Tag: Febechi Nwaiwu

Oklahoma Sooners name captains for Week 7 vs. Texas Longhorns

The Sooners announced their captains for a huge game against the archival Longhorns.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns are just days away from renewing one of the greatest rivalry games sports has to offer. The [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag] pits the undefeated Longhorns against the 4-1 Sooners in Dallas.

Oklahoma head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has chosen six captains to represent his team in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. Tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] and offensive lineman [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] represent the offense, while defensive linemen [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and defensive back [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] represent the defense.

https://twitter.com/OU_Football/status/1843426222828818746

Sharp, a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana, is making his first appearance in this rivalry. He’s been OU’s leading receiving tight end so far this season. While he’s struggled a bit with blocking, he’s been a reliable target over the middle in the passing game.

Nwaiwu is also a newcomer to this game, after transferring in from North Texas. He’s been a constant at right guard for OU this season, and has had his fair share of good and bad up front. Still, he’s been healthy and good enough to hold down the starting gig.

Williams is another new face in this matchup after arriving in Oklahoma from TCU via the portal. A big NIL and recruiting win for Venables, he’s been a strong starter on OU’s nasty defensive front. Sooner Nation is still waiting for Williams’ true breakout game, but he’s been very good in his first five games in Norman.

Downs is a Red River veteran, playing in his fourth game against Texas. He was one of the stars of this matchup a season ago, pressuring QB Quinn Ewers again and again. Downs is one of many players that OU rotates in and out at defensive end, but his veteran leadership and his technique are huge for  the coaching staff.

Stutsman continues to serve as the leader of OU’s defense and is responsible for so much from play to play. His now-iconic quote before last year’s game is indicative of what he brings to the table for this team. He’s playing in his fourth Red River game and leads the Sooners in tackles so far this season.

Bowman is another veteran on this defense, also playing in his fourth matchup against the “Horns. He was another one of Oklahoma’s many defensive stars in this game last year, forcing an interception in the first quarter with a huge hit, and coming up with the defining fourth-down stop of OU’s legendary goal-line stand. He’s the leader of an excellent safety trio for the Sooners that will have to come up big once again in this game.

Oklahoma and Texas will kick things off on ABC on Saturday, and the game will begin at 2:30 p.m.

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Oklahoma Sooners captains for week four vs. Tennessee

Oklahoma Sooners announced captains for this week’s contest against the Tennessee Volunteers.

The Oklahoma Sooners have finally reached [autotag]SEC[/autotag] play, and their first conference game in the new league will come against none other than the Tennessee Volunteers.

Both teams are undefeated at 3-0 as we head into week four, but only one team can walk off of Owen Field unbeaten on Saturday night. The game of the week in college football has massive implications for both teams.

OU has announced their game captains for this prime-time matchup, as head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has chosen six players to lead Oklahoma into battle at home.

Two players will represent the offense, both coming from the offensive line. [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] are first-time captains in Norman, and both transferred into the program this offseason.

Nwaiwu has been a staple at right guard after coming over from North Texas, serving as a reliable force on the offensive line.

Tarquin transferred in from USC and played tackle on both sides of the line through three games. He’s had ups and downs, but has been able to stay healthy, a desirable trait among OU offensive linemen right now.

Defensively, four players will represent the Sooners. Defensive linemen [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] and [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag] get the call this week, along with defensive back [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag].

Williams was a big-time portal acquisition this spring, coming over from TCU He’s been a big part of a solid unit early this season for the Sooners.

Terry is a run-stuffing specialist up front for the Sooners, having been a part of the program for a couple of years now. He transferred from Tennessee in the 2023 portal cycle and spent time at Kansas. Terry will be facing a number of his former teammates on Saturday.

Halton is another interior defensive lineman who has popped this year for the Sooners, wreaking havoc in the backfield when he’s been in the game. His biggest play so far this season came on a safety against Houston in week two, providing the four-point margin that OU needed to win the game.

Washington is the longest-tenured member of the Sooners’ roster. He has moved around in the defensive backfield a lot this season, especially in the last two weeks. His best position still seems to be cornerback, and his veteran presence is key for the OU secondary.

