Tag: Iowa State Cyclones

Oklahoma has one of the easiest nonconference schedules in the Big 12

Ranking the Big 12’s nonconference schedule for each team, Oklahoma is near the bottom.

Looking at the Big 12 Conference’s schedule this season, there leaves a lot to be desired outside of conference play. It still looks better than the 2020 version due to the schedule of nonconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All nonconference games had to be played at home meaning teams had to swap out opponents.

The Oklahoma Sooners nonconference schedule looks better than just Missouri State as they had in 2020. However, the three-game stretch of Tulane, Western Carolina, and Nebraska isn’t exactly a sexy nonconference. The Cornhuskers are down, Tulane is a Group of Five opponent, and Western Carolina plays in FCS. It is set up to give OU a 3-0 start ahead of their matchup with West Virginia to kick off their conference schedule.

Speaking of the Mountaineers, they will have an onslaught to begin their 2021 campaign with a brutal nonconference ahead of their trip to Norman, Oklahoma, in late September.

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Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman broke down the entire Big 12’s schedule outside of conference play. A look at how each ranks among the nonconference scheduling for each team in the Big 12.

The six teams to beat Oklahoma in the Lincoln Riley era

The six teams that have beaten the Oklahoma Sooners during Lincoln Riley’s tenure

The Oklahoma Sooners have continuously set atop the Big 12 hierarchy since the Lincoln Riley era began in 2017. OU has won the Big 12 crown every year under his leadership but have yet to win a national championship. However, the program’s overall record and win rate since Riley took over is impressive. Overall, Oklahoma has gone 45-8 over the last four seasons of Riley’s reign.

Coming out victorious against the Sooners is a challenging feat. Not many teams have succeeded at the task the last four years, with two teams beating the squad each year. 2020 was the first year both losses fell in the regular season, the previous three years, one occurred in the playoffs. Only six teams have come out with a higher numerical output on the scoreboard. Both Iowa State and Kansas State have two wins against the Sooners. Here is the brief listing of teams that have beaten Oklahoma during Lincoln Riley’s tenure.

Oklahoma and seven other Big 12 teams in the latest bowl projections

A look at the Big 12 Conference’s bowl projections, Oklahoma is joined by one team in the New Year’s Six bowl games.

We know the level of expectations for the Oklahoma Sooners and Lincoln Riley in the 2021 season. It will be College Football Playoffs or bust for the Crimson and Cream. Last year the Sooners just narrowly missed out on another CFP berth but drew the Florida Gators in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic. They ran away with that game and now all eyes are on the annual four-team playoff.

While the committee is discussing plans for an expansion to 12 teams, that won’t come any time soon. We are likely at least two years away from adding another eight teams to the tournament. Even with just four teams making the cut, the Sooners are expected to be right in the thick of it. You will see the usual suspects in most projections with Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and of course the Sooners.

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Iowa State is a team that could potentially compete for a spot in the CFP but to do so they will need to beat the Sooners twice in 2021. A feat that isn’t easy to come by. The Texas Longhorns have caviar dreams but on a tuna fish budget. The team could get there but right now they have to figure out how to be more consistent.

According to 247Sports, they have eight of the 10 conference teams in their latest bowl projections. The only two not receiving a bowl bid being Texas Tech and of course Kansas.

Oklahoma featured among best ‘scouting matchup games’ of the 2021 season

Touchdown Wire projects Oklahoma’s clash with Iowa State among the best “scouting matchup games” of the 2021 season.

Oklahoma football is gearing up for a very highly-anticipated 2021 season that many expect will see the Sooners provide their best crack at a national title in recent history. Continue reading “Oklahoma featured among best ‘scouting matchup games’ of the 2021 season”

247Sports predicts the Big 12 Conference’s order of finish in 2021

247Sports released their predicted order of finish in the Big 12 Conference, who do they see challenging the Oklahoma Sooners?

Looking towards the 2021 college football season, expectations are high but not just for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Iowa State Cyclones enter the conversation of having lofting expectations heading into the season. After reaching the conference title game for the first time in their history, ISU knocked off the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl. Can they repeat as challengers for the Sooners in 2021?

