of Michigan fans. We had our shot. Florida deserved it. And I'm glad they embarassed the Suckeyes on the biggest stage :)
Edit Comment Cancel
Jimson Cuenta 12 months ago
"The only real concern is the secondary- two CBs that started all last season and SS DJ Wolfe- who made the second team Big 12- are gone. It is this one area of concern that will be the reason why they lose to Texas Tech on November 22nd for their only loss.
Harrell and Crabtree will eat their DBs alive. It may not be close. But one loss should be enough to get them in the conference championship against Mizzou, most likely. And Oklahoma is still Mizzou's daddy."
IF Oklahoma LOSES AT HOME, on SENIOR DAY, to Texas Tech... I GUARANTEE you that Oklahoma will NOT make it to the Big 12 Championship Game :)
In that case, I just CANNOT see Texas Tech losing MORE THAN ONE game :)
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
I think one loss will get them in, I really do. :p
Edit Comment Cancel
Jimson Cuenta 12 months ago
"I think one loss will get them in, I really do. :p"
But you have to remember... IF Oklahoma LOSES to Texas Tech, then Texas Tech MUST LOSE TWO CONFERENCE games. Otherwise, Texas Tech WILL WIN the tiebreaker over Oklahoma... and Texas Tech will play in the Big 12 Championship Game :)
Oh, by the way... Let me ask which TWO CONFERENCE games, do you have Texas Tech losing???
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Jimson...I think they'll lose two ...at Texas A&M and Texas. Just because...they always lose when they should win. Texas has won five straight...they own the Red Raiders in the last 30 or so games...I think they have lost a handful of times. Don't think the Aggies will let them win four in a row...it hasn't happened in a long time.
Texas Tech plays two FCS teams (E Washington and Mass) so they have a dual problem-(1) only one of those games counts in the BCS polls, and (2) how well do those three of four total cupcake teams (the other two are SMU and Nevada, who will be decent) prepare them for the Big 12 South? I just have an uneasy feeling.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ryan 12 months ago
"In that case, I just CANNOT see Texas Tech losing MORE THAN ONE game :)"
And that is why you know absolutely nothing about college football.
Edit Comment Cancel
Jimson Cuenta 12 months ago
"And that is why you know absolutely nothing about college football."
What are you talking about???
Edit Comment Cancel
Colin Clark 12 months ago
Lisa,
Whether or not you or I believe the SEC or the Big 12 is the toughest conference, the media at large does. Your Oklahoma scenario is predicated on an SEC without an undefeated team. If the SEC has an undefeated team, I just can't see the coaches and the media sending Oklahoma to the national championship game... if anything but because they have a softer schedule.
If Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee or LSU is undefeated, they can all lay claim to having played a tougher schedule than Oklahoma.
That's kind of a problem for Oklahoma.
What do you think?
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Colin...I don't believe I said that an SEC team would be undefeated, but it would be difficult for that to happen. And why can't Oklahoma play a one-loss SEC team for the championship?
Re-read what I wrote...the schedule is brutal for some of those teams, ie-Georgia. I see a little drop-off this year for the SEC, but....a two-loss SEC team shouldn't go INSTEAD of a one loss Oklahoma team. I don't see that happening.
Edit Comment Cancel
James Doker 12 months ago
Coincidentally, I wrote an article just moments before you posted this, in which I mention Oklahoma as an overlooked BCS championship contender.
I, too, think the Sooners have a very good claim to being number 1. I don't think I'd even bet against them when they play Texas Tech-- although I agree that should be their biggest obstacle (barring a Big 12 Championship run-in with Mizzou). They're probably more likely than any SEC team to finish undefeated, but I wouldn't necessarily say that the Big 12 is better than the SEC. The two conferences seem about even (as I mention in my article).
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
I did not intend to mean the Big 12 was a better conference, per se. I just don't seeing the SEC performing as well as they did last year while the Big 12 is coming on strong.
Every conference cycles...remember when Miami and Florida State were the big boys? Same with the Big Ten...parity is alive and well in CFB. I think this year will see a slight drop-off by a couple of teams in the SEC, if history serves true. It usually goes every ten years, then again, the Big Ten dominated for 20 years. so who knows?
It's just my take, and no disrespect is meant to the SEC teams. (I love the gators, and am rooting hard for them to come back and win the SEC. They have a helluva good conference, but so does the Big 12.
But yeah, I like the Sooners' chances. The question is, if they make it to the big dance, will they falter again?
Edit Comment Cancel
James Doker 12 months ago
Ah, I see what you meant. I actually agree that the SEC has to come back to earth eventually. The Big 12 seems to be on their way up, too, with the North division getting back up to steam and Tech and A&M trying to change their fortunes in the South.
It seems like the conference strength debate has exploded the last year or two. I wonder what people will be saying once the balance of power starts to noticeably shift.
Edit Comment Cancel
BabyTate 12 months ago
Oklahoma has a history in the past 5 years of losing big games. I don't think the SEC is tougher than the Big12 this season. I would say they're about equal in conference schedule toughness.
