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From multiple national championships, to Red River heroics, what were the best moments from the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023?
The Oklahoma Sooners had magical moments in 2023. There were national championship runs and new records set. There were incredible individual performances and great team accomplishments.
Big things happened off the field as well for the Sooners that helped set the stage for their move to the SEC.
So what were the top moments of 2023? Here’s Sooners Wire’s top 10.
The Sooners showed a lot of growth at the linebacker position in 2023. Now they hope to build upon that going into next season.
The Oklahoma Sooners’s linebacker group is our next [autotag]position review[/autotag]. Overall, the group produced an All-American and the young guys at the position showed a ton of promise as well.
[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] was the leader of the whole defense. He’s been named to two All-American teams. [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag] showed flashes of what he can be but also showed his youth.
[autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag] came along at the end of the season as well, making this group one of the deeper groups on the team. [autotag]Lewis Carter[/autotag] and [autotag]Samuel Omosigho[/autotag] were mainly special teams contributors but did see some playing time toward the end of the year.
The recruiting class, though, isn’t a great one, so let’s take a look at the linebacker position.
Nic Anderson and Cayden Green’s big freshmen seasons were capped off with All-American honors.
Coming into the 2023 college football season, wide receiver was a major question mark for the Oklahoma Sooners. By the time the season ended, it might have been the strongest position group on the team.
There’s some debate on that but there is no debate it was a pleasant surprise. A big part of that was redshirt freshman [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. Anderson finished with 31 catches for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the nation with 23.4 yards per reception and was second on the Sooners in yards and touchdowns.
For his performance this season, Anderson was named a freshman All-American by the College Football Network. But he wasn’t the only one. True freshman guard [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag] was also named to the freshman All-American team.
Green started to receive real playing time after moving to guard from tackle during the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag]. He filled in nicely and never gave his spot back. Also, the Sooners’ running game took off in the back half of the season once he took over the position.
Both of these guys have a ton of potential. Green has a real chance at turning that freshman All-American nod into an All-American selection in the future. Anderson has the chance to do the same and could be a future high-draft pick in the NFL.
While former five-star true freshman [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] didn’t make the freshman All-American defensive team, he was an honorable mention. Injuries definitely played a role in him not making the team, but he made a strong first impression in Norman.
There is no doubt, they’ve all shown this season their futures are bright for the Sooners.
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There were a lot of questions going into the season at wide receiver but they proved to be a strength, not a weakness for the Sooners.
Going into the 2023 college football season, there were a ton of question marks surrounding the wide receiver room. The Sooners lost several of their top guys in receiving yards the year prior, like [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]. Theo Wease went to Missouri via the transfer portal. It was a young group aside from Drake Stoops.
But during the season, the wide receiver room proved to be a strength of the team. They didn’t have anyone really emerge as a No. 1 type of guy until [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] was featured heavily at the end of the year, but they had a lot of No. 2 type of guys which you can win with.
It’s also a room that could return a lot of production in 2024, making that unit arguably the best on the team heading into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Without further adieu, let’s take a look at how they did based on my preseason expectations.
5 offensive coordinator the Oklahoma Sooners could target to replace Jeff Lebby.
Mississippi State has hired Jeff Lebby to be their next head coach, leaving Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator position vacant. The Sooners have now begun the task of replacing Lebby, who helped Oklahoma’s offense finish No. 3 in the nation in scoring and No. 4 in total yards.
Offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners is a position that will be incredibly attractive to a number of coaches across college football.
Here are five names we think the Sooners should consider.
The Oklahoma Sooners cap off their 2023 regular season with a big win over the TCU Horned Frogs.
The Oklahoma Sooners played their final [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] home game against the [autotag]TCU Horned Frogs[/autotag], coming out on top with a 69-45 win.
On senior day and Oklahoma’s final day in the Big 12, this game had everything.
The defense forced a punt on their first drive and nearly earned an interception.
The offense marched right down the field on their first drive of the game. [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] hit [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] on a 50-yard pass to start the drive. TCU was called for pass interference on Austin Stogner and on the following play, Gabriel then ran it in from eight yards out for his 12th rushing touchdown of the season.
After a muffed punt by [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag] set TCU up with great field position, the Horned Frogs scored on a [autotag]Josh Hoover[/autotag] keeper but missed the extra point.
