Tag: Oklahoma football predictions

ESPN’s Bill Connelly picks apart Big 12 conference outside of Texas

Bill Connelly praises Texas, picks apart Oklahoma in analysis of Big 12 teams.

ESPN analytics expert Bill Connelly likes Texas heading into its final season in the Big 12. He does not appear to like much else in the Longhorns’ current conference.

Connelly said the following of Texas’ need to capitalize on a weakened Big 12 Conference.

“OU’s got upside but no depth. KSU’s got the line play but might lack upside now. OSU and TCU might have the depth (Tech, too), but defense is sketchy. I like UCF’s roster, but they collapsed late in 2022. Baylor’s depth on D and OL is perilous.”

There’s plenty to unpack there, but the first sentence stands out after saying it for much of the offseason. Oklahoma will be great if starters stay healthy. That’s a significant condition and one it certainly cannot count on in any season.

Jalil Farooq is a terrific player, the offensive line is solid and the defense has significantly upgraded, but imagine what the Sooners look like if Farooq isn’t healthy or the team plays without two offensive line starters. It probably looks like the spring game looked for the Oklahoma offense.

The other primary challenger is Kansas State, who Connelly says might lack upside. That feels like a narrow view of the team given quarterback Will Howard is more dynamic than most quarterbacks who have led the Wildcats.

Let’s nip the Oklahoma State and TCU depth credit in the bud: TCU lost several draft picks in the past NFL draft. While they could be good, the frogs figure to have depth issues. As for Oklahoma State, the Cowboys didn’t have the NFL draft success the Horned Frogs had and somehow lost more than TCU in the portal.

The underlying point is clear and reasonable: Texas has every reason to win the Big 12 this season. Head coach Steve Sarkisian needs to capitalize.

Longhorns Wire Contenders: Oklahoma 2023 record prediction

Oklahoma does not face Texas Tech, Kansas State or Baylor in 2023.

The Oklahoma Sooners football schedule is set. On the whole, it presents the opportunity to make a Big 12 title run or better should the Sooners put it all together.

Oklahoma went a disappointing 6-7 last season including its worst ever Red River loss to Texas, 49-0. However, after a strong bowl performance and serious roster upgrades, the Sooners should be one of the better teams in the conference.

Dillon Gabriel returns at quarterback with a security blanket at tight end in Austin Stogner. The 6-foot-5 pass catcher should give Gabriel the ability to attack the seam where he’s better suited to throw the football.

Heading into last season, I expected the Oklahoma defense to be poor. This year, the Sooners should be vastly improved. In my opinion, Brent Venables added at least four new starters with DL Trace Ford, LB Dasan McCullough, DE PJ Adepawore and S Peyton Bowen.

Let’s look at how the Sooners could fare in 2023.