OU Insider: Football schedule supplies some Saturday surprises
Seven teams could pose potential problems for Sooners
JOHN HELSLEY
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Published: July 27, 2009
Unlike a year ago, when the Sooner schedule offered few anticipated challenges, the point has been made that this season’s sked serves up as many as seven potentially sticky Saturdays.
BYU quarterback Max Hall leads the Cougars against the Sooners on Sept. 5. AP photo
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Key word: potentially.
For as much as a justifiable July case can be made for those seven opponents – BYU,
Miami,
Texas,
Kansas, Nebraska,
Texas Tech and Oklahoma State – each faces major preseason issues.
And while, yes, OU has issues, too (the offensive line, wide receiver replacements, new safeties), the fact is the
Sooners would stand as double-digit favorites over at least five of those foes today. And they’d likely be favored over the other two, Texas and OSU, too.
So with conference media days rolling out across the land and preseason practices near, consider the serious story lines that will frame the season’s Saturdays.
Sept. 5: BYU (Arlington, Texas). The
Cougars have a stud quarterback in
Max Hall (3,957 yards and 35 TDS passing in ’08) and eight starters back on defense. Like OU, they’re rebuilding on the offensive line and searching for reliable receivers. But enough of the comparisons. The Sooners are faster, deeper and, well, better.
Oct. 4: at Miami. The ’Canes are hardly void of talent, but it’s largely unproven or unrealized. And while this would figure to be a much-anticipated matchup for The U, it might just be the hammer on a brutal opening stretch that sees Miami play at
Florida State, home against
Georgia Tech and at
Virginia Tech.
Oct. 17: Texas (Dallas). Along with all the normal agitation and emotion running wild in the
Cotton Bowl, the Longhorns will carry in so much added baggage over being undone by the
Big 12 tiebreaker. Healthy or unhealthy? Who knows? For all the ‘Horns have going for them —
Colt McCoy and a stiff defense — are they good enough at running back or receiver to be considered a champion by someone other than themselves?
Oct. 24: at Kansas. The Texas Hangover hasn’t been an issue for
Bob Stoops’ teams. Still, the blood has perhaps never been badder than it will be in this Red River Rivalry. And KU is good, good enough to win the North. And the game’s in
Lawrence. The Jayhawks, however, weren’t very good against the pass (No. 114 among 119 schools in ’09) and have seen their strength – linebacker – become a major weakness.
Nov. 7: at Nebraska. The
Cornhuskers are drawing much love this preseason. Athlon picked them at No. 16 nationally and the Big 12 media poll pegged them at No. 1 in the North. Sorry, not buying. Not yet. There’s no clear quarterback choice and just four returning starters on offense. The defense boasts a star in nose tackle
Ndamukong Suh, yet ranked 80th in scoring defense a year ago.
Nov. 21: at Texas Tech. Lubbock has been the scene of some OU nightmares in recent years. And by this stage of the season, the new-look
Red Raiders could be rolling. But can
Mike Leach, again, really use "the system” to spin rebuild into reload? Gone are
Michael Crabtree and
Graham Harrell and three veteran offensive linemen.
Nov. 28: Oklahoma State. The
Cowboys may come with the best offense the Sooners have faced. But what about the defense? Since reenergizing this series with its 16-13 upset in
Norman in 2001, OSU hasn’t come close with better teams on Owen Field.
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This decade, OU is 55-2 at home or 96.5% and 47-17 "away" (includes neutral sites) or 73.4%.
For comparison, the boys from Other State University at Placid Lake are 37-20 at home or 64.9% and 21-32 "away" or 39.6%.
That's weak, Jo. Not as weak as your post. But, still weak.
Sooners will be an underdog or even with Texas, depending on how it goes against BYU and
Miami. You can't count the Tater Tots, they are barely a Div. 2. OU is always weak on the
road, and the Cotton Bowl and the Jerry Dome are road games. Look at their road record
the last 6 seasons Colo., Texas, OSU, UCLA, etc. You can't whip a dog in his own yard, but when
that dog goes to another yard, it's subject to a good "butt" whippin. I,m still not sure if
this article wasn't written by the left wing national media with a typical bias overtone
towards Stoops and OU, like is given towards Hussein. Maybe the press has been watching
old Switzer teams, and getting them confused with Bob's teams. Everybody knows that
OU could have 20 defensive starters back from the previous season and still be average
to below average on that side of the ball. Everybody knows special teams are weak, Stupid
penalities, poor tackling. The Mormans see it and are ringing there hands with anticipation.
Texas sees it and the same. Pellini sees it and the same.