Oklahoma football has another top-10 ranked team, but Lincoln Riley and the Sooners have some questions to answer.
The surprise factor for Oklahoma’s quarterback position is now at a healthy zero as Lincoln Riley named Kyler Murray the No. 1 guy for the season opener against Florida Atlantic. It was a move everyone had expected, but Sooner fans were relieved to hear it become official.
With the quarterback decided, the Sooners will have one of the better offenses in the Big 12 yet again, especially with CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown back and Rodney Anderson holding down the fort in the backfield.
Defensively, though, the Sooners could be headed toward uncertainty. Only five starters return to a defense that ranked 67th last year. Oklahoma could use some improvement on this side of the ball to be a true playoff contender, but there’s plenty of talent in place.
Let’s take a look at the best and worst-case scenarios for the Sooners in 2018.
Best-case scenario
Oklahoma doesn’t have the easiest schedule in the Big 12, but the Sooners do get Oklahoma State at home and the toughest games are a neutral sit contest against rival Texas, and at TCU and at West Virginia. All of those games are extremely winnable for this squad, so that brings us to a sparkling best-case scenario.
Sept. 1: vs. Florida Atlantic — W
Sept. 8: vs. UCLA — W
Sept. 15: at Iowa State — W
Sept. 22: vs. Army — W
Sept. 29: vs. Baylor — W
Oct. 6: vs. Texas — W
Oct. 20: at TCU — W
Oct. 27: vs. Kansas State — W
Nov. 3: at Texas Tech — W
Nov. 10: vs. Oklahoma State — W
Nov. 17: vs. Kansas — W
Nov. 23: at West Virginia — W
Yes, I truly believe this Oklahoma team can go unbeaten in the regular season and head to the Big 12 title game with a 12-0 record. There’s enough talent left behind from last year’s playoff team and if the defense continues to improve, anything is possible.
Worst-case scenario
The worst-case scenario could get a little tricky for the Sooners. Florida Atlantic isn’t exactly the easiest way to start the year, but they could win three non-conference games, but lose four Big 12 games, falling out of the title race.
Sept. 1: vs. Florida Atlantic — W
Sept. 8: vs. UCLA — W
Sept. 15: at Iowa State — L
Sept. 22: vs. Army — W
Sept. 29: vs. Baylor — W
Oct. 6: vs. Texas — L
Oct. 20: at TCU — L
Oct. 27: vs. Kansas State — W
Nov. 3: at Texas Tech — W
Nov. 10: vs. Oklahoma State — W
Nov. 17: vs. Kansas — W
Nov. 23: at West Virginia — L
Remember, this is the absolute worst-case scenario for the Sooners. With an unproven quarterback and a shaky defense, four losses is entirely possible.
Oklahoma looks like a 10-11 win team yet again and should be a late-season contender for the College Football Playoff. I see the Sooners in the Big 12 title game against West Virginia, locking up yet another crown and Riley’s second straight.