Oklahoma Sooners vs. Arizona Wildcats

 Hello Sooner fans and welcome to the final installment of the 2023 Sooners football season. One cannot deny improvement, but this campaign still has a lot of "what might have beens". 

Today we turn the page. The future, Jackson Arnold, takes the reins of the now Seth Littrel Sooner offense. What schemes carry over or new schemes might we see?

OFFENSE

I'm excited to watch Jackson Arnold and I wish there was some reveal of what is to come next year. However, the O Line is decimated by graduation and transfer. 

As such I think we some some fairly simplistic run schemes for Gavin Sawchuk and Jackson Arnold. I also anticipate an uptick in down field shots to Nic Anderson and Jaden Gibson. Drake Stoops and Sawchuk can be the safety blankets. 

The Sooners need to stick to their strengths and keep the ball in playmakers hands. 

For my OPOG I'm going with Jackson Arnold. This is a good stepping stone for him as a player and leader. 

DEFENSE

Danny Stutsman is staying and having him in this one is huge. The D needs to take chances today and he can fix a lot of mistakes. 

He's my DPOG. 

The Sooners win if they win the turnover battle. They've done it all year. 

THE SCORE

I think the Sooners can scrape by with enough points to win in spite of a new O-Line but can the D get off the field. Arizona has been hot and has a lot to prove. 

In the end, I think Jackson Arnold takes advantage of his first real chance and carries the day for the Sooners. 

Sooners 28 Wildcats 17

Boomer to the motherfucking Sooner

Arizona

 Tonight our Sooners play the most prestigious of bowl games, the historically proud and significant Alamo bowl! At least it isn't the Beef O'Brady's bowl which is worse in name and absolutely no different in significance. If you can't tell, I'm not remotely excited by this game. I love tradition and pageantry as much as anyone, and it is one of the things I really love about college football. So my conundrum with that perspective is that I really do not care about any Bowl games that aren't the playoff. And that includes OU bowl games. I guess I'm a bit of a spoiled bitch in that if this were OU's first bowl game after a decade of losing seasons, I might pay attention. But as it stands, this is a formality where many stars will sit out and the stadium will be half full if they're lucky.

Offense

I don't really know who all is playing, but I assume Jackson Arnold will be and I am going to pick him. This is as much hope-based as anything else, but I want to see the young buck gain some confidence going into next season.

Defense

One unexpected, and great, piece of news this fall was that our man Danny Stutsman is coming back next year. He's a stud and he's continuing his run as my DPG.

Score

I know nothing about Arizona other than their ranking and records are similar to ours. So it seems this might be a good matchup. I like our Sooners to score the upset (Zona is -2.5) and win this 30-24.

One last time for 2023: Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

TCU Horned Frogs vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Happy Thanksgiving, Sooners fans. I hope you all had a lovely day and have a terrific weekend in store. Today the Sooners tie a bow on the regular season in a special Friday tilt, at home, against the Horned Frogs. Last week the Sooners won ugly against BYU and lost both Dillon Gabriel to a concussion and Jackson Arnold's redshirt. It was a game the Sooners almost certainly would have lost last year. So while there is plenty to bitch about that needs to improve (game/clock management), it's important to remember that there has been some significant improvement this season. 

Alas, it's senior day in Norman, the Sooners will reach 10 wins with a victory today and they are still have a shot at making the Big 12 championship game. Let's go.

OFFENSE

My brother-in-law Kyle sent me an article this week that said DG is a no go against TCU and that he hadn't practiced all week. Kyle then said he saw DG practicing this week with his own eyes. An article in The Oklahoman says DG has been practicing and is probable. I think he probably goes today. 

Whether it's DG or Jackson Arnold, the Sooners have started rounding into form the last two weeks. Jeff Lebby seems to have realized that you need not rely so heavily on cute tricks and gimmicks when you have personnel that can play competent football. Gavin Sawchuk has been on beast mode, Drake Stoops is playing the best football of his life, Jaden Gibson and Nic Anderson are stretching the field. It's a simple game, really. 

Look for more of it today. I'm picking Drake Stoops for my OPOG. I've appreciated him but too easily dismissed the difference he makes. He really has had a remarkable year. On this, his Senior Day, he deserves some attention. I hope he goes for 100 with a score or two. None of that is a stretch.

DEFENSE

Kudos to this group for pulling the Sooner season out of the fire last week. Yes they gave up yards in chunks to a team that is not good at running the ball, but they got stops and turnovers when they had to. It's becoming a habit for them. 

I'm going to assume that TCU will be successful at something simple like a slant or RPO and it will drive us fans crazy. I would like to think our scheme is designed to tolerate success at something the opponent is not good at (like not worrying too much about a running attack) in order to take away everything else. I don't think we're that clever.

All this to say, we just need to keep getting stops when it matters and the occasional turnover from playmakers. Danny Stutsman is our best player and Billy Bowman is our best playmaker. I'm going Billy for DPOG.

THE SCORE

I laid out the plan last week. Win out, get help, win the Big 12, lose on national TV in the playoffs. It's all out there still. 

I like the Sooners big today on Senior Day. The best part; watch how few defensive players are playing their last game today. This team is young and this year could be a springboard for being truly in the discussion for the natty.

I'll take the Sooners today 35-10. Boomer to the motherfucking Sooner

Oklahoma Sooner vs. BYU Cougars

 Stop me if this sounds familiar. The Sooners ride high all season, beat Texas and are fully in control of their own destiny. They lose games they shouldn't and are no longer in control of their own destiny. They then win out, someone else helps them out, the Sooners make it to the Big 12 championship, win that and then go on to lose spectacularly on national television.

That's where we're headed.

OFFENSE

The Sooners rolled up 600 yards and Dillon Gabriel accounted for 8 touchdowns. Drake Stoops played the best game of his life. But Gavin Sawchuk was the secret sauce. He's my OPOG for today. If he meets with success, everyone else's life is easier.

DEFENSE

It says a lot about both Danny Stutsman and Kip Lewis that when Stutsman came back from his injury he changed positions to keep Kip Lewis on the field. That move has worked better than could be hoped. I'm picking Kip Lewis today.

THE SCORE

The line started at 20 and has moved to 25 which seems high. I like the Sooners to cover, however because BYU is inept in all phases apparently. Only an act of God in the heart of Mormon country can help the Cougars today.

I like the Sooners bigly, 42-14.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

BYU

 I have essentially given up on the OU team. This is probably discernable based on my even more half-assed-than-usual effort for these posts. I should be happy that they still have some kind of shot at the conference championship but I'm still under the delusion that this team should be competing for National Championships even though they are currently in the longest drought in school history since they won their first one in in 1950. Basically they've been slightly above average for a very long time. 