Venables and the Sooners will kick things off against the Volunteers at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night. The game will be broadcast on ABC.

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Final thoughts on Oklahoma Sooners vs. Temple Owls

The Oklahoma Sooners get set to open the season against the Temple Owls and here are this week’s final thoughts.

It’s football time in Oklahoma, and the Sooners are stepping into a monumental season in college football. The Sooners enter 2024 in unfamiliar territory as a team with something to prove.

No longer are they the conference powerhouse, but instead will fight to earn their place at the SEC’s grown-up table alongside Georgia and Alabama. But that’s what this program has been about throughout its existence. The Sooners are one of the big boys of college football, a blue blood that’s had as much success as anyone.

But, like anything in life, the Sooners will have to earn the respect of their new conference brethren. And that’s the way Brent Venables wants it.

As the Sooners get set to kick off the 2024 season, here is this week’s final thoughts.

Offensive Line Time

So much has been said about the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line. Sure, they don’t return a primary starter from a year ago. But no reason to fret. The Sooners have had productive offensive line play for a long time and are coached by one of the best in the business in [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag].

It will come together and this week against Temple provides the first opportunity to see the unit begin to gel. [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag], and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] have a nice mix of blue-chip talent and experience.

Believe in Bedenbaugh.

Need for Speed

The Oklahoma Sooners will start two legitimate speedsters this week against the Temple Owls when [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] take the field. Burks showed off his big-play ability in the spring game and Thompson, though in a limited role, averaged more than 34 yards per reception on his seven catches last season because of his track speed.

The Temple defense is going to have a difficult time keeping track of Burks and Thompson, who will blow down the field like an Oklahoma wind on the prairie.

Welcome Back JoBa

[autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] got off to a great start to his collegiate career when he emerged as the backup to [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag] during the 2022 season. He ran for over 500 yards and looked headed for a jump in production as a true sophomore in 2023. However, injuries kept Barnes from getting going and last season was pretty much a wash.

In 2024, Barnes has stayed healthy and looks primed to reprise his role from the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl, where he and fellow 2022 four-star signee [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] operated in the lead running back tandem.

Sawchuk may get the start, but Barnes is going to get a lot of work in 2024 and the two will complement each other well in the Sooners rushing attack.

Jackson Arnold Show

The former five-star quarterback, Elite 11 winner, and Gatorade National Player of the Year is set to take the stage for his first season as a starter, and the anticipation has reached a fever pitch. [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] has all the talent in the world to be Oklahoma’s next great quarterback.

With an entire offseason to work with his wide receivers and to familiarize himself with [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag]’s offense, look for a much more comfortable and decisive heading into his second career start. Though the level of competition isn’t quite what Arnold faced in the Alamo Bowl, there’s still a lot to be gleaned from this game against Temple.

Defensive Dominance

The Oklahoma Sooners’ defense will lead the way for the Sooners in 2024. And that starts against Temple. The Owls are one of the worst teams in the country in SP+ offensive ranking and don’t have a settled situation at quarterback.

Oklahoma’s depth and talent are so much greater on the defensive side of the ball. The Sooners should be able to dominate the line of scrimmage, making life incredibly easy for the back seven. Look for this game to resemble what OU did to Arkansas State last year.

Brent’s Guys

It’s year three of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era. All but a handful of guys on the roster committed and signed to play for Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners after his arrival.

This team has his fingerprints all over it on both sides of the ball. It’s a team marked by energy, intensity, and determination. They may not be the most talented team in the country, but they’ll be one of the hardest working and toughest teams in the nation.

Young Guns

The [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] has already made a name for themselves with the way they’ve worked this offseason to get ready for OU’s first year in the SEC. [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] earned a starting spot on the defensive line. Venables praised David Stone’s work ethic. [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] and [autotag]Eddy Pierre-Louis[/autotag] received rave reviews for the work they put in after arriving this summer.

We still need to see that group on the field. What they look like in year one isn’t a finished product. But from what we’ve seen, the Sooners coaching staff won’t have to wonder if this crew is going to work for what they want.