Outside of Iowa State looking to knock off Oklahoma, you will find the usual suspects at the top. The Texas Longhorns have a new head coach and he is looking to bust the recent trend of losing to the Red River Rivalry counterparts. Oklahoma State has its own issues as they try to replace Chuba Hubbard and Tylan Wallace on the offensive side of the ball. They haven’t bested their in-state rivals since 2014.

247Sports broke down their predicted order of finish, once again the Sooners at the top looking down at the rest of the conference.

Penn State football’s historical record against every Big 12 member

Penn State hasn’t won a game against Oklahoma, but they own a winning record against every other Big 12 member they have played.

Penn State does not have a long and deep history playing most teams from the Big 12, but they do have a storied history with one of its members. Penn State and West Virginia have a series that dates back to the early part of the 20th century. The former regional rivalry is still the third-most played series for Penn State (it’s also the third-most played series for West Virginia; both schools have played Pitt the most, followed by Syracuse) and the series will finally be renewed for the first time since 1992 when they open a home-and-home series in 2023 and 2024.

As for the rest of the Big 12, there are not a ton of games to look back on, but there are some big bowl matchups in the mix. That includes a national championship showdown with Oklahoma and a handful of bowl games against the Texas Longhorns. And to this day, the 1995 season opener at Texas Tech remains one of the scariest season openers for Penn State in the Big Ten era. But you have to go back decades to find a number of Penn State’s games played against current members of the Big 12 Conference.

Here is a look at Penn State’s all-time records against current members of the Big 12. That includes West Virginia, although every meeting with the Mountaineers occurred well before West Virginia was invited to join the Big 12. For Penn State’s all-time record against Nebraska and Texas A&M, check out Penn State’s all-time record against the Big Ten and SEC members.

Data used is credited to College Football Reference. Rankings referenced are AP Top 25 rankings where available.

Note: Penn State has never faced Iowa State or Oklahoma State in football.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion.

Pair of Sooners marquee matchups among top 10 games to watch in 2021

Two games on the Oklahoma Sooners schedule among the top 10 games to watch in 2021.

The Oklahoma Sooners 2021 football schedule has its fair share of top games for 2021. OU will have its usual rivalry battle with Oklahoma State for Bedlam. Plus, an old rivalry with the Nebraska Cornhuskers is rekindled in Norman in a Week 3 showdown.

According to 247Sports, two games on the Oklahoma schedule are among the top 10 games to watch in college football. The countdown starts at No. 8 with one of the best border wars in the sport.

No. 8: The Red River Rivalry

(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)

What 247Sports Says…

Texas is a top-10 team heading into the season, according to the oddsmakers in Las Vegas, even in a year of transition that will be defined by a new coach (Steve Sarkisian) and quarterback. Would you believe it’s been 13 years since Oklahoma and Texas entered the rivalry game ranked in the top 10? The Sooners will be the favorite to win a seventh straight conference title, but the Longhorns can play spoiler and possibly jump into the conference race with a victory in October.

The Longhorns might not be as talented as the Sooners on paper but running back Bijan Robinson figures to be a superstar. And do not discount the Sarkisian factor. The Longhorns’ offense should not struggle, even with a new quarterback. If that defense improves, Texas should finish with a record worthy of top-15 consideration.

Any time Oklahoma and Texas get together on the football field, it is a must-watch game. The Sooners are enjoying a three-game win streak in the series since the last Texas win at the Cotton Bowl in 2018. Now it will be Steve Sarkisian’s turn to see if he can earn consistent wins in the rivalry series. Texas hasn’t won back-to-back games against Oklahoma since the 2008 and 2009 games. The first task will be getting into the win column in 2021. To do that, he will need a heavy dose of Bijan Robinson and his defense to get to Spencer Rattler early and often.

Next, a top-five matchup in college football

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Where Oklahoma ranks in strength of schedule among the Big 12 Conference

A look at the Big 12 Conference in terms of strength of schedule and where Oklahoma ranks.

