Oklahoma football: 3 takeaways from Sooners' 2023 schedule

Oklahoma football: 3 takeaways from Sooners’ 2023 schedule

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 5: Head coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners and quarterback Nick Evers #7, defensive back Kani Walker #26, wide receiver LV Bunkley-Shelton #6, and quarterback Davis Beville #11 take the field for a game against the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 5, 2022 in Norman, Oklahoma. Baylor won 38-35. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 26: Quarterback Dillon Gabriel #8 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs the ball during the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

1. Weak non-conference

This was supposed to be a massive year for Oklahoma’s non-conference schedule.

This was supposed to be the year in which Oklahoma was going to host the Georgia Bulldogs in the first few weeks of the season. Not since Baker Mayfield planted the Oklahoma flag on Ohio State’s midfield logo had there been a more exciting early season game for Oklahoma. Not only was this supposed to be a rematch of the epic 2018 Rose Bowl playoff semifinal, but Oklahoma was welcoming the back-to-back defending champions to its house.

While this game could have been a great litmus test for Brent Venables in year two, this matchup will instead have to wait for SEC play.

With this huge matchup cancelled, Oklahoma’s non-conference schedule leaves a lot to be desired.

Home games against Arkansas State and SMU, followed by a road game at Tulsa, is not the epic showdown with the Dawgs. While this should put Oklahoma in position to be 3-0 to start the season, it also leaves very little room for error in conference play if this team wants to dream big.

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