Tonight, we get our first glimpse of what this class is made of.

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Sooners offensive line dealing with injuries ahead of 2024 season

The Oklahoma Sooners are dealing with injuries along their offensive line, but Brent Venables confident they’ll be ready to go.

Continuity, chemistry, and communication are each important factors for an offensive line to be successful. The Sooners are working to retool their offensive line after losing the five guys who started for much of the 2023 season.

They’re a talented group that’s been putting in the work, but during fall camp, it’s a group that’s been dinged up a bit as Oklahoma tries to establish their starting five and a rotation on the two-deep depth chart.

Speaking with the media on Tuesday, Brent Venables shared that the Sooners offensive line has dealt with injuries.

“Has it been perfect? No,” Venables said. “But I’m sure that if you look back at most camps, that’s usually the case. But I do like where we’re at. There has been a chance to work together in lots of different types of settings, but I feel like we’re in a really good position there right now.”

He didn’t detail who was injured but said the guys that are banged all should be good to play when the Sooners open up against Temple on August 30. But the Sooners still have questions to answer at the position. However, Venables trusts offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag], and the work the guys have put in will find the right group to lead the Sooners offense.

“Bill (Bedenbaugh) understands the things that he needs to focus on to help put a group together,” Venables said. “I’m talking not just five, I’m talking eight to 12, 12 guys. Whether that’s the development piece, the drill work, the walkthroughs, the film study, all that stuff matters. Finding the best combination of guys and then all of the what-ifs when it comes to keeping guys healthy.”

The Sooners have a lot of talent up front, and they have experienced players like [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], and [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag]. They’ll be relying on the development of former four-star prospects in the 2022 recruiting class, [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag] and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] playing significant roles. That group is projected to be the starting lineup for the Sooners, but [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag], [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], [autotag]Josh Bates[/autotag], [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag], and [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] will contend for snaps along the offensive front as well.

For the Sooners offense to thrive like it needs to, the Sooners will need to stabilize their offensive line by the time they get to SEC play. [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] has all the talent in the world, but if he doesn’t get a reasonable amount of time, it’s going to be difficult to see that talent on display.

If Oklahoma has plans of contending in year one in the SEC, it’s going to take a good offensive line to get there. And with Oklahoma’s track record, there’s confidence it’ll come together.

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Where does Oklahoma land in ESPN’s SEC preseason power rankings?

OU’s first preseason in the SEC sees some doubt from national analysts.

The Oklahoma Sooners are about three weeks away from beginning the 2024 football season, their first as a member of the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Talking season and prediction season are almost over, but for now, we still have a few more weeks of projections to go.

ESPN has been previewing the college football season, going conference-by-conference to look at each team. On Thursday, staff writers Chris Low and Mark Schlabach previewed the SEC, giving their power rankings and [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] outlook for the conference.

The duo had the Sooners as the eighth-best team in the conference, matching ESPN’s Football Power Index and the SEC media poll. Here’s what they had to say about the Sooners landing in the middle of the league.

“In his third season at OU, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] likes the experience on this team, with many players having been in the program for three years now,” Low and Schlabach wrote. “The Sooners’ schedule in Year 1 in the SEC is challenging, to say the least.”

The pair also had Oklahoma as a playoff long shot along with Texas A&M. In all, they believed three SEC teams should make the [autotag]playoff[/autotag] (Georgia, Texas and Alabama) with four more in the running (Ole Miss, Missouri, Tennessee and LSU) ahead of the Sooners and Aggies, who they believe have less of a chance.

“There’s no question the Sooners were better in Venables’ second season in 2023, but it might be rough sledding in Year 1 in the SEC,” they said. “Oklahoma faces a brutal road slate that includes games at Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU, as well as home contests against Tennessee and Alabama, and the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag] game against Texas. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] takes over for [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], who left for Oregon. The bigger question is up front on offense, where all five starters departed. The Sooners are hoping five transfers can help: tackles [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] (Michigan State) and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] (USC), guards [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] (Washington) and [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] (North Texas) and center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] (SMU).”

