5 college football teams most likely to go undefeated in 2019
By John Scimeca
2. Oklahoma Sooners
True, Oklahoma struggled against Alabama in the College Football Playoff last season, but the Sooners earn the No. 2 spot on this list because of Jalen Hurts and the quality of Big 12 defenses.
Hurts joins the crew in Norman, Okla., after some stellar performances with the Alabama Crimson Tide. As a senior and an experienced graduate transfer, Hurts brings a load of experience and talent with him after a 26-2 record as a starter with Alabama.
The common thought is that head coach Lincoln Riley has the magic touch, having coached for two seasons since Bob Stoops’ departure and having directed an offense featuring two different consecutive Heisman Trophy winners, an unmatched feat in the modern era of college football.
Even if Hurts struggles by his standards, opponents will find it darn near impossible to stop these Sooners — playmakers such as wideout CeeDee Lamb, running back Trey Sermon, and running back Kennedy Brooks return and show no signs of slowing down.
The Sooners’ only real challenge figures to be the Red River Shootout against Texas in October, followed by mildly challenging road trips to Baylor and Oklahoma State later in the season. Considering that seven of the conference’s 10 teams gave up more than 400 yards per game last year, the Sooners are not expected to have much trouble in winning the Big 12 for a fifth season in a row.