Oklahoma Sooners: Big 12 preview
The Oklahoma Sooners went 9-2 (7-2 Big 12) last season and went on to beat Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship. HC Lincoln Riley is entering his sixth year and has a 45-8 record with the side.
The Sooners finished sixth in 2020 and made it to the College Football Playoffs, losing in the semi-finals. They were the top offense in the Big 12 and QB Spencer Rattler could be the 4th OU QB to win the Heisman trophy or finish runner-up in the last five years. The Sooners have won the last six Big 12 titles and have gone to four CFP semi-finals, losing them all.
2021-2022 Big 12 conference preview: Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma's strengths: There are a number of star playmakers on this roster.
QB Spencer Rattler will be in the Heisman conversation and is a potential #1 pick. WR Marvin Mims was the leading WR in 2020. LT Wanya Morris is an elite blocker. RB Kennedy Brooks had 1,000+ yards last year. DB Jaden Davis-Norwood and LB Nik Bonitto are two stars in the making on this defense. Things are looking good on this end.
Oklahoma's weakness: The run game isn't poor in any sense, but QB Rattler isn't as mobile as Murray and Hurts were. Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray are talented RBs, but OU struggled against Iowa State twice and against Baylor. The team averaged 5 yards per carry for the first time since 2012. The mental block of the last four semi-finals also works against them.
Oklahoma Sooners key players: Offense
QB: Spencer Rattler - Rattler had a completion rate of 68% and threw for over 3,000 yards, averaging 10 yards per pass. He threw 28 TDs and 7 INTs, adding 6 TDs with his legs. Rattler's continuing the trend of prolific OU QBs becoming first-round draft picks.
OT: Wanya Morris - Morris is an NFL-caliber tackle who transferred from Tennessee. He's the protypical tackle the Sooners need, especially with Erik Swanson moving to RT.
Oklahoma Sooners key players: Defense
LB: Nik Bonitto - Bonitto is an all-around LB and a clinical pass rusher. He had 9 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss last year. His current trajectory has him going to the NFL draft as a decent prospect.
DB: Jaden Davis-Norwood - Norwood led the team with 5 INTs and will take over for Tre Norwood and Brendan Radley-Hiles as a leader in the secondary.
2021-2022 Oklahoma Sooners Big 12 schedule
Week 1: Saturday, September 4, at Tulane
Week 2: Saturday, September 11, vs. WCU
Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs. Nebraska
Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs. West Virginia
Week 5: Saturday, October 2, at Kansas State
Week 6: Saturday, October 9, vs. Texas
Week 7: Saturday, October 16, vs TCU
Week 8: Saturday, October 23, at Kansas
Week 9: Saturday, October 30, vs. Texas Tech
Week 10: Saturday, November 13, at Baylor
Week 11: Saturday, November 20, vs. Iowa State
Week 12: Saturday, November 27, at Oklahoma State
2021-2022 Oklahoma Sooners Big 12 Prediction (11-1 overall, 8-1 Big 12)
The lone loss will be to Oklahoma State in the season finale, as the Sooners could likely be resting some key players.
The Sooners have never won in the CFP semi-finals, but 2021 could be their year. The Big 12 Championship will be a battle with the Iowa State Cyclones but if they win, they should be able to outlast the others in the playoffs for a dominant championship win.