Oklahoma’s home matchup with Tennessee was specifically highlighted. OU’s first conference game is starting to generate plenty of buzz. After all, it’s not every day that the program’s most recent national championship-winning starting quarterback and his team come to town.

“It’s Oklahoma’s SEC debut and a homecoming of sorts for [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag], who played quarterback for the Sooners and was the runner-up for the [autotag]Heisman Trophy[/autotag] in 2000,” Low and Schlabach said. “But his exit as OU’s offensive coordinator in 2014 wasn’t his fondest memory as he was fired by [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag]. Both teams have talented young quarterbacks in their first years as starters, Nico Iamaleava at Tennessee and Jackson Arnold at Oklahoma. It should be a wild atmosphere in Norman with the winner making a major statement in the playoff chase.”

Lastly, linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] was named one of the duo’s favorite players in the conference heading into the season. The senior will have to be instrumental if OU will be better again defensively.

“Stutsman is a big reason the Sooners improved from 106th in the FBS in rushing defense (187.5) in 2022 to 44th (138.6) last season,” they said. “Stutsman is a tackling machine with more than 100 stops in each of the past two seasons to go with six sacks and two forced fumbles. His return should help OU take another step forward under Venables.”

As previously stated, the Sooners have been picked to be middle-of-the-pack, specifically eighth in the conference, multiple times in the last month. Venables and his team have reiterated time and time again that they aren’t focusing on any outside noise or anything but themselves and getting better. Still, you have to think they’re seeing the lists and predictions and remembering that the national media thinks they’ll be an average SEC team in 2024. As the games come closer, Oklahoma is almost through talking season. They’ll finally have an opportunity to prove themselves on the field.

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Jackson Arnold helped get center Branson Hickman to Oklahoma

Branson Hickman committed to OU, in part, because he wanted to play with Jackson Arnold.

The Oklahoma Sooners were in need of offensive line help in the post-spring [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window. Specifically, offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] needed to land a center to anchor thew middle of the unit.

OU got the job done, earning a commitment from SMU transfer center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], but it turns out Bedenbaugh had a little help from Oklahoma’s starting quarterback.

Hickman spoke to the Oklahoma media after fall camp practice on Thursday, covering a wide variety of topics in his first media availability. OUInsider captured Hickman’s interview. Among them were some of the reasons that he decided to become a Sooner, and as it turns out, sophomore quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] was part of making that decision easier.

“Obviously, growing up in the Dallas area, I knew who Jackson was coming out of high school. I knew he was a great player and a great person,” Hickman said. “I hung out with him on my official visit, and he’s one of the reasons why I came here too, honestly. You want to play with a good quarterback to have a chance to win.”

Hickman is just the latest of many to praise Oklahoma’s new QB1, but he also had high praise for his new position coach, giving Bedenbaugh his flowers.

“Yeah, Coach B is one of the main reasons why I came here,” Hickman said. “Obviously has a proven track record. He puts guys in the NFL and he also has guys succeed in college, so I mean, it’s like, why would you not come play for Coach B?”

Hickman looks like the starter at the center position going into the year. He also made the Outland Trophy watch list earlier this week. The award is given to the top interior lineman in college football. He’ll anchor the much-discussed offensive line that features fellow incoming transfers [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] and [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] and homegrown players like [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag], [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] and [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag].

Bedenbaugh and head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] have worked hard to retool the offensive line, having to replace all five starters this offseason to get ready for the journey into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Turns out, Jackson Arnold was doing a little recruiting of his own this spring as well.

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ESPN thinks this is Oklahoma’s biggest question mark

The 2024 season for the Oklahoma Sooners could hinge on one position group, says ESPN.

Every year, college football teams have strengths and weaknesses on paper before the season begins. During the season, we see what the actual problem areas are and if they get fixed during the season or doom that year’s squad.

The Oklahoma Sooners have plenty of strengths on paper. They’re loaded at wide receiver. The linebacker room is filled with talent. The secondary is strong throughout. But, there are some weaker spots on [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ third team at OU.