Edit Comment Cancel
Shawn Fulk 12 months ago
For those of you watching the Sooners you will know that Tech has not beat OU @ OU in forever. Also you would know that Stoops at home at OU has lost two games in nine years.
That being said no one with a right mind would favor Tech @ OU on Senior night under the lights. So get ready for the big RED to ROLL up another Big 12 championship Number six with Stoops and 6 out of the last eight. OUCH
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Well, that's spot on, Baby Tate. That's why it's up to Stoops to tear it up a notch. Two BCS blow-outs is not a good preparation. Or maybe they played better teams. I don't know...Boise State played the game of their lives and Stoops got schooled. West Virginia had Slaton and White...a ruthless combo. Still, to get blown out by West Va.....not good.
Edit Comment Cancel
Colin Clark 12 months ago
Lisa,
I did read your article. All I am saying is that if you have two teams fighting for the last spot to go to the championship game, one from the SEC and one from the Big 12 in 2008, the SEC squad will play.
Fair or unfair, Oklahoma has the built in disadvantage of having to prove conference toughness if their spot for the national championship game is questioned.
That said, I do agree with you that they are a perfectly viable national contender who should not surprise anyone if they win it all.
Baby Tate,
I think those 5 years of losing big games will make voters less likely to put Oklahoma in a championship game. Ohio State is in a very similar position. This year (I agree the conferences are cyclical) the SEC has all the advantages with the polls.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Colin-
I don't necessarily agree. What if the SEC squad loses to Ole Miss or Alabama, but Oklahoma loses to Mizzou or Texas Tech? I think you have to look at quality losses.
That's one of the reasons why LSU went to the BCS game this year...they lost to two quality teams. USC, on the other hand, lost to Stanford and a quality Oregon team. So it does matter who you lose to. That poor quality loss killed SC's chances. And the BCS made the right choice based on those criteria.
Edit Comment Cancel
Ctrl-Alt-Del 12 months ago
I appreciate all the talk about the Big 12 getting stronger and that is great. I would like to know what makes any of you believe that the SEC is getting weaker though? Did I miss something? What makes any of you believe that the SEC is in for an awakening or that it is time for the SEC to come back down to Earth?
Is the infusion of great coaching talent in the last few years the key, is that what gave you a clue as to the eventual downfall of the SEC?
I guess I am curious to know what indicators any of you have that the SEC is about to flounder or become noticeably weaker.
I try to keep up with these things as best I can and I don't like missing out on things that everyone else knows.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
"Downfall" of the SEC? "Weaker"? "Flounder"?
My, you certainly read into something that isn't there. The gist of this article was about the Sooners, by the way.
ctrl-alt-del-
I commented that a few teams will "see a little drop-off." That hardly means weak, floundering or downfall. That's how vicious rumors get started, but nice try.
But I do believe LSU suffered some serious losses that will be hard to overcome this year. It's not just Perrilloux or Dorsey. LSU has 12 returning starters and has to play Georgia. I don't see them having as much success this year.
For the record, I said:
"I see a little drop-off this year for the SEC" and "I just don't seeing the SEC performing as well as they did last year while the Big 12 is coming on strong."
Now where does that imply weak, floundering or downfall of the SEC? Geesh....someone feels the need to start a fight already.
Edit Comment Cancel
Colin Clark 12 months ago
Ctrl-Atl-Del,
I still think the SEC is stronger. All I am saying is that it does not matter what I think, what you think, or what Lisa thinks when the voters pick out a championship game.
Unless, of course, she has a vote.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Colin-
Luckily, I do not. :)
Edit Comment Cancel
BabyTate 12 months ago
I don't think this is LSU's year for a national championship. I agree you've got a terrific program and coach, very reminiscent of Paul Dietzel who came in as an Ohio native and won the natl championship in Baton Rouge 50 years ago this season.
Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri could play for the national title. Colorado and Kansas will be solid. A&M and Nebraska should be improved. Kansas State and Oklahoma State may end up in bowls. Because of the depth of this conference it should be a match for the SEC.
Edit Comment Cancel
Justin Goar 12 months ago
Every year, a team's goal should be its conf championship.
acheive that, and the NC will either fall into place or not. it's not always something you can control. winning your conference is.
LSU should focus on winning the western division.
in odd years LSU has more of a favorable schedule, this is an even year, LSU (currently racking my brain) hasn't won the west in an even year but won the west in 01, 03, 05, and 07.
Edit Comment Cancel
Colin Clark 12 months ago
BabyTate,
To be honest, neither do I. I'm holding out for a Sugar Bowl, but we will see.
I certainly think LSU has a better shot than Texas, though.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
It's tough to repeat in this age of parity...plus you have all these BCS busters who tend to overachieve when pitted against BCS teams. Utah, Boise State...you just never know. I think the Sugar Bowl would be a great answer to last season. Isn't that the primary goal of all teams? To win their conference tie-in bowl? At least the coaches say that...but we all know the truth! That crystal ball is worth some fightin' words.
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Augustin, Jr. 12 months ago
Lisa, good read. I always look forward to your writing.
