OU football: Athlon picks Sooners to win Big 12 South
Season similar to 2008 seen Magazine tabs Gators No. 1, predicts OU-Florida rematch for national championship

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Published: June 29, 2009

The newsstands are brewing up some college football buzz, with the preseason magazines rolling out with picks and predictions and prospects for 2009.

At Athlon, a long-tenured and trusted publication, the braintrust believes 2009 will look a lot like 2008, calling for a Florida-Oklahoma rematch in the BCS title game.

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Mitchell Light, the magazine’s managing editor, weighs in with his thoughts on several things Sooner.

→I know you guys hash out your Top 25 and other items in an extended and often intense conference room debate. How did Oklahoma go over when it came to pegging No. 1?

"Our No. 1 pick, Florida, was easy. It took us about five seconds to pull the chord. I’ve been at Athlon for eight years and our pick for Big 12 South No. 1, which was going to be our No. 2 in the nation, was probably the most heated debate we’ve had.

"We get in our conference room, we order pizza and do all that stuff. Sometimes, we can sort these things out in a few minutes — strengths, weaknesses, schedule — but we really spent a long time on this OU-Texas thing. We had some strong-willed people. Some of us liked Oklahoma. Some of them liked Texas. We battled it out and in the end, Oklahoma got the nod. But obviously, we think these two teams are pretty close, with Oklahoma No. 2 in the nation and Texas No. 3 in the nation. Both teams have a few points of concern, but for the most part, there’s a lot to like about both these teams.”

→What was it that pushed Oklahoma ahead of the Longhorns in the end?

"For me, it was the defense and the running game. Just love the depth at tailback. I wasn’t as concerned about the offensive line as some people are, or were in our meeting. When you’re looking to poke a hole in Oklahoma, that’s where you start with one starter coming back. Texas has other concerns.

"I was able to look past it, not giving them the benefit of the doubt, per se, but just that it’s Oklahoma. They’re going to have quality guys at those spots. Now, they need to jell and they need to step up, but if Ryan Reynolds can come back, the linebacking corps will be good, the defensive line will be fantastic and they have good cornerbacks. Pretty much across the board, just love Oklahoma’s talent.”

→Other than the offensive line, what else do you see as a major concern for the Sooners?

"Mainly, the kicking game. We look at everything. When you’re battling for a national title and you’re trying to sort out the Big 12 South title, it can come down to a 42-yard field goal under pressure. If you’ve got a freshman kicker, which Oklahoma may, that’s not a great thing. So that’s a potential problem. But then sometimes, kickers come in and you may not have heard of them and they’re automatic for four years.”

→What is it that strikes you the most about what Oklahoma has going so well right now?

"Reloading. I know that sounds pretty basic, but the depth they have every year at the skill positions. I wouldn’t say it’s USC-like as far as recruiting all those All-Americans at the running back position, but it’s similar to that. The fact that with (Chris) Brown and DeMarco Murray, they’ve got a guy like (Mossis) Madu who they’re going to play in the slot at receiver because they’re two-deep in the backfield, that’s the kind of depth they’ve had. And something else that separates Oklahoma under Bob Stoops is their ability to recruit defensive linemen.”

→How do you see the Heisman race?

"We’ve got (Tim) Tebow. We rank them in the magazine, the Big 3 at quarterback (Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy). I would take the field over Tebow, but Tebow’s my pick there. Nothing against Sam Bradford. It’s difficult to repeat, for various reasons. But I think you could see the same top three sitting in New York this year.”

→Did Tebow kind of edge back in front — for now — with his performance in the BCS title game?

"I think so. I’ve been a huge Tebow guy all along. I don’t have a vote, but I would have probably voted for Tebow last year, although all three guys were phenomenal. The way he played in the championship game, and the offseason pub, which we’re responsible for as much as anyone. If Tebow could be hyped any more, he’s off the charts this offseason.”

→Did OU mend its big-game image somewhat, even though it lost that game against Florida?

"You’re talking to the wrong guy here. I’m on a lot of radio shows around the country and everyone’s talking about how Bob Stoops can’t win the big game. I’m always defending Bob Stoops, saying, ‘Are you kidding me? He wins big games during the regular season to get to those big games.’ I just think last year, they ran into a Florida team that at that point in the year, was playing as well at that stage of the year as anyone we’ve seen in the past decade.”