All the teams and Heisman winners mentioned above lost their bowl games by a combined total of 7.5 points. Oklahoma lost one game on the season, losing by 10 to Texas.
Sam Bradford, who won the Heisman this season, has a tough task at hand with the Heisman curse following him into the Orange Bowl.
3. ) Oklahoma's Dominate Offense Resembles 2006 Ohio State Defense
Ohio State made the 2006 National Championship from one thing: their dominate defense and consistent offense. Oklahoma made this season's championship doing the exact opposite, they had a juggernaut offense and a consistent defense.
Oklahoma's offense is in the top 20 in the four major categories, (pass offense, rush offense, total offense, scoring offense) while Ohio State was in the top 20 in three of the four major defensive categories. (rush defense, total defense, scoring defense)
The fewest points Oklahoma scored on the regular season was 35, while the most points the 2006 Buckeyes allowed on the season was 39. Oklahoma scored an average of 54 points per game, while the Buckeyes allowed an average of 12.77 points per game.
An adequate comparison in terms of dominating on one side of the football, and consistently performing on the other.
Like Oklahoma, the 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes had a Heisman winner at the QB position. Ohio State played almost equally tough offensive competition compared to what the Sooners have faced.
There were six teams in the top 50 total offense for the Buckeyes defense to face in Big Ten conference play, and nine for Oklahoma to play. Ohio State also played four teams in the top 50 total defense in 2006, while Oklahoma has played three in the top 50 total defense this season.
To end the statistical comparison, both play Florida in the National Championship. Ohio State lost 41-14, and are looking identical to this year's Sooners team in some aspects. Is that something to watch for?
4. ) Game Preparation
As I mentioned earlier, Bob Stoops has a 4-4 bowl record while at Oklahoma. Florida head coach Urban Meyer has bounced around from Bowling Green State to Utah and finally to Florida. He's accumulated a 4-1 bowl record during this time, including a 2-0 record in BCS games.
The Gators are 6-0 since 2005 in the regular season when given more than a week to prepare for a football game. The Sooners are 4-1.
Both schools have excellent defensive coordinators, and a month (give or take a few days) to prepare for each other. While Oklahoma can't re-create Florida's speed in practice, Florida can't prepare for an explosive offense like Oklahoma's against a scout team.
It all comes down to being mentally ready for this game. Both teams will come in motivated, but the team that is more ready and has more knowledge of the opponent will win. As Florida coach Urban Meyer once said: “I have yet to be in a game where luck was involved. Well-prepared players make plays. I have yet to be in a game where the most prepared team didn't win.”
That quote has never been more useful than now.
5. ) Down the Stretch Play, Who's Got the Advantage?
If this game goes down to the wire, who steps up and performs?
Leading up to the Alabama game, Tim Tebow had never led the Gators to a fourth quarter comeback. Things changed in that one, as Florida prevailed 31-20.
A determined Tebow wouldn't allow the Gators to lose, would he?
We're going to send you the most entertaining Oklahoma Sooners Football articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
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