We are now less than 70 days until the start of the college football season. We are also just a few weeks away from Big 12 media days getting underway as well.
It’s no secret there’s a lot of anticipation among Sooners’ fans about the upcoming 2023 season.
Will the team be better? More specifically, will the defense be better? How much better will they be?
Those are just a few questions being asked about the Sooners’ season. One thing that should bring some relief to Oklahoma fans is they have the easiest schedule in the Big 12 according to CBS Sports.
Since the SEC asked Oklahoma to cancel its series with Georgia, the Sooners are one of three programs in the Big 12 — and only returning program — that does not have a Power Five nonconference game. Additionally, the Sooners miss Kansas State, Baylor and Texas Tech, three of the top teams in the conference. The toughest road test is against a rebuilding TCU squad. The Sooners have a perfectly manageable run to Big 12 contention. – Shehan Jeyarajah CBS Sports
The loss of the Georgia game obviously weakens the strength of schedule but it also gives the Sooners a great opportunity to put together some momentum before Big 12 plays opens and then afterward head to the SEC.
They also got lucky to not get Kansas State which has been a thorn in their side for years. The Sooners also missed Baylor and Texas Tech, two teams that beat them a year ago.
This ranking also doesn’t account for teams who overachieve. Last year’s TCU Horned Frogs team was not thought to be as good as they ended up being during the preseason.
So, there could be a surprise team out there. It’ll be interesting to see what the SOS is at the end of the year for the Sooners.
But having a weak SOS does two things. It makes it so that there are no excuses for a bad season. You have to be better.
It also makes it where there’s no room for error. One loss could keep you out of the playoff depending on who it is against and if you get revenge on them in the conference title game.
This schedule shapes up perfectly for Brent Venables to have a bounce-back year in year two. Now, he has to take advantage of it.
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