The Sooners overcame a costly loss at Kansas State and caught more than a couple of lucky breaks to earn their way back into the College Football Playoff. Their reward is a four seed and a matchup with LSU and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. It's the College Football Playoff at the Peach Bowl.
Nobody believes the Sooners have a shot against what might be the most lethal offense in SEC history. The Sooners are the biggest underdog in CFP history, breaking a record they set last year against Alabama.
The Sooners have also done themselves no favors as country music legend and defensive stalwart Ronnie Perkins got himself suspended along with Rhamondre Stevenson and freshman WR Trejan Bridges. Rumor is they got caught snorting booger sugar which is much less pedestrian than stealing coats. They've really outdone themselves this time.
Also, starting safety Delarrin Turner-Yell broke his damn collar bone so he's out. So, to recap, the Sooners are down a starting DB and their best pass rusher against Joe Burrow who looks pretty unstoppable.
Should they even play the game?
OFFENSE
The 21st century style triple option the Sooners have adopted this season has been brutally effective as a ball control, time consuming steamroller. It is the best friend of the Sooner D and it could potentially frustrate LSU on both sides of the ball.
But speaking of frustrating, the story all season has been turnovers. It's all well and good to have long, extended drives but if they end with turnovers what's the fucking point? It's almost a lock the Sooners will give the ball up once but you never know.
If I may beat a dead horse, the offense starts and ends with Jalen Hurts but Kennedy Brooks picks up yards in chunks and Stevenson was a luxury as a third option. TJ Pledger and/or Jeremiah Hall will probably pick up some of Stevenson's reps but I've got a feeling Lincoln Riley has something up his sleeve to unleash Brayden Willis.
Anyone who's watched a game with me this year is probably rolling their eyes because every time Willis is on the field I comment on it and spin a yarn about how he's built and used like a TE but listed as a FB. But he's a solid player who makes for a really good possession receiver.
At the end of the day, though, we know the drill. In your biggest games you get the ball in the hands of your best players. Those players are, in order, CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Hurts and Kennedy Brooks. If CeeDee and Kennedy have more touches combined than Jalen then the universe is in good alignment. If things start getting Jalen heavy it's probably not going well.
I'm picking CeeDee for my OPOG. Best player, biggest game.
DEFENSE
Joe Burrow is a freak. To me, he looks like a bigger, faster Baker Mayfield. He absolutely deserved the Heisman. However, can we briefly talk about how the SEC as a whole may be a smidge overrated? I mean, half the league can't fall out of the top 25 (nee top 15) or the ESPN satellites would fall back to earth. Is it possible that maybe, just maybe the Sooner D could offer a different look that no one else in the SEC is offering?
And if that's possible and if the Sooners could have some success against the vaunted LSU offense, could the Tigers maybe start pushing just a bit? Anything could happen. I just can't help but think that nobody benefits more than the Sooner D from all the hype about how awesome this LSU offense is.
That said, how do the Sooners do it? They have to keep Burrow bottled up a la the way they played Baylor. They need to somehow make Burrow get rid of the ball before he wants to or otherwise get him off his rhythm.
Kenneth Michael Murray has to keep Burrow bottled up. Neville Gallimore and Bookie can keep him on his toes. But someone else is going to need to step up big time. Parnell Motley perchance?
For my DPOG I'm going Kenneth Michael Murray. He's the heart and soul of this unit.
THE SCORE
Lost in all the LSU hype is that OU's offense is still OU's offense. They are capable of going score for score with anyone in the country. And for years, Sooner fans have been asking for just a decent defense. Now they are not only decent but one that, at times, is even better. They are peaking at the right time.
So don't believe the hype. The Sooners belong. Both teams have everything to prove but OU has nothing to lose and that makes them very dangerous. They are playing with house money. If LSU puckers up just a bit and the Sooners play their most complete game, I think the Sooners absolutely can do this.
And they will.
Sooners 34 Tigers 31
Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner
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