Anyway, BYU today. This game would've given me tremendous anxiety if OU hadn't already shit the bed twice. As it stands, it will be a tough road game against a team hungry to prove themselves in a new conference. OU will probably lose. It will not matter.

Offense

How about Gavin Sawchuck today? It's as wild of a dart throw as any. I'm going to roll with that on the road where a ground attack would prove useful. I'm sure Jeff Lebby is way smarter than that though and will call 127 gadget plays that don't work instead.

Defense

Stutsman

Score

I think OU ekes this one 28-21.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

West Virginia

 I am so disappointed in this Sooners squad. They have looked like absolute trash since they beat texas. I guess that was the goal of the whole season as they have been on a mission to completely fuck themselves in every game since. It's the same old song and dance on defense with a new wrinkle on offense of complete ineptitude. Fun times indeed. I honestly have pretty  much stopped caring. Lebby is completely overmatched and Venables doesn't seem to be the defensive wizard  everyone thought. Instead he looks like the buffoon defensive coordinator we fired all of those years back. 

Offense

I have no idea here. The offense has been so bad. Dylan Gabriel fucking sucks and now it's just showing up every week. I will get cute here and go with Austin Stogner. He's been completely forgotten on this offense and why would you look for a huge target on those critical 3rd and 6 or less downs? Maybe they remember he's on the team this week,

Defense

It appears Stutsman is back, and there you have my pick.

Score

Can the Sooners actually score some points tonight? Because I know they will damn sure give some up. What the hell, Sooners win 42-30.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner.

West Virginny vs Oklahoma Sooners

 Today your 6-2 Sooners return home to face West Virginia. The Sooners have hopefully been alternately stewing in their juices and taking hard looks in the mirror. 

The hallmarks of a poorly coached football team have been on display these last three weeks. Stupid penalties, bad clock management and not taking advantage of your strengths. 

The Sooners barely escaped with a win against Central Florida and of course they've lost the last two. 

Today, the Sooners take on the Mountaineers and its a game that went from an assumed win to a genuine question. That question is can these guys learn from mistakes and take a step forward?

OFFENSE

Jeff Lebby is showing that he doesn't seem to care for success. Every time he finds something that works he has to outsmart himself and switch things up. 

Today he needs to use Gavin Sawchuk and Tawee Walker to set up nic Anderson and Drake Stoops. West Virginia can't handle this if we do it properly. 

Alas, were just as likely to trot into halftime with two timeouts in our pocket. 

Ill pick Tawee Walker again. It's will and hope is all I have. Of faith, there is none. 

DEFENSE

The Sooners will be well ahead if they can keep from getting sideline penalties. What the fuck is that shit two weeks in a row? Embarrassing. 

Similarly, the pass defense has been abhorrent for two weeks in a row. 

Jaren Kanek has looked lost and useless. Danny Stutsman is sorely missed. There's been no.pressure on the quarterback. 

The boys are in for another single score game if they can't find an edge and stop being their own worst nightmare. 

I'm going Billy Bowman today. They need big plays and he's a guy that can make them. 

THE SCORE

I don't like the 9 or 12 point spread, whichever it is. This team is at a breaking point and they might not be smart enough to work their way out of it. The crowd may be less than into also, although a night game with good fall weather might help. 

This could be Lebbys last stand. 

I'm pinching my nose and taking the Sooners 28-24. 

Boomer to the motherfucking Sooner. 

Bedlam: The Final Chapter

Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. The Sooners did not follow my gameplan last week and now find themselves in a familiar position, having to win out and get some help in order to back door their way into the playoff conversation.

The Sooners took a massive hit in Kansas as Danny Stutsman, the heart and soul of this defense, injured his ankle/knee and his status is questionable coming into this one. Offensively, the Sooners are already down Andrel Anthony and now just this week Jalil Farooq got himself arrested during a traffic stop. 

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are on a four game win-streak and have the nations leading rusher in Ollie Gordon II. If you thought Kansas was motivated to beat the Sooners, wait until you see the atmosphere in Stillwater. 

The best example of my hopelessly dumb homerism is my belief that someday the Sooners will understand that when opponents play Oklahoma it's the biggest game of their life, and that the Sooners will meet and exceed that effort level because they know if they lose the opposition is going to cry for joy, rip down goalposts and have stories they'll tell their grandchildren. Every time. 

I am telling you, today, it's the same situation in Stillwater and I have my doubts the Sooners will meet the moment.

OFFENSE

Last week Jeff Lebby's gameplan was conservative to say the least. They ran the ball 16 straight times at one point. Everything they did was telegraphed. The Gavin Freeman jet sweep needs to be ripped out or redacted from the play sheet. Not once did the Jayhawks defense look like they were on their heels. This is unacceptable. 

First, hopefully, Tawee Walker returns after getting banged up last week. He showed he's RB1. Second, I will lose my goddamn mind if Nic Anderson doesn't get six targets. Third, the Sooners have to try and go vertical. 

It's staggering to me to watch this offense not find ways to scheme their playmakers to an open part of the field to let them make plays. 

Finally, clock management has to be addressed. If the Sooners find themselves in a two-minute situation in the first half again, with all their timeouts, and they run out the clock, well, it's time for a change of some sort. What the fuck is that shit? Pull your nuts out of your throat and get aggressive. The Sooners cannot score enough points to feel secure in a game. 

I am hoping to will into existence some schemes for playmakers to make plays and, as such, am picking Nic Anderson as my OPOG. That guy is going to play on Sundays and Lebby and Dillon Gabriel need to get him the fucking ball early and often.

DEFENSE

This defense has shown that they are good most of the time, great some of the time and almost always their own worst nightmare. Their ability to keep themselves on the field via penalty is staggering. They can't have that shit today. 

More than the potential loss of Stutsman, the Sooners need to have Gentry Williams at corner. Things go downhill fast when he gets hurt (and he gets hurt almost every game). 

Beyond dumb penalties, the Sooners need to either rush the quarterback or play pass defense. No pass rush and no pass defense equals disaster. The Sooners have been proving that too often of late. 

Oh and they also need to tackle this Ollie Gordon II fella because he will run rough shod on the Sooners and do it six ways from Sunday if it appears we didn't wear our tackling pants today.

I'll pick Dasan McCollough today for my DPOG. He looks like he's getting real comfortable and ready to make a leap.

THE SCORE

Did I mention how nervous I am about this one? The odds of the Sooners having their act together in all phases of the game are non-zero but not much better than that. Trouble lurks everywhere so the Sooners really need their shit together in the following areas:

• No cute bullshit in the running game. Give it to Tawee Walker and let him run north-south.
• Find ways to get Nic Anderson the ball in space and give Jaden Gibson some chances one-on-one to make a play.
• Limit, reduce or, gasp, eliminate dumb fuck penalties on defense.
• Blitz
• Make field goals
• Learn clock management (coaches)

If the Sooners find a way to do these things I believe they can win by two scores. I doubt they do though and they get hit in the mouth, find themselves down early with Little Brother losing their goddamn minds. If that happens hopefully the Sooners can buck up and find themselves having a chance to win by a field goal.

