It is not an overstatement that the 2024 college football season is a pivotal year for the sport and certainly for the Oklahoma program.
Entering into the lion’s den that is labeled the SEC, the Sooners have their hands full, especially considering they bring a new quarterback and inexperience at the offensive line.
And, the shape of the football landscape has changed in addition to this development. The Big 10 now has a more national appearance, grabbing Oregon and usually significant USC to their ranks, and the Big 12 has gobbled up the mountain time zone schools of Utah, Arizona and Colorado.
But for Oklahoma, it will be a one-week-at-a-time fight, with few easy weekends between the beginning game against Temple on Friday night, August 30 (6 pm ESPN), until the playoff committee in December announces the 12 teams (yes, that’s new too) to make the post season.
So, what should we expect from our Sooners this year? Here is my game by game prognostication:
Temple in Norman. August 30 (6 pm ESPN). The highlight of this game will be the Pride of Oklahoma pre-game show. Prediction: Oklahoma by 30.
Houston in Norman. September 7 (6:45 pm SECN). The Cougs will score some points early, but then the Oklahoma defense settles down and controls the day. Prediction: Oklahoma by 21.
Tulane in Norman. September 14 (2:30 pm ESPN/ESPN2). This will be the Sooners stub their toe game, as everyone looks ahead to the following week, but their defensive strength will carry the day. Prediction: Oklahoma wins by 10.
Tennessee in Norman. September 21. (TBA)/ The premier game for the Sooners entering the SEC. Josh Heupel comes back, this time wearing orange. These teams are very evenly matched. This could be a breakout game for Jackson Arnold. If so, it’s a turning point (for the worst) for Tennessee. If not, then it’s a big sour puss blow to Oklahoma, who will be struggling to get their head above the water the rest of the season. Prediction: Oklahoma wins by 10.
Auburn at Auburn. September 28. Ignore what anyone says. Auburn is not a good football team. This is a proud program, but they won’t finish in the top half of the SEC and will at season’s end be doing the coaching rotation. Again. Prediction: Oklahoma by 14.
Texas in Dallas. October 12.If Steve Sarkisian hadn’t pulled last year out, he would be on the hot seat this year, especially after losing in the last 30 seconds to the Sooners in the ‘23 Red River Rivalry. The Longhorns went from being the most hyped Big 12 team to the most hyped SEC team, which is a perfect recipe for another Sooners win in Dallas. Prediction: Oklahoma by 7.
South Carolina in Norman. October 19. Coach Shane Beamer is a terrific coach and loved his tenure under Lincoln Riley in Norman. He knows the Sooners in and out and fully understands the tradition of the program. He will recognize the superior talent Oklahoma has on defense and the potential Jackson Arnold has at QB. In other words, Beamer knows he’s likely losing to Oklahoma. Prediction: Oklahoma wins by 17.
Mississippi at Oxford. October 26. (11 am). Lane Kiffin is a goofball, but he’s a good coach and the Rebels have amassed talent equal to previous Alabama and Georgia teams. He knows if he can’t beat a young OU team in this game on his home turf, then Ol’ Miss might has well quit pretending they are contenders for the conference championship. Because there is so much more on the line for Ol’ Miss, you have to favor them. Prediction: Mississippi by 1. (In a barn burner game).
Maine in Norman. November 2 (1:30 pm ESPN+). Seriously? Prediction: Oklahoma by 42.
Missouri in Columbia. November 9. This is going to pain so many oldtime OU fans who look down on the ol’ Big 8 foe as being a lesser opponent. Oklahoma leads the series 67-24-5 and last embarrassed them 62-21 in the 2008 Big 12 championship. But remember that it took Joe Washington’s “Sooner Magic” fourth down 71-yard TD and subsequent 2-point conversion to save the road game (and ultimately the Sooners’ national championship) in 1975? This is that kind of Missouri team.And Oklahoma doesn’t have Little Joe. Prediction: The Tigers to win by 7.
Alabama in Norman. November 23. If this game had been scheduled early in the season the Sooners might have been a favorite. But this late in the year is when team depth comes into play. Unexpected injuries will have occurred. And new coach or not, and certainly the Tide isn’t the same powerhouse they’ve been, but Alabama has the talent depth to make them the SEC rock of November. Prediction: Crimson Tide wins by 14.
LSU at Baton Rouge. November 30. Anyone who was in New Orleans for the national championship game in 2003 knows how nuts the LSU fans get with their cheap hooch and inbred DNA. Death Valley in Baton Rouge at this night game after Thanksgiving will have the stench of swamp water and bad beer. At this point the Sooners will be limping to the end of the season, the program having grown and survived their first SEC season. But, the prediction: LSU win by 20.
Final record: 8-4. (4-4 in conference). The losses to Mississippi, Alabama and LSU will keep the Sooners from the 12 team playoffs.
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