There is a lot of expectations surrounding the Oklahoma Sooners football team as we march towards the kickoff of the 2021 season. While there are more than three months until the start, that hasn’t hindered any of the discussions.

With the rankings and preseason power rankings constantly putting Lincoln Riley’s squad near the top, it is hard not to think of what could be. Is this the season that the fifth-year head coach can finally put it all together? Can Riley and company avoid the early season letdowns of the last several years and make a run at No. 1 in the country?

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Year in and year out ESPN has released their Football Power Index rankings for all 130 teams in FBS. Many factors go into these FPI rankings including the strength of schedule (SOS). According to the latest edition, the Big 12 Conference as a whole has the toughest SOS in college football. All 10 teams rank in the top 20.

A full breakdown of every team’s strength of schedule and where they rank nationally:

Where the Sporting News ranks Oklahoma, Big 12 in early top 25

Where the Sporting News ranked Oklahoma, three other Big 12 schools in their preseason rankings.

Another day, another top 25 preseason ranking list has been released. For this edition, Bill Bender of The Sporting News released his top 25 preseason ranking. Others have consistently ranked the Oklahoma Sooners in the top two spots. However, Bender sees it a bit differently for the Crimson and Creme.

Sporting News Top 25 Rankings

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma Sooners No. 4

Is this the year the Sooners break through for their first national championship since 2000? Oklahoma closed 2020 as one of the hottest teams in the FBS, and Heisman Trophy favorite Spencer Rattler will improve with another year with Lincoln Riley. The running back rotation is loaded with Kennedy Brooks, Marcus Major and Tennessee transfer Eric Gray. Marvin Mims and Theo Wease and Jadon Haselwood form an elite receiving trio. The defense is always a question, but defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey and Nik Bonitto return. The Sooners will be ranked No. 1 by some publications, and a fifth CFP appearance is within reach. Oklahoma still needs to prove it in the CFP.

Bender put the Sooners behind the Alabama Crimson Tide, Clemson Tigers, and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Those four have routinely been touted as the top four teams in all of college football. Most expect that they could be the last four standing by the time the College Football Playoffs roll around in 2021. The Sooners will be the only team of the four returning their starting quarterback. That might give them an edge but only time will tell if Spencer Rattler is ready to return OU to the promised land.

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Remaining Big 12 Teams

  • Iowa State Cyclones- No. 9
  • Texas Longhorns– No. 13
  • Oklahoma State Cowboys- No. 17

The Texas Christian Horned Frogs are the most likely team to just miss the cut for the preseason rankings from the Sporting News. Along with the other four teams in the Big 12 Conference, they seem like the obvious answers to battle for conference supremacy in 2021.

Longhorns Wire predicts perfect season for the Oklahoma Sooners

Longhorns Wire of USA TODAY Sports gives the Oklahoma Sooners a flawless 2021 season prediction.

It seems everyone is hopping onto the Oklahoma Sooners bandwagon for the 2021 season. ESPN ranked them as the No. 1 team in their post-spring power rankings. The consensus rankings have them as the No. 2 team in the country. However, an unlikely source is predicting a perfect run through the schedule.

USA TODAY Sports’ Longhorns Wire predicted every Big 12 team’s record and gave OU a flawless season.

Once again, Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners are the favorites to bring back the Big 12 crown. This season, however, there will be more than just conference championship hopes for the Sooners. Oklahoma is looking to make another College Football Playoff and not get blown out by an SEC program again. National championship buzz is palpable in Norman.

Our colleagues have the Oklahoma Sooners winning all 12 games, while they predicted a 9-3 mark for the Texas Longhorns. Their three losses coming to Texas Christian, Oklahoma, and Iowa State. Based on their predictions, the Longhorns, Horned Frogs and Oklahoma State Cowboys would all tie with 9-3 records and setting up a rematch in the Big 12 Championship game with Oklahoma once again.

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A perfect run through the schedule and a victory over the Iowa State Cyclones in this scenario would put them in the College Football Playoffs once again.

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