ESPN asked its reporters to identify the question marks for each of their Top 25 teams before fall camps begin. The staff has OU ranked No. 18 in the nation heading into the season and eighth in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

It is no surprise that Oklahoma’s offensive line that was named the biggest question mark exiting [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag]. Here’s what ESPN’s Dave Wilson had to say regarding the often-talked-about unit:

The Sooners lost their entire starting offensive line, including first-round pick [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] and nine O-lineman in total. They added [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] from Michigan State, [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] from Washington,  [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] from North Texas and [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag]  from USC along with four incoming freshmen, then added a big piece in SMU center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] after the spring portal. Brent Venables said they will need contributions from all of them, but added that he has complete confidence in line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag], who has helped produce 13 NFL draft picks in the past 10 years. But with a grueling schedule in Year 1 in the SEC, it’s not an ideal time for an offensive line rebuild. – Wilson, ESPN

Bill Bedenbaugh’s presence is key for the Sooners. He’s one of the best offensive line coaches in college football. If he can find a unit of five that will jell as a group, then Oklahoma could turn a weakness into a strength. The [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] additions were key for Bedenbuagh, especially Hickman at center. Some combination of four players around him will need to step up in preseason camp and separate themselves from the pack.

Oklahoma’s performance along the offensive line could make or break its  season. If they’re better than expected early, quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and the many weapons in the passing game will be given a chance to shine. [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and the running backs will be given room to run wild. The defense will not have as much pressure placed on it to control games early, especially with a bit of reshuffling on the defensive line. The special teams will not have such a spotlight placed on every move it makes if the offense is dominant. Venables and the coaching staff will not have as many high-pressure decisions to make.

If the offensive line struggles or is a liability, Arnold’s youth could show with added heat on him. Mistakes could be made, despite having plenty of receivers to throw to. He will not get any help from the running game. The defense will have to win games by themselves, which will not hold up all year. The special teams will face more pressure to put points on the board or flip the field when the offense stalls out. The coaches will find themselves in more close games, where the stakes rise with every passing snap.

A good offensive line will be paramount if the Sooners want to have success moving from the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to the SEC. Venables trusts Bedenbaugh, as he should, and Bedenbaugh will rely on his young returning players and transfer additions to pave the way for Oklahoma in 2024.

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College Football expert says it all starts up front for Oklahoma’s offense

On3’s J.D. PicKell says the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line is the key to the 2024 season.

It’s been an offseason of transition for the Oklahoma Sooners. A new quarterback, new coordinators, and a new conference have highlighted much of the change that is being experienced in Norman.

But at no spot is turnover more deeply felt than along the offensive line. Gone are [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag], [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag], [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag], who are preparing for their first NFL training camps. Gone is [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag], who transferred to Missouri.

Those five players played an average of 762.2 snaps for the Sooners last season. Raym, Mettauer, and Rouse led the way for the Sooners offense in snap counts, according to Pro Football Focus.

It’s no small task to replace that much experience. And with a unit like offensive line where so much depends on the chemistry, communication, and continuity of the unit, the turnover is significant.

Oklahoma did a lot over the offseason to help replace the lost experience. They added [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag], [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag], and [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] through the transfer portal. That group of five brings a lot of snaps at the collegiate level to combine with Bill Bedenbaugh’s blue-chip recruits that he’s been developing the last couple of years.

Tarquin, Hatchett, Hickman, and Nwaiwu each figure to compete for a role or will start for the Sooners week one against Temple. Mix in ascending players like [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag] and [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag], four-star offensive tackles in the [autotag]2022 recruiting class[/autotag], and four-star interior offensive linemen from the 2023 recruiting class [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag] and [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], and the Sooners have options along the offensive line.

If there’s any position group that will determine how much success the Sooners have this season, it’s the offensive line. But On3’s J.D. PicKell argues that if the Sooners get good offensive line play, all of the other pieces are there for OU to be dynamic on offense once again.

