The Oklahoma Sooners are just over two weeks away from starting the 2024 college football season. The US LBM Coaches Poll has been released and the AP Top 25 was released on Monday. In both, the Sooners were named the 16th team in the country and eighth among SEC teams.
While human voters may have had the Sooners in eighth, computers like Oklahoma are a little better. They are in 8th place ESPN Football Power Index and placed 13th overall and seventh in the SEC in the final ESPN SP+ Ratings Ahead of 2024 Season.
Here’s a look at how the SEC stacks up in the final SP+ rankings.
In comparison, the Oklahoma Sooners defense is more supportive than the offense. OU’s defense appears as the fourth-best unit in the SEC, according to SP+ ratings. Offensively, however, the Sooners are considered the ninth best offense in the conference.
It is reasonable to expect more from the defense. There’s a lot more experience and proven production on that unit led by Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman, Ethan Downs, Woodi Washington and transfer defensive tackle Damonic Williams.
The offense has talent, but other than guys like Gavin Sawchuk, Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony and their transfers on the offensive line, there isn’t much experience or production. Much of that production came last season.
With former five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold taking over, there is a lot of potential for the offense. He has a big arm and fantastic athleticism. He has a lot to prove, but he has the talent to be among the best in college football.
Besides Arnold, the Sooners have a lot to prove on special teams. SP+ rankings have the Sooners as the worst team in the SEC on special teams entering the season. The only point that seems solidified is the punting duties with Luke Elzinga. Elzinga was the best part of Oklahoma’s special teams unit in 2023. OU’s kicking situation is shaky and they need to get more out of the return game this season if they want to be a contender.
Oklahoma decided to bring in Doug Deakin, who led some of the best special teams units in the country during his time at San Diego State. If he can work the same magic in Norman, it will go a long way toward helping the Sooners become a contender in 2024.
OU will have to be good in all three phases of the game to navigate its schedule and make a run for a spot in the College Football Playoff this season. Given the strength of the SEC and that OU will play five teams ranked higher than them in the SP+ ratings, there is no room to be average or bad at any stage of the game.
Contact us/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to keep up with ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma’s defense is one of the best in the SEC heading into 2024
