The Oklahoma Sooners are 5-4 overall but 1-4 in [autotag]SEC[/autotag] play. After defeating the Maine Black Bears last week, OU heads to Columbia for a prime-time clash with the Missouri Tigers.
With [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ team needing one more win in three remaining tries to gain bowl eligibility, one might be tempted to think OU wouldn’t be sunk if it were to lose on Saturday.
But on his podcast “Always College Football,” ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy believes this week’s contest is absolutely crucial if Oklahoma wants to extend its 25-year bowl game streak.
The former national championship-winning quarterback at Alabama detailed just how difficult OU’s remaining three games are, and how pivotal Saturday’s game is for the Sooners.
“They are currently 5-4,” McElroy said. “They have made a bowl game in 25 consecutive seasons, but the next three games are no guarantee. They’re on the road at Missouri. Feels like the one they probably have to win. If they can get the game at Missouri — Missouri is not very good, they’re reeling a little bit — but if they can get that one, they’re obviously good.”
The only other games left for the Sooners are at home against Alabama and on the road against LSU. This week likely represents the easiest competition OU will play from here on in.
“Do you feel confident in them beating Bama at home or at LSU? I, personally, don’t,” McElroy said. “So, it feels like this is the week. Oklahoma has got to get it against Missouri because beating Bama at home or at LSU feels a lot less likely. So, if they don’t get it this week, that bowl streak of 25 straight could come to an end.”
The Tigers are certainly not a pushover, and Eli Drinkwitz’s team is 6-2 and coming off a bye week. They have the home-field advantage, and their only losses have come against Texas A&M and Alabama. Both were on the road.
They’ve got plenty of talent, and they haven’t had problems on one side of the ball the way Oklahoma has with their offense. If the Sooners can’t get the job done, they’ll need to pull off an even bigger upset in one of their final two games, or they’ll miss the postseason for the first time since 1998.
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