By Connor O'Gara
Boomer. Sooner. Get used to it, SEC fans. You're going to hear it a lot, and perhaps as early as 2022.
Despite what some might think, Oklahoma is far more than a Texas-hatin', horns down-throwin', wagon-lovin', Toby Keith-supportin', Heisman quarterback producin' university. It's been one of the best programs in America in the 21st century. It owns 6 consecutive Big 12 titles, and only Alabama and Clemson have more Playoff appearances than the Sooners.
The lack of Playoff success shouldn't totally overshadow the ridiculous run of quarterbacks
I get it. In this era, if you don't at least get to a national championship, it's held against you. That's especially true if you're a decorated quarterback.
But my goodness, man. Some of this stuff is absurd:
(I know, I know. It wasn't the same Florida team you had throughout 2020, Dan Mullen.)
Don't cross your fingers that Lincoln Riley is leaving for the Cowboys, either
It's just not worth your time to assume Riley is leaving for the Cowboys, despite what future Skip Bayless will yell at you. Instead, assume you'll see a lot of the 37-year-old head coach who happens to be roughly half the age of Nick Saban.
On one hand, there are plenty of SEC fans who probably aren't worried about the idea of Riley joining the league. After all, those 3 consecutive Playoff losses to 3 different SEC programs are still fresh in all of our minds.
Oklahoma finally feels like it has a defense that can hang
That's not just based on the Cotton Bowl. It's based on Alex Grinch, who is proving to be one of the top rising defensive minds in the sport. After that shootout win in the Red River Rivalry, Grinch's defense surrendered an average of 16 points in its final 7 games. Oklahoma finished with a top-30 defense for the first time since 2015. Shoot, that was Oklahoma's first top-60 defense since 2015. Nik Bonitto might lead an even better group this year, even after the departure of Ronnie Perkins.
The recruiting breakdown
Here's what the classes ranked nationally in the past decade:
Oklahoma will enter the SEC with a national recruiting profile. Williams was from DC. Rattler was from Arizona. In those past 3 classes, only 2 signees in each class were from Oklahoma. Texas is where Riley does his damage. When Oklahoma signed that No. 6 class in 2019, 10 of the 24 signees were from the Lone Star State. In 2020, that number was just over half (52%).
That wagon is comin' to the SEC, too
Sooner Schooner gets the people going in a way that SEC fans will appreciate. Yes, it's a wagon with a couple of fired up ponies pulling it.
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sports/sec-fans-heres-primer-current-state-oklahoma-football-2021/
Boomer. Sooner. Get used to it, SEC fans. You're going to hear it a lot, and perhaps as early as 2022.
Despite what some might think, Oklahoma is far more than a Texas-hatin', horns down-throwin', wagon-lovin', Toby Keith-supportin', Heisman quarterback producin' university. It's been one of the best programs in America in the 21st century. It owns 6 consecutive Big 12 titles, and only Alabama and Clemson have more Playoff appearances than the Sooners.
The lack of Playoff success shouldn't totally overshadow the ridiculous run of quarterbacks
I get it. In this era, if you don't at least get to a national championship, it's held against you. That's especially true if you're a decorated quarterback.
But my goodness, man. Some of this stuff is absurd:
- 4 consecutive years (2016-19) with a QB who averaged > 11.0 yards per attempt
- 5 consecutive years (2015-19) with a QB who finished top-4 in Heisman voting
- 3 consecutive years (2017-19) with a Heisman winner or runner-up
- 6 consecutive years (2015-20) with a QB with quarterback rating > 170.0
- 5-year stretch (2015-19) in which QBs averaged 49 total touchdowns per season
- 3 consecutive years (2018-20) with a QB drafted in first 2 rounds
(I know, I know. It wasn't the same Florida team you had throughout 2020, Dan Mullen.)
Don't cross your fingers that Lincoln Riley is leaving for the Cowboys, either
It's just not worth your time to assume Riley is leaving for the Cowboys, despite what future Skip Bayless will yell at you. Instead, assume you'll see a lot of the 37-year-old head coach who happens to be roughly half the age of Nick Saban.
On one hand, there are plenty of SEC fans who probably aren't worried about the idea of Riley joining the league. After all, those 3 consecutive Playoff losses to 3 different SEC programs are still fresh in all of our minds.
Oklahoma finally feels like it has a defense that can hang
That's not just based on the Cotton Bowl. It's based on Alex Grinch, who is proving to be one of the top rising defensive minds in the sport. After that shootout win in the Red River Rivalry, Grinch's defense surrendered an average of 16 points in its final 7 games. Oklahoma finished with a top-30 defense for the first time since 2015. Shoot, that was Oklahoma's first top-60 defense since 2015. Nik Bonitto might lead an even better group this year, even after the departure of Ronnie Perkins.
The recruiting breakdown
Here's what the classes ranked nationally in the past decade:
- 2012 No. 12
- 2013 No. 16
- 2014 No. 14
- 2015 No. 15
- 2016 No. 19
- 2017 No. 8
- 2018 No. 9
- 2019 No. 6
- 2020 No. 12
- 2021 No. 10
Oklahoma will enter the SEC with a national recruiting profile. Williams was from DC. Rattler was from Arizona. In those past 3 classes, only 2 signees in each class were from Oklahoma. Texas is where Riley does his damage. When Oklahoma signed that No. 6 class in 2019, 10 of the 24 signees were from the Lone Star State. In 2020, that number was just over half (52%).
That wagon is comin' to the SEC, too
Sooner Schooner gets the people going in a way that SEC fans will appreciate. Yes, it's a wagon with a couple of fired up ponies pulling it.
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sports/sec-fans-heres-primer-current-state-oklahoma-football-2021/