I'll take the Sooners here 37-34 in a fitting thriller to end this Big Brother-Little Brother rivalry.

Boomer to the motherfucking Sooner. 

Oklahoma State or The Last Bedlam

 What a joke that last game was. Brent Venables' vaunted defensive mind managed to put out the exact same defense we've had for the last 20 years. Where is this mastermind strategy? How do we leave a receiver completely alone on 4th and 6 on the game winning drive? How many times can we watch an opposing offense make miracle play after miracle play before we realize that they might not be miracles, and just terrible defense? It's abysmal and it's the worst way to lose. And we've made it an art. The most undisciplined, out of position, collapsing defense: your Oklahoma Sooners. I've exhausted this topic over the years and yet I still fool myself into thinking it isn't happening any more. What a dummy. Aside from the defense, can we mention Jeff Lebby? That guy can't scheme a window open in his own living room. Does he have nothing in the playbook to call when we desperately need a first down? When we need 3 yards? It's pathetic. I think Gavin Freeman is a fun player. He's a gadget guy with some great speed. But that end around that famously went for a TD the first time it was called last season? It isn't fooling anyone anymore, so maybe let's not call that play 7 times per game. The players could've done more to execute last game. Danny Stutsman getting hurt was a huge loss. But that L on the schedule is squarely on the coaches. Having the ball with (I'm estimating here) 90 seconds left and a couple of time outs before the half is the time where your "high flying, fast paced" offense should be stomping on the gas to get at minimum 3 points. Just letting the clock run out was ludicrous to me in the moment and man did it ever look stupid late in the game when a few more points surely would've been nice. I just can't be more disgusted with the coaching staff. 

Oh yeah, Bedlam is today. And if you were to believe Mike Gundy they are discontinuing the Super Bowl. Only a Super Bowl where one team wins 91 times out of 110. I know this is the biggest game for OSU, and I truly do appreciate the in-state battle. But this is less of a rivalry and more of a game OU tries hard not to lose every year. It pisses me off no end when OSU wins this, but in the kind of way that it pisses a dog off when a flea bites it. OSU is an elite mediocre football school. Mike Gundy does just enough coaching and mouth running to not get fired. His good ole boy speak rings true to their fanbase but what has he ever really won? I'll save you the google search, since his hiring in 2005 OSU has one (!) conference championship. In short he has elevated the program to a proudly sustained not-exactly-shitty level that people somehow love. But, true to form, he has ran his mouth ad nauseam about OU and texas leaving the conference. I guess he will miss getting his ass beat 9 years out of every 10. 

Offense

I don't know what to do here. Apparently Jalil Farooq was arrested for traffic violations this week, I have no idea if he is playing or not. Dylan Gabriel continues to be himself (this is not a compliment), and the RBs are a dart throw as to who Demarco Murray has taken a shine to when he woke up this morning. The fact that we really have no go-to weapon says a lot. Not having anyone that consistently steps up and makes plays in the big moment is troubling. I'm going to say that Gavin Sawchuck is the guy today. He's been the best back we have so far, which means nothing in terms of how much he will see the ball today. Here's hoping...

Defense

Danny Stutsman, is my go to. Sadly he is "questionable". At the time of my writing this, he seems probable. Kip Lewis (shame on his parents for that) looked like a solid replacement when he stepped in last week. In the interest of picking someone who I'm fairly sure is going to play, I'll take Dasan McCollough today for a big game. 

Score

OU is favored by 6. I don't really see a way OSU fans aren't tearing down goalposts after this one. The only thing in our favor is we just got embarrassed by an average KU team. Another year, another terrible loss against a team that had no business winning. Death, taxes... So with that in mind, I'll borrow Mitch's crimson colored glasses for a moment and say OU win 31-30. I'm already not looking forward to hating this game.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Kansas Jayhawks

 Good morning, Sooner fans. Our 7-0 Sooners had themselves a good ole fashioned wake-up call last week against UCF at home, but they bowed up when it mattered and hopefully it was a good learning experience because this week it's a real trap game. The Sooners head up to Lawrence to face the Jayhawks, a team with a legit rushing attack and a desire to show the country they the program is trending in the positive.

OFFENSE

The Sooner offense is obviously good enough to win any game. Dillon Gabriel has taken a step up this year, to say the least. They have receivers who can do some damage. But, at some point, the Sooners need to figure out how to get the run game going from the jump. Last week DG took the reigns, and that's fine. But the running-back-by-committee is still clunky and weird. In defense of last week, Tawee Walker didn't play because of reasons and supposedly he's back today. Gavin Sawchuk looked good in the 2nd half. 

Last week I picked Walker and look what happened. Today I'm picking Sawchuk and hopefully I don't fuck up his day.

DEFENSE

Don't be surprised if Danny Stutsman gets 15 tackles today. The Jayhawks are going to try to rush the ball. They have a running back that averages 7+ yards per carry. Ridiculous. The Sooners need to shut that down double quick and avoid stupid penalties while doing it. 

If they can avoid stomping on their own dicks for a minute, the Jayhawks shouldn't score more than 17-24. If they let the Jayhawks stay on the field, it'll be hard to keep them under 30.

I think the D might have learned more from last week than the O. In that vein, I think they respond and put on a clinic. Stutsman is the MVP, but Kansas native Jaren Kanek, chief offender of boneheaded penalties last week, is my DPOG.

SCORE

This one scares me more than just about any other on the schedule for some reason. I was worried about Jalon Daniels at QB, but it doesn't look like he'll be playing. However, the Jayhawks will have a chip on their shoulder. The Sooners will get their best game. It's time for the Sooners to show they can match that level of energy and preparedness. History has shown that this is tough for OU. It doesn't have to be today. This one is an opportunity to take another step towards being a bona fide contender.

I like the Sooners to win but I'm not sure they'll cover the spread (-9). I like the Sooners 31-24.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Kansas

 I don't know if I will ever learn. Every time I start to get the inkling that our Sooners team might actually be decent, they look like absolute trash against a mediocre-bad opponent. After the texas win I expected a let down might be possible, but I also thought the extra week would give the team both time to prepare and a little bit of a buffer to let the shine wear off of that huge win. Yet, they came out and played completely piss poor on both sides of the ball. Yes, the kicker was terrible and they proved meaningful later in the game (as it generally does), but the offense could not move the ball at all in the second half, and the defense reverted to it's old ways of making the other team's QB look incredible and absolutely melting down on third down all game. It's the most frustrating variety of football to watch as a fan. 