The offense picked up right where it left off. Gabriel found [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] on 3rd and 11 for a gain of 17. He then found Gibson on a 59-yard touchdown pass, dragging a defender into the end zone.
After a 48-yard pass to [autotag]Jojo Earle[/autotag] got the Horned Frogs into OU territory, TCU took advantage as Hoover hit Earle on a 6-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 14-13.
To start the second quarter, the Sooners went with Freeman, Drake Stoops and [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] as the wide receivers. OU used their speed, and Gabriel hit Thompson on a deep post route for a 53-yard touchdown pass.
The defense forced a three-and-out, and Gabriel continued his incredible performance. He helped convert a third and long and then a fourth down on the drive. [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] capped it off with a 12-yard touchdown run that gave the Sooners a 28-13 lead.
The Sooners forced a three and out on a sack by [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag]. But TCU tried a fake field goal, and it was snuffed out by the Sooners. The offense took over and marched right down the short field and capped it off with a 7-yard run by Sawchuk.
The Sooners’ defense forced its third straight three and out on TCU’s next drive. And on Oklahoma’s next possession, Sawchuk took off on a 41-yard run, setting OU up in TCU territory. The drive was capped off by a 9-yard touchdown run by [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag].
The Sooners took a 42-16 lead into halftime.
The Sooners outgained the Horned Frogs 375-221. They were also 7 of 9 on third and fourth down while holding TCU to 4 of 12. Gabriel finished the half 14-23 for 278 yards and three touchdowns.
The Sooners drove right down the field on their first drive of the half but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal. [autotag]Zach Schmit[/autotag] nailed it to extend the Sooners lead to 45-16. TCU responded as Emani Bailey ran it in untouched from 32 yards out. Gabriel tried another deep shot to Thompson, but it was into the wind and a bit late, and this time it was picked off.
TCU took advantage as Hoover found [autotag]Jared Wiley[/autotag] for the four-yard score to cut the lead to 45-31 after TCU converterted the two-point try. The Sooners faced a 4th and 1 on their own side of the 50 and Gabriel picked up 40 yards on the option keeper. Stoops capped off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel.
TCU went right back down the field like it was nothing. Bailey had a 49-yard run and then a touchdown catch on the following play to cut the Sooners lead back to 14. The Sooners drove the field but, after a sack, were forced to kick a 40-yard field goal. Schmit knocked it through to put OU up 17 with 10:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The defense finally made a stop, forcing TCU to turn it over on downs in their own territory. The Sooners capitalized as Sawchuk ran it in from nine yards out to make it 62-38. [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] would add to the lead after a 45-yard interception return to seal the win.
The Sooners had several big-time performances in the win. Dillon Gabriel completed 63% of his passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 36 yards and a touchdown. Gavin Sawchuk had his fourth straight 100-yard day with 22 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns. Sawchuk added 16 yards on two receptions to his big performance.
On the receiving end, Oklahoma had three players with more than 75 yards in the win. Drake Stoops caught 12 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Nic Anderson had four receptions on eight targets for 97 yards. Jayden Gibson continued his strong finish to the season with two receptions for 76 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Sooners struggled in the second half, allowing 299 total yards and 9.3 yards per play. But as they’ve done often this season, the defense came up with big plays in key moments. In addition to his interception return for a touchdown, Billy Bowman led the team with nine tackles.
In total, Oklahoma outgained the Horned Frogs 607-520 on the day.
Oklahoma moved to 10-2 in year two under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. Now they wait for this weekend’s results in the Big 12 to know if they’ll be playing next week in Arlington, Texas for the Big 12 title.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.
Kobie McKinzie has come on as of late for the Sooners and is relishing his role.
The linebacker position for the Oklahoma Sooners is one of the deepest and strongest positions on the team. The group is led by [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] but is filled with young promising players.
For most of the season, Stutsman has been joined by [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag] as a starter. However, lately, [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] has taken over that role. Then came Saturday, and it wasn’t Kanak or Lewis but instead [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag] who took the most snaps opposite of Stutsman.
McKinzie had a ton of promise as a high-level recruit coming into last season. He’s been slowly progressing and now has worked his way into the rotation. He first got a lot of game action vs. the [autotag]Oklahoma State Cowboys[/autotag] when Stutsman was out and finished the game with seven tackles, which were the second most on the team. On Saturday, he finished fifth in tackles with five.
