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25 biggest college football storylines for the 2022 season

By Michael Thompson

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: The National Championship Trophy is seen on the field prior to the 2022 CFP National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JANUARY 10: The National Championship Trophy is seen on the field prior to the 2022 CFP National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 10, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – APRIL 23: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners stands with his team for the alma mater during their spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 23, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – APRIL 23: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners stands with his team for the alma mater during their spring game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on April 23, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

8. The Oklahoma survival

While USC is on the rise, all is not lost at the University of Oklahoma. The Sooners rebounded, bringing back legend Bob Stoops to help quell the purge of decommitments and raiding of players all while helping coach the Sooners to an Alamo Bowl win. Stoops also helped the Sooners in terms of locking down the best replacement possible for the job, as OU hired Brent Venables back to Oklahoma.

The former defensive coordinator of the Sooners and Clemson Tigers is one the most highly touted defensive minds in the country, having coached in eight national championship games. The arrival of Venables brought stability to the program, and a new vision, built on his notorious defensive fronts, and a dynamic offense led by his new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby.

Lebby comes back to Oklahoma (his alma mater) after incredibly successful stints as the offensive coordinator for Ole Miss and Central Florida before that. During those four years, Lebby’s offense ranked sixth, fifth, 14th, and 24th while helping guide both UCF and Ole Miss to New Year’s Six bowls.

Lebby, who will be a head coach by this time next year, was able to convince star transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel to reunite with him in Norman. As a freshman at UCF, Gabriel threw for 3,600 yards and 29 touchdowns. He’s my dark horse Heisman contender.

With an improved defense and top-tier quarterback play to keep the OU offense humming, I expect the Oklahoma Sooners to roll through a moderately easy schedule, taking advantage of their difficult games all being at home, and find themselves squarely in the CFP discussion.

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