Today the Sooners travel to Lawrence KS. A place where the Sooners have historically had a lot of success. Much of that is simply because OU is often a much more talented team. However, this Jayhawks club is on a major upswing and actually is a quality opponent for the first time in a long time. They had a big letdown two weeks ago against a good OSU team that, frankly, KU should've beaten. If our Sooners play anything like they did last week against a fairly bad UCF team, this will be comfortable win for the Jayhawks.

Offense

While Nic Anderson proved me right last week, the real MVP to me was Gavin Sawchuck. He basically put the team on his back in the 4th quarter when the offense had done jack shit the entire second half. Why Marcus Major continues to start is beyond me. If anything, Major has been the 4th best back on the team in my opinion. But, it always goes back to Dylan Gabriel. A true leader wouldn't have been so bad when the team needed them. I don't know if I'll ever be a believer in him, he just does too many bad things at bad times and has too many long stretches of bad football. It  is going to cost them at some point this year, I just don't know when. For my OPG I will go with Sawchuck today. I think (hope) his performance last week opened some eyes in the coaches office and I think he gets a lot of work today and keeps the KU offense off the field. 

Defense

Last week was very much an OU defense of the last 20 years. If you're unsure, that was not a compliment. I'm going Stutsman again. Until proven otherwise, he's the man on this D.

Score

OU is favored by 7 here. In my mind this has major upset potential. It's the KU homecoming, they've had an extra week to prepare, this is their Super Bowl. OU looked bad last week, and probably should've lost that one. My hope is that it was a wake up call. But historically, those types of wake up calls have not been heard. Still, I will hold out hope. Sooners escape again, 34-30.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner.

UCF vs Oklahoma Sooners

 Our boys did it, didn't they? They made a statement with a win versus the Longhorns. They had a goal line stand and a heartbreaker winning drive. You love to see it. 

Now they're in the driver's seat with a favorable schedule. All they have to do is TCB. 

It starts today with UCF. 

OFFENSE

Check out our man Dillon Gabriel, now in the conversation for the Heisman. I saw it coming all along. 

Today the Sooners need to find a replacement for Andrel Anthony. I think it's Jaquaz Pettaway. 

I also see the Sooners piling up the rushing yards. Like, Tawee Walker might get 150. He's my OPOG. 

DEFENSE

Well these boys exceeded expectations. They got way more pressure on Quin Ewers than I thought and the aforementioned goal line stand was baller. 

These guys are for real and it's a glorious feeling. 

They're going to be amped up today, at home and I look for someone like Billy Bowman to have a huge coronation party. He's my DPOG. 

THE SCORE

I think the spread is 19.5 as I write this, and the Sooners cover at home easily. 

I like the Sooners bigly, 49-14. 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

UCF

Welcome back Sooners fans. What a fun time that Red River game was. It's always sweet to beat texas, but those years where they are highly ranked and "back", and we are underdogs and coming off a sweet loss, those are special. And then you add in the unbelievable last minute comeback to really stick a knife in their balls, well, that's a level all it's own. Sooner Magic made an appearance for the first time in I don't know how long and man was it wonderful. The off week afterward made it really nice to savor. But, with all of those glad tidings there is still a lot of football left in the season. And if OU football has drilled anything into my brain, it's that we have an amazing track record of taking a dump in our own picnic basket once or twice a year. This team feels a little different than the ones of years past, but I'm still extremely cautiously optimistic at this point.

UCF comes to town for a game that would feel like a trap normally. It still does in some ways, but I think the week off was well timed in that it allowed us all to savor texas without it distracting from the next game. The extra week was a "let's get back to business" reset in my mind. For those keeping score at home, what I think means less than zero. UCF is 3-3 and I couldn't know less about them. I do feel like these Florida schools at minimum have some really talented athletes and probably a few misfits that didn't latch on to a bigger school for whatever reason. My point being, they likely have some decent talent. The kind of school that could connect enough plays to hang around against any school. OU needs to shut them down with defense early, and just play their game on O. 

Offense

To the idea of giving credit where due, Gabriel's game winning drive was pretty incredible. 75 yards with no timeouts in less than a minute to win the biggest rivalry game of the year is pretty fucking awesome. I still have my quibbles with him, and I'm still confident his lesser traits will be a meaningful (in the bad way) factor in a big game, but he did it when he needed to against UT. So, naturally, I'm staying away from him this week. He's lost his top target in Andrel Anthony (wow, that one really hurts) but I'm going to say Jalil Farooq steps up and is my OPG for the game.

Defense

Let's not go trying to reinvent the proverbial wheel here. Stutsman for President.

Score

This feels a bit like it will be a high scoring affair. The spread is -19.5 for OU at the time I'm writing this crap. I think OU comes out slow, maybe even goes down a score, but rights the ship and pulls out a win 41-21.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. texas

Fellas, it's a pretty narrow path to a championship. For OU, you have to be undefeated heading into Dallas. Check. Their non-conference slate was borderline clinic. Box scores have been gaudy. Second, you have to beat texas, and third you have to handle your business the rest of the way. 

Texas, for their part, has also followed the same formula. They have handled their business and now we have what everyone wants; OU and the Longhorns undefeated for the first time since 2011. The winner is on the inside rail for the Big 12 championship. For OU, the path looks really favorable if they can escape the Cotton Bowl with a win. 

It's all in front of us now. Let's get it. This could be an all-timer. 

OFFENSE

Dillon Gabriel is for real. Let's have a little mea culpa here and admit that. He's a game manager. While he might miss something big or easy every now then, he's not killing you with dumb plays. He keeps the offense in good down and distance with his feet, too. 

The wide receivers are rounding in to form. Andrel Anthony leads the way and Nic Anderson really looks good to me. Jaden Gibson is a big target who can make catches in traffic. All these guys bring something to the table to keep the Longhorns honest on defense. 

The big question marks will be how well the Sooners can run the ball and how quickly can Dillon Gabriel get settled in. The Longhorn defensive line is going to be much bigger and better than any the Sooners have faced.

I'm going with DG as my OPOG. It's his first Red River Shootout and he's liable to be a little high strung. If he's some semblance of his typical self, the Sooners should be in business.

DEFENSE

As mentioned, the depth here compared to last year is just night and day, but the biggest difference I see is physicality. There are some dogs (dawgs?) out there looking to feast and they are going to be flying and cracking pads in this one. 

The D-line has to occupy the Longhorn line. I'm looking for guys like Adepoju Adebawore to apply some pressure on the edges. From there, it's discipline. This has been a very opportunistic group to this point. Hopefully they can force Quin Ewers into some mistakes while keeping him contained. 

The other obvious point of emphasis is stopping the texas run game. Texas can always run the ball. The Sooners have been pretty solid in this phase, but are we who we think we are? Thus far, the Sooners have been able to get off the field. Their bread and butter has been third and fourth downs. 