McKinzie has 22 tackles, 1.0 tackles for loss, and three pass deflections in 2023.
He spoke to reporters about his recent playing time. “Every day, just living in the moment,” McKinzie said. “I’ve never taken my mind off of anything, and I’ve always lived in the moment. If you do that, you’ll always end up where you’re supposed to. No matter what.”
There is a real possibility all four of those linebackers will return to Norman next season, which would be one of the stronger units in college football. But McKinzie is the perfect example of a player who puts the work in and ultimately reaps the rewards.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.
Woodi Washington has been an under the radar player this year for Oklahoma but will leave a big hole to fill.
A player that has kind of flown under the radar this year for the Oklahoma Sooners is senior cornerback [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag]. Washington’s numbers aren’t eye-popping, but that isn’t always a bad thing at cornerback.
He’s had 38 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and five pass deflections. But Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks him as a top 35 cornerback in the nation. He’s also been the mainstay and leader of a room that has dealt with a number of injuries.
On Friday, Washington will be amongst those being honored on Senior Day. He spoke to reporters about also being named a captain for Team 129. “I’m extremely grateful and honored for the guys to vote me as a captain,” Washington said. “I consider myself a leader of this team and for the guys to vote for me, that means a lot.”
Washington is a player who could have left early a season ago. He had already been in college for four seasons and was coming off a decent year. Many players would have jumped at the opportunity to leave school and go pro.
But not Washington. Instead, he saw the flaws he had in his game and trusted the coaching staff to help him become a better version of himself. That will likely lead to a draft selection for the veteran cornerback with a great chance to make an active roster in 2024.
At the time, it might have seemed small, but it was a big deal when he decided to return to Norman. When he plays his final snap in crimson and cream, he’ll leave a big hole to fill.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.
Here is how to watch and other information about the Oklahoma Sooners final regular season game against the TCU Horned Frogs.
The Oklahoma Sooners are set to put a bow on their 2023 regular season as they take on the [autotag]TCU Horned Frogs[/autotag] on Black Friday. The Sooners are 9-2 and are looking for their first 10-win season under Brent Venables.
TCU is coming off a historic season where they played for a national championship. This year hasn’t gone as planned at 5-6. They need one win to clinch a bowl game berth.
The Horned Frogs come into this game with the No. 14 ranked offense in the country and the No. 86 ranked defense.
Offensively, they do a lot of their work in the air, boasting the nation’s 9th-ranked passing attack. Defensively, they have a pretty good run defense but can be beaten in the passing game.
But let’s take a look at how you can watch the game, an injury report, and some key players to keep an eye on for both teams.
TCU will be no cake walk as they bring in one of the best offenses in the entire country.
When many people look at the record of the [autotag]TCU Horned Frogs[/autotag], they’ll immediately think this is a game the Oklahoma Sooners will dominate. But if you dive into the tape and look at them more intently, you’ll see this TCU team is far better than a 5-6 ball club.
TCU lost a ton of their offensive production from a season ago. It’s taken them some time to start clicking on offense. But man, have they started to click since [autotag]Josh Hoover[/autotag] took over at quarterback.
The Horned Frogs rank No. 14 in the nation in total offense and No. 9 in the nation in passing offense.
Color Analyst for TCU’s radio network, Landry Burdine, joined my podcast, Eat. Sleep. Bedlam., to preview the upcoming game on Friday. He talked about what the reason has been for the recent offense success. “I think they’re figuring it out at the right time,” Burdine said. “Chandler Morris is a hell of a quarterback. He’s really good, but he’s just gotten the injury bug. So, I think with Josh Hoover, the reason he’s still playing is he’s done well, but it’s also given them a chance to get a young guy some important minutes in a season that, I don’t want to say, getting to a bowl game doesn’t matter but they’re afforded the luxury of allowing some young guys to get some playing time.”
One of the things that Burdine mentions that has held TCU back this season is their red zone offense. In fact, they rank No. 127 out of 130 teams in college football. That’s something they’ll have to improve on if they want to pull off the upset.
For Oklahoma, they have to be ready to play on both sides of the ball. This might be the best offensive team they’ve seen all season and they’ve faced a ton of good ones. This is shaping up to be a good final game to end the 2023 regular season.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.
