Early look: What to like about No. 6 Oklahoma in 2017
Each week, USA TODAY Sports will give a more detailed look at the teams listed on our early top 25 for the 2017 college football season.
Up next: No. 6 Oklahoma. The class of the Big 12 Conference has the tools needed to contend for the national championship. But the Sooners have very little room for error, giving nearly every game do-or-die stakes in the chase for the College Football Playoff.
Why No. 6?
1. The scheme. That Lincoln Riley remains Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator means the offense shouldn’t miss a beat. Just consider the numbers: OU has averaged 43.5 and 43.9 points per game in Riley’s two seasons with the program, and last fall upped its per-play average from 6.8 yards in 2015 to 7.5 a year ago — a substantial increase on an already impressive total. While the backfield and receiver corps will demand an offseason overhaul, there’s little reason to expect any decline from the offense in 2017. In fact, it’s probably safe to predict some improvement, if not quite matching the offense’s leap in Riley’s second season.
2. Playmakers. Game-changing talent abounds. At quarterback, obviously. At outside linebacker, where Caleb Kelly and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo make an all-conference pair. At cornerback. Even at running back and wide receiver, where new faces replace NFL-bound starters, the Sooners can tout a rotation as deep and gifted — if not more so — than any in the Big 12. The only question: Can Bob Stoops and OU get this group into a groove in time for its trip to Ohio State?
3. Baker Mayfield. What’s left to prove? Not much, statistically speaking. Given the attention paid to Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and others, it’s possible that his superb 2016 season was overlooked. Don’t forget: Mayfield tossed 40 touchdowns and averaged 11.1 yards per attempt last fall in setting the Football Bowl Subdivision record with a 196.4 quarterback-efficiency rating. So why is he back for a final season? To boost his NFL stock, for one. But the primary reason may be that Mayfield has one thing left to achieve — a national title.
Why not higher?
1. Inexperience on defense. This doesn’t extend to the entire defense: OU is in great shape in the secondary, for example, where the cornerback tandem of Jordan Thomas and Jordan Parker is likely the best in the Big 12. The concerns are felt almost solely along the front seven, where the Sooners will be reliant on players without ample experience. This is clear at tackle, where the lack of proven options could lead to a few growing pains as the defense transition to a four-lineman set as its base formation.
2. The backfield. Between Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, the Sooners must replace a combined 2,334 yards rushing, 3,497 yards of total offense and 28 touchdowns. That’s quite a bit. So this position, as well as a Dede Westbrook-less receiver group, stands as the Sooners’ greatest personnel issue heading into the summer. Is it really that bad? It will be fine. But there is a clear shift in not only experience but explosiveness and reliability from the backfield.
What to like about the preseason top 25 college football teams
10 college football coaches on the hot seat entering the 2017 season
ESPN reveals college football schedule for Week 1 and other prime time games
3. Road schedule. Many of the Sooners’ biggest games on the year come away from home: at Ohio State on Sept. 9, at Baylor on Sept. 21, at Kansas State on Oct. 21 and at Oklahoma State on Nov. 4. While TCU and West Virginia come to Norman in November — a positive worth noting — the Sooners will be tested by this run of road games.
Biggest games
►At Ohio State, Sept. 9
►At Kansas State, Oct. 21
►At Oklahoma State, Nov. 4
Three players to know
1. LB Jon-Michael Terry. The redshirt freshman is headed for starter’s snaps at middle linebacker.
2. K/P Austin Seibert. OU really needs more consistency from Seibert on field goals. He showed a reliable leg as a freshman before a down year in 2016, so the potential is there.
3. CB Parnell Motley. A really solid spring has Motley in line for key snaps as the Sooners’ third cornerback.
PROJECTING THE PRESEASON TOP 25