In response to your title, I don't think anyone has forgotten about the Sooners. I just think that their recent bowl history, which you and the readers have alluded to, has caused people to dismiss Oklahoma as title contenders. I, for one, see Sam Bradford leading the charge to a Big XII title and BCS game. I just don't think they'll defeat anybody in a major bowl. They have lost to double-digit underdogs and perennial contenders alike in big games.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Paul-
Thanks, and your points are sound. I also agree that Ok. has had a problem in pressure games like BCS Bowls. To be fair, I was never super-impressed with Jason White. He's a nice guy, but I just thought there were better QBs he faced in the BCS bowls.
Oklahoma may fall in the same trap as Ohio State if they fail to win in a BCS Bowl. If OSU goes bowling again and loses again, unfortunately, they may not get as much respect next year. They deserved to play in the BCS Bowls, they just faced better teams, and to be honest, weren't expected to be #2 last year. Sometimes, there is a HUGE discrepancy between #1 and #2.
Oklahoma has dropped four BCS Bowls, two by blow-outs. If they go bowling again this year and lose, they too, will not be afforded due respect next year. Voters are fickle. It's unfortunate, but sometimes regular season success doesn't equal post-season success.
Edit Comment Cancel
bowlbasaur golden bears 12 months ago
"even Nebraska all have shots at the conference crown." laFFable
"and a smothering win over TCU" You mean the team that beat them in Norman a few seasons ago? Ya OU may win but they may also struggle with the Horned Frogs.
Edit Comment Cancel
Michael Shibley 12 months ago
Lisa,
Good read as always. Right now I have the Sooners in the BCS title game, probably against USC. Whiel the SEC is s string as ever, I just think they will beat each other up this year and a two loss team won't be good enough like last year.
As you and others have said, lord help Stoops if they screw up in a BCS bowl again.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Michael-
Thanks. You know, it's a little bit of mental masturbation here, but IF the Sooners play for the title and IF they lose, would Stoops' coaching be questioned? Lloyd Carr went through this same thing when he kept losing to Michigan. Like Carr, Stoops has a great resume and represents the school well. But sometimes that isn't enough. I have to think if he comes up short that his hot seat will be scorching. I would love to hear from some Sooner fans on this and get their honest opinion.
Edit Comment Cancel
Paul Witten 12 months ago
I think OSU and OU could end up playing eachother for the national title. While its obvious that USC is a phenomenal team, I think Ohio State may be able to use their experience and the running game to bite USC into play action passes---something Todd Boeckman is actually good at. Such plays would give OSU the abiliy to keep the stingy USC d off balance and open up the running game as well. as for OU, I think Sam Bradford is going to have a Heisman worthy year (why aren't people talking about him??) and make teams pay with his poise for such a young QB. Anyways, it would be awesome to see a matchup between OSU and OU considering both are the only two teams to win one and lose two title games.
Edit Comment Cancel
Michael Shibley 12 months ago
I think his coaching will be questioned. Just like you said Lloyd Carr couldn't beat OSU with Tressell there and Cooper couldn't beat Michigan, but they were good coaches otherwise.
However, the difference is that Stoops is usually beating his rivals and winning the Big XII, just losing in the bowl games. I do think he could get into some trouble in Norman because the expectations are so high.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
Bowl-
Oklahoma lost their season opener to TCU and the Horned Frogs went 10-1 in regular season play that year (2005). Are you seriously comparing THAT team to the team that lost to Texas, Air Force, Wyoming, Utah, and BYU last year?
I'm going to say that Oklahoma smothers TCU. TCU isn't even a top 25 pre-season team. OU has spanked 51 pts on Miami, 41 and 38 twice on MIzzou, and 62 on Tulsa last year. Last year, TCU let San Diego State score 33 points on them. What exactly is your point with you taking issue with my statement? Except to just be argumentative?
As fas as Nebraska, Pelini has switched to a run-oriented offense from a pass-oriented offense, so I expect them to be much improved. Their D will be on the field less, which was one of the major problems for them last year. You can count on Nebraska being in a bowl this year with six, maybe 7 wins against W. Michigan, San Jose St., New Mexico St., Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas State and maybe Colorado.
Or did you even read the blog? Probably not. It's your typical MO. Make a drive-by comment just to be negative.
Edit Comment Cancel
BabyTate 12 months ago
We have to wonder what happened to Kansas State. The Wikdcats were 109-27 from 1993-2003.
Edit Comment Cancel
Lisa Horne 12 months ago
I know! Snyder built that program up, but after 2002, it just collapsed, and now they have a newbie, Ron Prince. i don't know what to think. They scared the heck out of me in the late 90s and early 2000s. USC had to play them twice. Tough games.
Edit Comment Cancel
Matt 12 months ago
Big 12 Football: Has Everyone Forgotten About The Oklahoma Sooners? --- YES!
Edit Comment Cancel
Dino 11 months ago
No one has forgotten about them, just simply gotten tired of them. They fail to represent the conference in huge bowl games is the thing that gets my blood boiling...other than the fact im a pretty firm supporter of the team south of the Red River. OU is a marked team and Bradford will struggle in his second year, especially on the road. O-Who goes 10-2 or 9-3
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.