Mentally, I get the sense the Sooners are ready in this one. Danny Stutsman is the lynchpin of the D and he's my DPOG today.

THE SCORE

This really could be an all timer. I think this one's going to be fast and physical. I think the country is going to watch this one and see that the SEC is getting a couple teams that can hang. 

I think the Sooners are looking to have long, keep away type drives. The defense is going to absolutely fly around. 

My only fear is the Sooners are a little less tested than the Horns. However, in a rivalry game, in Dallas, this is neutralized. The Sooners are going to be ready and they'll respond when they get hit in the mouth. 

The Sooners win and beat the (narrowing) spread. 

OU 31, Texas 24 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner. Texas fucking sucks

texas

 Whoa doctor it's a big one this week. Our Sooners enter this year's edition of the Red River Rivalry ranked #12 in the Nation. Standing 5-0 and playing seemingly good football on both sides of the ball. texas comes in also 5-0 and ranked a lofty #3 in the country. Both teams are 2-0 in the conference, both teams put up similar numbers in terms of total yards on offense and defense, with a slight edge in offense to OU and defense to texas. The biggest difference is OU has played a murderers row of ass-dribble teams and texas has mixed in wins over Alabama and a solid KU team (a thrashing last week of the latter). We all remember last year, an historically lopsided win for the Longhorns that was an absolute embarrassment. OU will have revenge on their minds and texas simply looks to prove they are the better team and no fluke.

To me there are two main factors that will determine the outcome in this one. First and foremost is the OU offensive line vs the texas defensive front. Their front is absolutely monstrous with all four regulars clocking in at over 300 lbs. They have controlled opponents with pressure and a shutdown of the run game. If the Sooners can't open running lanes or give DG time, it will be a long afternoon indeed. The second is the OU secondary. texas has big wide receivers and our DBs have looked, um, questionable at times. Again, this is coming against some bad QBs and week WRs. texas has neither of those things. A lot will be predicated on pressuring Ewers and containing him from scrambling for 3rd down conversions. But if OU is again leaving WRs completely alone on the field it will be rough.

Offense

The offense has taken turns looking dominant and mediocre the last two weeks. DG continues to do the same thing, which is put up a solid line and look like shit doing it. Nevertheless, I am staying away from the run game. First, I have no idea who is going to be the RB-du-jour this week and that defensive front tells me it's going to be tough going on the ground. As such, I'm going to go with Nic Anderson. Dude is emerging as a total stud. He's big, can make contested catches (something I think is going to be critical) and can get open with his speed and athleticism. I like him for some clutch catches and a TD today.

Defense

Come on now, I can't mess around here. Stutsman. He's emerging as an All-America candidate and Butkus (RIP by the way)  award candidate. I think he announces his presence on the national stage in a big way.

Score

Whew the experts and Vegas agree, this game belongs to texas. Frankly, given our opponents, I think it is reasonable. I think there is a real possibility that DG melts down in this one. But, I also know this is the last Big 12 meeting for these rivals. I know OU is coming off a nationally broadcast dick-slap against these guys last year. All of the motivation is there, and for once, the pressure is firmly on texas as the higher ranked opponent. The atmosphere is going to be insane. Venables has them fired up to 11. Sooners sneak it out 37-35.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Iowa State

 Hello Sooners fans, today's contest pits the Sooners against the Cyclones of Iowa State. OU comes in averaging 46.5 pts and 506+ yards/game on offense. Iowa State compares at 21 pts and 308+ yards on offense. OU's numbers are clearly skewed by two huge performances against bad teams. ISU could say the same with a piss poor loss to Ohio (not Ohio State mind you, the other one) where managed only 7 pts in a 10-7 defeat. OU is coming off a road-win in a trap-game (my assessment) against Big 12 newcomer Cincinnati. I missed the majority of the game unfortunately, but from what I read and heard from those that watched, the offense left quite a few points out there. This is known scientifically as the Dylan Gabriel effect. The part I didn't see coming was the defense holding Cincy down all day. They employ a hybrid QB that is just the sort of player that was all but guaranteed a career day against OU's past teams. I think he played like absolute shit, but credit where due. I can't remember the last time OU won a game on defense against anyone, no matter how shitty they were. 

It's all sunshine for now, but similar tidings were had last year and we all know how that went. Sooner nation collective has their ear to the door waiting for that other shoe. I'm hoping it never drops, but realistically, it will at some point. Iowa State is coming off a nice win against Oklahoma State. I've watched zero minutes of ISU football this year so I don't know which of the 2-2 teams is the real one. At minimum they've proven their capable of beating a decent team. OU can't go to sleep in this one, just need to keep the pedal to the metal and keep that defense clicking.

Offense

After 3 games of correctly predicting who would be completely absent from the offense, I finally got one right last week with Andrel Anthony. I admit it was a pretty sturdy limb I was out on, but nonetheless he blew up. I'm feeling lucky with the dice today so I'm going to take a shot at an RB. I'm going to say it's Javantae Barnes who gets the call this week. It's been a different guy nearly every week who is the bell cow. It might as well be Barnes this one. 

Defense

At this point I'm afraid to not pick him. It has to be Stutsman. This guy is playing way into legendary OU linebacker status, which is no easy club to break into. He's unbelievable every week and teams have to be scheming away from him at this point. In spite of that, he's still everywhere on the field blowing up plays.

Score

OU is favored by 20 at the time of publication. That's a pretty solid line for the Sooners. But, Matt Campbell is a really good coach and since he's been at ISU the Cyclones have played OU extremely tough every time. They are coming off a big win and I'm sure the team is feeling good coming in. The home crowd will be amped, the Sooners will be ready. OU wins this one 37-24.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Cincinnati Bearcats

 Happy college football Saturday, sports fans. Our Sooners are 3-0 at the conclusion of warm-up section of the schedule. They've looked mostly very good to this point. Dillon Gabriel is playing at a consistently higher level year over year and the defense is visibly much improved.

Today shit gets real. This will be Cincinnati's first game in the Big 12. It's the first true away game for the Sooners.  The Bearcats will be fired up and ready to show they belong. Our boys are going to have to show some character today if they want to come out with a W.

OFFENSE

Reportedly the Bearcats have a pretty solid defensive line. They have 10 sacks so far this year. The Sooners offensive line has been a little spotty and they haven't nailed down personnel. Keep an eye out here. You know the Sooners will never give up on the running game, but we don't need to see Dillon Gabriel scrambling early and often as it may make him a little more accident prone. 

It makes me wonder if Jackson Arnold might get in the mix if it does happen that the Sooners line can't keep the Bearcats in check. 

Meanwhile, in the passing game, the Sooners took some shots last week which was great to see. Nic Anderson showed he can be a serious threat. He's tall and strong enough to shed defenders. 

