Kyler Murray is gone, but Oklahoma football is still kicking and ready to face off against Houston. What are the keys to victory for the Sooners?
After back-to-back Heisman winners and trips to the College Football Playoff, Oklahoma is looking like one of those teams to beat this season.
The Sooners stole Jalen Hurts away from Alabama and he could be special under Lincoln Riley and his coaching staff. Could they have another Heisman-hopeful on their hands? Is this program going to make a third straight trip to the playoff?
It all starts on Sunday night in Norman.
3. The defense has to be ready to take on D’Eriq King
Oklahoma’s defense was one of the worst in the nation a year ago. They were dead last in past defense and allowed 454 yards per game and had issues stopping much of anyone. It was simply the offense that bailed out the defense most of the time because Kyler Murray was able put up more than his defense gave up.
Now they open with one of the stronger quarterbacks in the state of Texas: Houston’s D’Eriq King. He is back from a knee injury and ready to rock under new head coach Dana Holgorsen out of West Virginia.
Houston has an extremely strong offense, full of experienced and talented wide outs and a strong running back.
To get the win here, the Oklahoma defense doesn’t have to be perfect, but they do have to be ready to make at least some stops and to take on King and what Houston will put up with Holgorsen.