“If you give him time to throw the football, they’re gonna have a chance to make some real noise and kind of rattle the cage in the SEC a little bit their first year out there because they replace pretty much the whole offensive line that’s been well documented.”

PicKell goes on to say, “But if they can make that mechanism work the way that it needs to give him time to get through his reads and progress and get comfortable. They got more than enough firepower that wide receiver room to make some shake.”

The talent that Oklahoma has at wide receiver, quarterback, and running back is impressive. Led by quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], the Sooners have the players capable of creating another explosive offense. But Arnold will need time to throw and Sawchuk will need lanes to run through.

There is enough talent and experience in Norman for offensive line wizard [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] to put another strong unit together once again. We’ve seen him do it before and when fall camp gets underway, competition will provide the answers up front to help lead this team into the SEC.

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Pro Football Focus sees offensive line as Sooners biggest weakness

Pro Football Focus tabs OU’s offensive line as the team’s weakness going into the SEC.

It’s preview season in the world of college football, and the Oklahoma Sooners football team got the spotlight this past week from Pro Football Focus in their College Football Preview (subscription required).

PFF gave the Sooners just a 4% chance to win the SEC this year, but did have OU 13th in their power rankings.

Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman, who co-wrote the article, named Oklahoma’s offensive line as their biggest weakness heading into the new season.

Here’s what PFF had to say:

The Sooners won’t return any starting offensive linemen from last season. While SMU transfer [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] is a terrific addition in the middle, there will be uncertainty around the other four spots.

Hickman was a big get for [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] out of the spring [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window. He should be a plug-and-play piece at center to begin the season. [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] and [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag] provide depth in the case of an injury to Hickman.

It may very well be two transfers at the guard positions as well.[autotag] Febechi Nwaiwu [/autotag] and [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] have the most experience in the room. Nwaiwu comes from North Texas and was a Freshman All-American in 2022. Hatchett is a veteran with big-game experience, transferring in from Washington after playing in the national championship game. [autotag]Jacob Sexton[/autotag], [autotag]Heath Ozaeta[/autotag] and [autotag]Eugene Brooks[/autotag] headline the homegrown talent at this position.

Rounding out a transfer-heavy offensive line, [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] and [autotag]Spencer Brown [/autotag] could make it five-for-five on o-line starters who weren’t Sooners last year. Tarquin transferred in from USC, while Brown comes by way of Michigan State. [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] is a younger option at tackle, and Sexton can kick outside if needed.

One thing Bedenbaugh has at his disposal is that many of these players are capable of playing multiple positions. Everett, Nwaiwu, Hatchett, Sexton, and Ozaeta all have some experience lining up at least two different spots. Sexton and Ozaeta could play anywhere but center in a pinch and Hatchett is capable of playing all five positions. He’s lined up at tight end as a blocker for the Huskies before, as well.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has surely heard all of the talk about this unit heading into his third year in Norman. The offensive line looks like the hinge point of the entire 2024 season for the Sooners. Don’t be surprised if these players have a chip on their shoulder and a fire lit underneath them.

After all, they’ve been hearing for months that they aren’t good enough to play in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

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3 reasons the Oklahoma Sooners will win big in 2024

The Oklahoma Sooners are a talented football team, but for them to win big, these three things have to happen.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a better idea of what the 2024 season will look like with the SEC’s release of game time windows on Tuesday. How they and the Texas Longhorns will fare in their first year in the SEC is anyone’s guess.

Texas made the playoffs last season, and the Sooners are one of the winningest programs over the last 25 years. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] was brought in to prepare Oklahoma for this conference move.

His experience with the Clemson Tigers certainly informs Venables about what it takes to be successful in their new conference home. Each of his first three offseasons has been about getting Oklahoma “SEC ready.”

At the same time, the Sooners provide a new challenge for Alabama, Ole Miss, Tennessee and LSU. OU is considered a blue-blood program for a reason. With seven national titles and 50 conference championships, the Sooners will be a contender in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Can they do it in Year 1? That’s the question everyone’s asking. Here are three reasons OU will win big in 2024 and make the College Football Playoff.

More: College Football Playoff Projections for 2024

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