I like Nic Anderson today as my ovenmitts.com Hot Hand player of the game. 

DEFENSE

I'm keenly interested to watch the defense today. The Bearcats QB is a dual threat transfer from Florida. It's a given that the Sooners are going to take the Bearcats best shot. There's probably going to be some breakdowns and the Sooners are going to get punched in the mouth.

Today we'll see if they've got some grit. I think the mentality is there but it's going to get tested. 

Whoever is spying the quarterback is my DPOG. I don't know if that's Danny Stutsman, Jaren Kanek, Justin Harrington or someone else. But that's the key. I'm guessing they start with Kanek. I'm not sure if Harrington is even back from injury. 

The Sooners have three guys banged up that they need back ASAP. Harrington, Dasan McCullough and Gentry Williams. Williams, especially. I'd feel much better about things if two of these three were active today.

OK so my DPOG is Kanek.

THE SCORE

This is the perfect test at the right time for the Sooners. The Bearcats are a team we should beat by more than 14 (current spread). It's the situation for the Bearcats that makes this one so much more difficult. On the road, first Big 12 game in history for a Cincy team that will want to prove they belong. 

The Sooners need to play with an edge and attitude and squash the bug. The Sooners O-line needs to ball out and the defense needs to show some toughness. 

If it works out, I like the Sooners 31, Bearcats 17.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Cincinnati

 Today marks the start of Big 12 play for the Sooners. It is also the first true road test of the season. Thus far the Sooners have played good football. Two demolitions sandwiched around a questionable effort vs a sort of decent SMU team. My optimism is mostly tempered by the memory of similar start last season. 3-0 delusions of a competent defense followed by a season ending run of cold, wet shit. Is this team different? Time will tell, but the conference opener on the road against a decent Bearcat club should give us a little bit better of an idea. 

Dylan Gabriel still looks an awful lot like Dylan Gabriel. Last week was arguably his best game as a Sooner in my opinion. He looked through his progressions at least a couple of times, which is a couple of times more than he's done otherwise this season. The accuracy issues remain and his decision making is questionable, but credit where due last week. That said, I still think he loses us games this year. Arnold is clearly the better player albeit inexperienced. The running game would be a fantasy football manager's nightmare if one dabbled in such pursuits. It's a wild card as to who will be the feature back any given week with four viable options to fill that role. Still, it's been successful thus far and I hope that continues. 

Defensively, it is the Danny Stutsman show. Better teams will scheme to take him out of such a dominant role, but so far he has been nothing short of dominant. Hopefully the front four can generate more pressure than they have, otherwise it's going to be a long day for the second against more skilled opponents.

Offense

Dylan Gabriel has playstation numbers to this point. I still have no faith in him. I'm usually not a believer in the "eyeball test". If the numbers are good, the numbers don't lie. But anyone who has followed the team can see how much he leaves out there. His deep ball is comically bad and he misses open receivers early and often. So, I can't in good conscience choose him. I will instead go with Andrel Anthony (the irony, as he depends on Gabriel).  Anthony has been incredible thus far and is clearly Gabriel's favorite target. I think he has a big day on the road in spite of the rainy conditions. 

Defense

Stutsman is just my only choice here until someone else steps up and kills it. I'm going with Danny again and I think he tears it up today.

Score

OU is favored by 14 in this one. I think that is highly optimistic. It's a road test. It's Cincy's first conference game in the Big 12, the team and fans will be amped. They have a decent offense with a QB that can run (always trouble for the Sooners). The conditions aren't optimal for a high flying attack. I think Cincy hangs around and I think this is too close for comfort. Sooners escape 31-28.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Oklahoma Sooner vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

 Greetings, Sooner fans. Our boys are 2-0 after a "little close for comfort" but spread beating win over SMU last week. SMU proved to be a worthy foe and it was nice test for the crimson and cream. This week, it's a "road game" for the Sooners as they travel up I-44 to face Tulsa. This is a road game in name only as the Sooner following in Tulsa is quite large and I'm sure many in OKC are happy to make a short little trip for this one. 

Tulsa is led by for Sooner coach Kevin Wilson and he, by all accounts, inherits a Tulsa football team whose cupboard is as bare as a Venezuelan super market. Wilson also led one of the least potent offenses of the Bob Stoops era. This one should be a blowout.

OFFENSE

Frankly, I'm a bit flummoxed by Jeff Lebby's offensive philosophy. He LOVES to run the ball and will do so, apparently, until someone wiggles the wires plugged into the back of his neck. Hey, I love running the football. It's a nice flex to be able to do it at will. But it also exists to open up the passing game. In Jeff Lebby's world this often means play action with a check down to some short slant.

Now, what I'm confused about is if this is Jeff Lebby's world view or is it what peak Dillon Gabriel looks like? It is flabbergasting how few shots down the field the Sooners try. I'm inclined to blame Dillon Gabriel but then you think back to last year and how the Sooners used Gavin Freeman. Every time he was on the field they ran a jet sweep with him and rarely, if ever, deviated from it or used it to set up something else. 

Last week, the Sooners brought in Jackson Arnold on 3rd or 4th and short. Every single time they ran Jackson Arnold. Fine, but why not use it to do something different? It never happened. It's predictable and that makes me think this is all Jeff Lebby.

Anyway, today I'd like to see some kind of evolution beyond running 19 times in a row and/or taking some shots off of play action. It would be blissful to see Dillon Gabriel go through some progression and take some chances. 

Or, here's my pet theory, continue to use Jackson Arnold but keep him in as the "hot hand" and let him run the offense for a series at a time. Maybe he'll keep Gabriel on the sidelines without straight benching him.

My OPOG today is Gavin Sawchuk. He hasn't had much of a chance to get on the field much since he's been working his way back from injury but I think today he gets some touches and makes the most of it. 

DEFENSE

These guys are playing well enough to get the job done. 11 total points through two games is stingy. Anything under 24 should be enough to win any game. This week they need to continue to find their playmakers and quit being their own worst nightmares.

SMU's best drives last week relied on the Sooners committing dumb penalties, including a sideline infraction in the middle of the damn play. You never see that and it's unconscionable. They have to clean it up today.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention how excited I am for the future of this defense. They are markedly improved across the board from last year. And they are very young. The linebackers are looking great.

Keep in mind last week that the Sooners were without Dasan McCullough (So) and they lost their starting CB Gentry Williams on the first drive. They might Penalties aside, they didn't miss a beat.

Today my DPOG is Kip Lewis. He's one of those young linebackers that is looking really good. He's super fast and had 9 tackles last week, second only to Danny Stutsman who had 17 fucking tackles. He's a machine.

