Football world over reacts to Week 1
After one week of college football, there are some “truths”, according to TV and on-line pundits, who have nothing better to do than over react:
— Someone wearing a Colorado Buffs jersey will win the heisman trophy.
— Clemson’s football team is trash.
— The reason Oklahoma’s football team isn’t better is because they didn’t sack the Arkansas State quarterback.
Let’s deal with Prime Time first.
Colorado made great use of the transfer portal during the off season to stock up on talent wanted to play for a flashy Deione Sanders, who took every opportunity to get himself in the headlines.
Sanders made sure in the pre-season that his presence as the new “shiny object” of college football was dangled to distract what was going behind the scenes — namely, a good collection of talent (including his QB son Shedeur) and a good collection of coaching.
So, while it shouldn’t have been surprised that CU defeated a TCU team that is but a shell of its 2022 self, it was.
Sanders does have on his roster Travis Hunter, who played both ways against TCU. Maybe this old school approach is the difference between winning a Heisman and just being invited to the ceremony in New York.
Clemson season isn’t over yet
That Duke 28-7 upset of Clemson was what happens when a team has a talented quarterback. And the opponent is finding theirs.
Dabo Sweeney didn’t become an awful coach over night. But sports talk this week was replete with complaints that he’s a dinosaur who refuses to make use of the transfer portal.
True, Sweeney likes his players “home grown”, allowing his program to develop talent from the freshmen up. He doesn’t like transfers. But, let’s let another three or four games get under our belts before announcing the death of Clemson Tiger football.
Something tells me Clemson will be vying for the ACC championship; although Florida State looks like the front runner there.
Improvement at OU still uncertain
So, is Oklahoma back?
We’ve made fun of Texas annually declaring its return to football elitism. Each year the Longhorns prove themselves to be the biggest underachievers in football. But maybe this year Texas might show everyone it can win consistently (starting Saturday on the road against Alabama).
But, wait. Who cares about that? The question is: is Oklahoma back from its dismal losing season in 2022?
The 73-0 shutout of Arkansas State last weekend was impressive. Especially the ZERO on the scoreboard for the red wolves.
Sooners pass rush was unable to sack the Arkansas State quarterback. (Audrey Quan/OU Daily)
Defensive improvement is what is needed in Norman. The play against Arkansas State showed us the defense is improved. The team looked faster and more aggressive than it has looked in a long time (maybe since before Lincoln Riley took the head coaching job in 2017).
But, all we truly know is that Oklahoma did what they were supposed to do. It beat a weaker opponent convincingly. That’s all we know.
This week Oklahoma hosts SMU, fresh on the Mustangs’ announcement they will be joining the Atlantic Coast Conference. Yes, of course, when we think of the Dallas university, we immediately think of crabcakes and coastal dunes. Don’t you?
The Mustangs defeated Louisiana Tech 38-14 in week one. QB Preston Stone had a good day, with a 78 QBR rating. The test for the Sooners will be when SMU has the ball.
Last week’s inability of the Sooners to get a sack on an Arkansas State quarterback is overblown. Much of that had to do with ASU’s hurry-to-throw offense. They got a shut out, for goodness sake. But, pressure on the quarterback is an area of needed improvement. Sure.
What margin of victory does Oklahoma need over this week’s opponent, SMU, for us all to believe Oklahoma is back?
Well, if the defense holds a challenging SMU offense to under 20 points, that’s a good day.
The offense just needs to play without mistakes. Aggressive on the offensive line. Solid at quarterback (like last weekend).
The Sooners are favored by 15 1/2. My prediction: An Oklahoma win, 31-17.
Kickoff: 5 pm Saturday, Owen Field.
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