Oklahoma football enters the 2017 season with lofty expectations, but can the Sooners make it back to the College Football Playoff?
What a crazy offseason it’s been for Oklahoma football. Not only were there off-field issues regarding Baker Mayfield and his attempted escape from law enforcement, but there was also a shocking changing of the guard.
In fact, head coach Bob Stoops retired after 18 seasons with the Sooners, giving way to young offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. Everyone expected Riley to be the predecessor for the elite head coach, but no one thought it’d be this soon. He was thrust into the head coaching role following spring practice and he’s now the big man on campus.
Riley will take over a talented team that went 11-2 in 2016, including 9-0 in conference play with yet another Big 12 title. Stoops was the king of the Big 12 over the past two decades and now it’s Riley’s turn to make the Sooners annual favorites.
The 2016 season was an interesting one for Oklahoma. First, it started 1-2 with losses to Houston and Ohio State to begin the year. It looked as if the Sooners were incredibly overrated in the preseason polls and some even speculated they might miss a bowl — although that was just the overreaction crowd.
Oklahoma then finished the year with 10 straight wins, including a Sugar Bowl victory over Auburn, capping off an incredible run which some argued should have resulted in a playoff appearance. Will that happen this year with the reinstatement of the conference’s title game?
Check out the complete season preview, with predictions, for Oklahoma football.
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