SCORE

OU is a 28 point favorite and that seems about right. I don't have confidence the Sooners will cover. See above my doubts about Jeff Lebby's football intellect. He seems like he's happy to run the ball so long as the Sooners have the lead. I hope I'm wrong. I hate that kind of football. No amount of points can ever be enough if you're a Sooner fan. We just don't trust the D enough yet.

The Sooners will win comfortably, however, something like 42-17.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Tulsa

 Welcome back loyal reader(s). For the second year in a row, the Sooners started off looking like a juggernaut and followed that up by falling back to earth in disappointing fashion. So far, the Sooners have managed to stave off a bad loss, but let's be real, SMU is not a great football team. The sort of effort OU displayed last week would have them destroyed versus a better opponent. I've minced words somewhat and tried to look at the situation through the most optimistic lens I could conjure up, but the reality is Dylan Gabriel sucks. His arm is shit and he has zero ability to go through a progression. If his first option isn't there he either forces the throw anyway or tries to run. This seems like it would make a defensive game plan exceedingly easy to come up with. It's a matter of time of before Jackson Arnold takes the starting role, I only worry that it will take a couple of losses before this happens. And on that note, I truly hate the Arnold "belldozer" look that OU ran seeminly 25 times without any success last week. What a joke.

Defensively it wasn't much better. The front four has zero ability to get any pressure on the QB. Mind you this is coming against a presumably mediocre SMU offensive line. Even with the blitz they seldom "got home". Give any FBS QB unlimited time to throw and he is going to pick you apart. Fact. The middle of the defense appears to be the strongest unit with Stutsman and Kanek both looking very solid. The DBs are difficult to assess due to the aforementioned complete lack of pressure. No one can expect them to cover for 30 seconds on every snap, it just isn't possible. Suffice to say that the warts that popped up against Arkansas State became more evident last week and will only continue to do so unless major corrections are made. My fear is that the talent isn't there to make those corrections.

Offense

On the positive side of things, the skill positions appear to be pretty solid on offense. Aside from Gabriel, the WRs and RBs all seems to have capable players and plenty of depth. The TE position would be the one spot where it seems they might be a little understaffed. Stogner is solid but certainly hasn't shown to be a difference maker at this point. One of the most pleasant surprises has been Tawee Walker. The fact that he is getting reps over big time recruits says a lot. That he is clearly out playing those guys says even more. With that in mind I'm going with him to be my OPG. He is not razzle dazzle by any means, but he is solid in all facets of the offense and always seems to get positive yards when given the ball.

Defense

So far this has been the Danny Stutsman show. Dude is a menace out there. He is so high energy and always seems to be around the ball. On a medicore unit with few (if any) stars he is a definite bright spot. Until proven otherwise, he is my DPG.

Score

Tulsa does not appear to be a good football team. They got completely dismantled by #8 Washington last week. There is the in-state rivalry aspect, but let's be real that is one-sided in the sense that the Sooners don't give a shit about Tulsa. The line is -28 for OU. I expect this game to be frustrating in all of the worst ways of underperforming. Tulsa will likely play their best game of the season and OU will oblige. But Tulsa is just too undertalented to make this a close game. Sooners win 41-17. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

SMU

 What can I say about that win last week? It was pure domination from start to finish. Arkansas State is clearly not a good football team at all. Going in, the average person would have expected a rout. With that in mind, the win really means nothing. But, how many games like this has OU played in the last decade-plus and it's been an absolute nail biter? How many games did they go in as massive favorites against an overmatched team and then needed a late stop or score to barely pull out a win? Damn near every time it seems to me. I can't remember the last time an OU football team was that dominant. It was what was expected and it was still damn fun.  Also, Jackson Arnold looks like the real deal. His arm looks to be very solid and the best one on the team in my opinion, not that this is saying a ton. 

However, I did see some things that were troubling. Dylan Gabriel still has a weak arm, anything he throws more than 20 yards looks like a punt. His accuracy is, um, questionable. He is serviceable, but if/when we get to a game where we need him to carry us, I don't particularly like our chances. The defense played well, much better than they did at times last year. But ASU shot themselves in the foot multiple times with missed receivers and so many drops. They probably left at least 10-17 points out there. No, this isn't a ton, but good teams aren't going to make these mistakes and get the D off the field. Finally, there are a couple of injuries to mention. Most notably Drake Stoops left with a shoulder separation which could be a day-to-day situation or an out-multiple-weeks situation. I read he could've returned if the game wasn't a blowout, which is obviously encouraging, but it is still something to keep an eye on. Oh and Davis Beville did something to one of his extra long pipe-cleaner legs.

SMU looks to be a much tougher test and one that should show us a lot more about what this Sooners team really is. They have a very talented offense and a smart young coach that knows how to game plan. It will be a tough test for the OU D to be sure. I am nervous, but that is pretty much every game. But truthfully I have no real idea of what to expect from OU on either side of the ball. They looked capable, but against what? This will be an interesting game for sure.

Offense

Gabriel looked solid last week in spite of his arm talent issues. He hit the right guys in situations and more or less hit open guys. I will take this result every week. The RBs looked very good, and only stand to improve when Gavin Sawchuck is healthy. At this point it appears to be a committee back there and no one really stood out as weak. I'm still on the Javonte Barnes train and he did get the most carries. I really nailed my Jalil Farooq pick. I think he was the only skill player to not touch the ball and only had two targets. I know my shit. This week I am going with another WR Jaquaize Pettaway. He was a highly touted recruit and he had a massive week 1. This will change as teams look for him, but I still think he continues to emerge as our top target and has a big week.

Defense

All around this was a very good effort last week. There seemed to be a lot of guys rotating through at all three levels and (admittedly against a very poor team) they pretty much maintained the same level of play. There were a few dumb penalties that need to be cleaned up but I liked the aggression that they stemmed from. This week I'm going to go with all-world recruit Peyton Bowen. He made some nice plays last week as he was eased into the scheme. I think he only continues to get better as the season progresses and I think he makes a big play this week.

Score

The season long shutout is coming to an end I'm afraid. SMU moves the ball well and they have talent at the skill positions. My hope is that our defensive front can control their O-line and apply pressure while shutting down the run game. If they can stand back all day and pick us apart it will be bad times indeed. The spread is OU -16 currently. I don't think OU quite covers against a good offensive team. But our beloved Sooners do enough to get the W 37-24. Let's keep this rolling.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner

SMU Mustangs vs. Oklahoma Sooners

 Happy Saturday, Sooner fans. The mood about town this week has been one of extreme measured cautious optimism. It's borderline paranoia. Yes, the Sooners pitched a shutout, not easy to do. Yes, they put up 70 plus, also not easy to do. But there is some real PTSD from last year and for good reason.

Here's what we do know, though. The defense is better across the board. Their collective understanding of the defense seems to be better and they are definitely faster. The offense took care of business. Dillon Gabriel played great and Jackson Arnold has us looking forward. My favorite Arnold play was a swing pass that was so well placed it made the first move for the receiver, forward and away from the defender. It was a simple play, but it was cool to see the awareness.

