The Oklahoma Sooners enter the 2024 season with a lot of talent, but questions remain. There are still more than six weeks to see what the offensive line will look like and only when this team faces Tennessee in its SEC opener will we have an idea of what this team is capable of in 2024.
The data supports a strong season for the Oklahoma Sooners. OU is ranked 8th in the ESPN Football Power Index and 15th in the SP+ rankings. But where they land at the end of the season will be determined in large part by how they manage the schedule.
Not every SEC team plays elite teams week in and week out, no matter what SEC fans want to tell you, but after a slight conference absence, Oklahoma almost does just that. Of their eight SEC opponents, six are projected at 16th or better in SP+, and the worst of the bunch is 43rd-ranked South Carolina. SP+ projects the Sooners as one of the 15 best teams in America… and gives them just 7 % chance of doing 10-2 or better. The average top-five team could expect a winning percentage of just .796 (about 9.5 wins) against this list. Difficult things. – Bill Connelly, ESPN
The schedule is difficult. But few people expected the Sooners to get an “easy” spot in the SEC. And that is the goal of change. To have more notable clashes throughout the season.
With disputes against Texas, AlabamaOld miss, LSU, Tennessee, and Missouri, the Sooners face six of the best teams in the country. Take a trip to Auburn and the challenge is significant.
Still, if Oklahoma can go 5-2 or maybe even 4-3 against these seven teams, they will be in a strong position to make the playoffs. While three losses could put the Sooners out of the playoffs, there is a chance that due to the strength of the schedule, Oklahoma could make the 12-team field even if they have three losses. Simply because of the strength of the teams the Sooners will face. If one college football analyst is to be believed, as many as five SEC teams could make the College Football Playoff in 2024.
The Sooners are a talented team, which is why they are ranked 15th nationally on ESPN’s SP+. Their experienced defensive unit, especially the defense, could be one of the best in the country.
The Sooners may not be favored in every game in 2024, a unique position to be in after running the Big 12 for 25 years. However, they have a roster that will be able to compete with every team on their schedule. And while many SEC fans don’t want to acknowledge it, Oklahoma’s 2024 ceiling includes a trip to the SEC championship game.
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