Oklahoma Football: Why Final Stretch Will Make or Break Sooners' BCS Dreams

If I had to categorize my feelings about the Sooners heading into the upcoming season in one word, it would be: uncertain.

Coming off a disappointing year of high expectations and letdowns, coaching changes and a rash of player departures and suspensions, I am not quite sure what to expect in 2012.

The Sooners certainly have the talent to regroup and make a push for an eighth national championship, but there have been few years where lack of talent was the issue. Last year was a combination of unfortunate injuries and mental lapses of epic proportions. I don't think we need to rehash those losses, as they speak for themselves.

Head coach Bob Stoops has a chance for redemption in 2012. If history has shown us anything, it's that Stoops always bounces back after a down year. He hasn't gone consecutive years without a Big 12 title since arriving in Norman.

The redemption process starts with reclaiming the Big 12 title in a conference that the Sooners have dominated over the past decade. A couple of incoming schools joining the Big 12 may have something to say about that.

While I've already broken down why the Sooners will have one of the nation's toughest schedules, there is no question that the final three games will make or break them.

Perhaps the most challenging game will be the first of the final three-game stretch in Morgantown, West Virginia.

The Mountaineers are coming off a 10-3 season capped off by a 70-33 thrashing over Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Dana Holgorsen has turned the program around and implemented his patented high-powered offense. The Mountaineers will be looking to make a statement in their first year of Big 12 play, and getting their first crack at the Sooners on their home field will give them a huge edge.

The Mountaineers will also have a returning senior quarterback in Geno Smith, who threw for 4,385 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2011. This will likely be the toughest game on the Sooners' schedule, and it could have huge conference—as well as national—title implications.

After playing back-to-back games in Stillwater, the Sooners finally get the Pokes back in Norman. Coming off of last year's beat down, the Sooners will have revenge on their minds. Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon are now playing on Sundays, but this is a rival game and is never a given win for either school.

The Sooners have dominated Bedlam, and they need to take care of business against their in-state rivals in 2012 if they hope to keep their BCS dreams alive.

Rounding out the final stretch is a trip down to Fort Worth, Texas, where the Sooners will end the regular season against the TCU Horned Frogs.

The Horned Frogs finished with an 11-2 mark in 2011, claiming the Mountain West title and defeating Louisiana Tech 31-24 in the Poinsettia Bowl. Head coach Gary Patterson has led the Horned Frogs to 11 or more wins in six out of the last seven seasons. Playing in the Mountain West or not, that's an impressive feat.

Quarterback Casey Pachall came in as a sophomore last season, taking over the reigns from Andy Dalton, and barely missed a beat. Pachal threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The Horned Frogs famously came to Norman in 2005 and upset the No. 7-ranked Sooners in the season opener. The Sooners avenged that loss in 2008, but don't think that Stoops has forgotten that punch in the gut from 2005.

The final stretch will inevitably define the Sooners' season. If they make it out of conference play with a clean slate, there is no question they will be battle-tested and ready for another shot at the SEC's finest in a national championship showdown.