Also, it cannot be overstated how often Arkansas State stepped on their own dicks. They fucked it up every time they needed a play or had a chance to make one. They are a bad team.

Thus, today marks a better test for the crimson and cream. I don't know shit about SMU but I'd bet my ass that they have a better quarterback and at least one skill player who can do damage. I hope their defense is better. SMU seems like they'd have some decent defensive lineman. That's pure speculation.

OFFENSE

As mentioned, I hope the SMU defense is decent. Dillon Gabriel can use all the work he can get to gel with the new receivers. I liked what I saw last week from Andrel Anthony and Jaquaize Pettaway. Those guys will need to step up if Drake Stoops can't go this week. Jayden Gibson and Gavin Freeman both looked great too. 

Today look for more of the running back by committee and a little more quarterback run game. I think I'll go with Jaden Gibson for OPOG. He came in a couple years ago with high expectations and he's struggled a bit. Maybe getting off to a good start is a boost for him. He's easily the biggest receiver the Sooners have and, at 6'5", it would be baller for him if he could become a frequent target. 

DEFENSE

Build, build, build. This group looked great last week. They did a good job of playing hard for 60 minutes. They looked fast and their tackling was pretty solid. They had a couple breakdowns that AS couldn't capitalize on and the Sooners didn't get a sack.

I definitely hope to see some more QB pressures and/or sacks. I'd like to think the Sooners played conservative but I'm not falling for that shit. 

I'll go Danny Stutsman for my DPOG. Obviously he's good, but I like his ability to take ownership of this defense and being a true captain on the field. It'll be huge for this defense.

THE SCORE

I like the Sooners to beat the spread (currently -16.0). Even if the SMU offense can score a little bit and even if the Sooners don't score every time they touch the ball, the Sooners, at home, are three scores better than the Mustangs.

I like the Sooners 35-14.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners vs. Arkansas State

 YESSS

That's the sound I made when I saw that Natey had a draft put together to start the 2023 campaign. That's right, Sooner fans, we're back!

The buzz hasn't been this low surrounding a Sooners football team in quite some time. But we're not quitters and neither are they.

Let's get "fucking hyped" as the youth say. Lots to look forward to today. Let's dispense with the pleasantries. This is a warm-up game. The Sooners will win 56-3 behind a workmanlike effort from the defense and a false chub game from Dillon Gabriel.

What do we have to look forward to for the season, though?

MAJOR DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT

I know. I get it. When you are ranked 122nd in total defense there is nowhere to go but up. But the Sooners have massively upgraded the talent. This dude Dasan McCullough from Indiana is legit. They got Trace Ford, Jacob Lacey and Jonah Laulu are going to beef up the front. Peyton Bowen is the real deal at Safety. 

Then you have reliable returning players like Danny Stutsman, Jaren Kanek (who may not play much) and Billy Bowman

I'm telling you, that defense is on the way up.

DEPTH AT QUARTERBACK

If Dillon Gabriel goes down or is, God forbid, woefully ineffective, Jackson Arnold is a massive upgrade over Davis Beville. 

Anyhow, that's all I know for now.

OFFENSE

Let's go Dillon Gabriel. The rest is up for grabs.

DEFENSE

I know I just jumped on some Dasan McCullough tip but he's not even getting the start. That goes to a guy named Justin Harrington.

If he's good enough to start and be a captain, he's my game 1 DPOG.

THE SCORE

It's a workmanlike effort that no one will let themselves get too excited about. 

Sooners 56, whatever Arkansas State is called, 3.

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

LETS GO!

Arkansas State

 At last, after another long offseason, we are on the precipice of another Sooners football campaign. I needn't remind anyone that last year was, by OU (and most others) standards, a shitshow. The first losing season since my collegiate years and the pre-Bob Stoops era. Dark times indeed. Brent Venables, formerly exiled Defensive Coordinator and returned savior come home to make good, looked far more like the coach that fans chased out of Norman so many years ago. The defense he was supposed to come in and revitalize was garbage, and certainly not appreciably better/different than the loose diarrhea we've been spewing out for the last, oh, decade or so. But this year he has his own recruits, and if the national pundits are to be believed, a great class of them. 

The secondary was trash last year, the defensive front--also trash, the linebackers were actually serviceable and return the likes of one Danny Stutsman who led the Big 12 in tackles last year. Several transfers up front promise to tighten up the pass rush and run D, which should in turn help the sieve of a secondary that boasts all-world recruit Peyton Bowen. Brent will have to have them tuned up on this side of the ball if he wants to cool off his lightly warmed coaching seat. 

On the offensive side of the ball, our Sooners return Dylan Gabriel, aka the least accurate passer in football. Behind him of course is all-world recruit Jackson Arnold. Gabriel is one of those players where, if you look purely at his numbers without ever watching a game, looks pretty solid. But the reality is that he misses more open (I'm talking no one within 10 yards of them open) than any Sooners QB in recent memory. It is maddening. Clearly they were much better last year with him than without, but that speaks more to the absolute absence of any sort of talent behind him. Now there is, presumably, someone good backing him up so it will be all the more frustrating if/when he does this shit again. On a different note, I think my biggest surprise on offense is that Javantae Barnes is third and Gavin Sawchuck fourth, on the depth chart behind Marcus Major and Tawee Walker. The two former clearly outplayed the two latter last year, so this was a surprise to me. This will be interesting to see how it plays out. 

It's a new season and there will be a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball. As always, my biggest concern is defense and play up front on both sides. I'm skeptical, but brimming with dawn-of-season optimism that Venables has them ready. Let's do this.

Offense

Now that Marvin Mims has gone on, the WR corps will be a different bunch. Losing someone that good is always tough. The aforementioned question marks at RB have me skeptical of picking one of those guys simply because I don't know who is going to get the reps there. And even though it is likely that Gabriel ends up putting up the numbers I'm going to start the season off with Jalil Farooq. I think he steps up and his trust from Gabriel lets him lead the offense.

Defense

There are so many question marks over here that it is really difficult to pick. The secondary has some new faces, and some returning ones that I hope have improved (looking at you Woodi Washington). But, unlike on offense, I'm not going to overthink it here. I'm going with Danny Stutsman. I think he comes out with his hair on fire and lights some guys up with a big day, including a sack.

Score

As of this morning when I'm finishing this up, the line is OU minus 36. I think that is generous given the defensive struggles and question marks on both sides of the ball. Arkansas State (coached by Butch Jones?!...who knew?) was only 3-9 last season. A weak program coming off a bad season? Sounds like a lock for cover city. But I'm scarred from last years general ineptitude and think OU has some early struggles. Sooners win, but fail to cover 38-14.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner