(RB Gavin Sawchuk – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Gavin Sawchuk, WR Nic Anderson, WR Andrel Anthony, WR/KR Jalil Farooq, DE Ethan Downs, DE Trace Ford, NT Da’Jon Terry, LB Jaren Kanak, LB Kip Lewis, LB Danny Stutsman, CB Peyton Bowen, CB Kani Walker, CB Woodi Washington, CB Gentry Williams, NB Kendel Dolby, FS Robert Spears-Jennings, SS Billy Bowman Jr., KR Jalil Farooq, PK Zach Schmit, and PT Luke Elzinga.
Key Players Departing:
QB Dillon Gabriel (Oregon transfer), RB Tawee Walker (Wisconsin transfer), WR Drake Stoops, OC Andrew Raym, OG McKade Mettauer, OG Caleb Shaffer, OT Tyler Guyton (Cowboys R1), OT Walter Rouse (Vikings R6), DT Jonah Laulu (Colts R7), NT Isaiah Coe, FS Key Lawrence (Ole Miss transfer), FS Reggie Pearson Jr, and PR Gavin Freeman (Oklahoma State transfer).
(DE David Stone – 247Sports)
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Chip Recruits: DE David Stone (Bradenton, Florida).
4 Star Recruits: OL Eugene Brooks (Chatsworth, California), RB Taylor Tatum (Longview, Texas), WR Zion Kearney (Missouri City, Texas), EDGE Caiden Woullard (Miami, OH transfer), DS Reggie Powers III (Dayton, Ohio), DE Nigel Smith II (Melissa, Texas), DS Jaydan Hardy (Lewisville, Texas), WR Deion Burks (Purdue transfer), and DT Jayden Jackson (Bradenton, Florida).
2023 Results:
G01 ARKANSAS STATE W 73-0
G02 SMU W 28-11
G03 @ Tulsa W 66-17
G04 @ Cincinnati W 20-6
G05 IOWA STATE W 50-20
G06 vs. #3 Texas W 34-30
G07 UCF W 31-29
G08 @ Kansas L 33-38
G09 @ #22 Oklahoma State L 24-27
G10 WEST VIRGINIA W 59-20
G11 @ BYU W 31-24
G12 TCU W 69-45
BWL vs. #14 Arizona L 24-38
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 10-3 (3rd in Big XII)
Home: 6-0
Away: 3-2
Neutral: 1-1
B12: 7-2
Non-B12: 3-1
Head Coach: Brent Venables
Oklahoma: 16-10
Career: 16-10
Bowls: 0-2
(WR Nic Anderson – USA Today Sports)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Jackson Arnold (44-69, 563 yards, 63.8 %, 8.2 avg., 4 TD, 3 INT)
Rushing: Gavin Sawchuk (120 car., 744 yards, 6.2 avg., 9 TD)
Receiving: Jalil Farooq (45 rec., 694 yards, 15.4 avg., 2 TD)
TD’s Scored: Nic Anderson (10)
Sacks: Ethan Downs (4.5)
Tackles: Danny Stutsman (104)
Tackles For Loss: Danny Stutsman (16)
Interceptions: Billy Bowman Jr. (6)
Pass Deflections: Woodi Washington (7)
Forced Fumbles: Danny Stutsman (2)
Kick Returns: Jalil Farooq (19 ret., 422 yards, 22.2 avg. 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Gavin Freeman (18 ret., 122 yards, 6.8 avg., 1 TD)
Kicking: Zach Schmit (15-21 fg/fga., 71%, 67-67 xp/xpa., 112 pts.)
Punting: Luke Elzinga (27 punts, 1217 yards, 45.1 avg., 13 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 11 Jackson Arnold (SO)
RB: 27 Gavin Sawchuk (RS SO)
WR: 3 Jalil Farooq (SR)
WR: 15 Brenen Thompson (JR/TR)
WR: 6 Deion Burks (RS JR/TR)
TE: 10 Bauer Sharp (RS JR/TR)
LT: 76 Jacob Sexton (JR)
LG: 66 Geirean Hatchett (RS SR/TR)
OC: 0 Brandon Hickman (RS JR/TR)
RG: 54 Febechi Nwaiwu (RS JR/TR)
RT: 79 Jake Taylor (RS SO)
KR: 6 Deion Burks (RS JR/TR)
PK: 98 Tyler Keltner (RS SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 40 Ethan Downs (SR)
NT: 52 Damonic Williams (JR/TR)
DT: 65 Jayden Jackson (FR)
DE: 32 R. Mason Thomas (JR)
LB: 10 Kip Lewis (RS SO)
LB: 28 Danny Stutsman (SR)
NB: 15 Kendel Dolby (SR/TR)
CB: 26 Kani Walker (RS JR/TR)
CB: 4 Dez Malone (RS SR/TR)
FS: 22 Peyton Bowen (SO)
SS: 2 Billy Bowman Jr. (SR)
PR: 22 Peyton Bowen (SO)
PT: 48 Luke Elzinga (RS SR/TR)
(LB Danny Stutsman – Getty Images)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: B
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returns: C
Punt Returns: B
Kickers: B
Punters: A
Schedule:
08/30 TEMPLE OWLS | The series is tie 1-1. The Sooners lost (7-14) the last meeting between schools in 1942, and they won (9-6) the inaugural meeting in 1940.
09/07 HOUSTON COUGARS | Oklahoma leads the series 3-1. The Sooners won (49-31) the last meeting between schools in 2019, and their only series loss (23-33) was at the prior meeting in 2016.
09/14 TULANE GREEN WAVE | Oklahoma leads the series 2-0. The Sooners won (40-35) the last meeting between schools in 2021, and they won (56-14) the inaugural meeting in 2017.
09/21 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS | Oklahoma leads the series 3-1. The Sooners won (31-24) the last meeting between schools in 2015, and their only series loss (0-17) was at the inaugural meeting in 1939.
09/28 @ Auburn Tigers | Oklahoma leads the series 2-0. The Sooners won (35-19) the last meeting between schools in 2016, and they won (40-22) the inaugural meeting between schools in 1971.
10/12 vs. Texas Longhorns | Oklahoma trails the series 51-63-5. The Sooners are 8-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (0-49) was in 2022.
10/19 SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS | First meeting between schools.
10/26 @ Ole Miss Rebels | Oklahoma lost (25-27) the only prior meeting between schools in 1999.
11/02 MAINE BLACK BEARS | First meeting between schools.
11/09 @ Missouri Tigers | Oklahoma leads the series 67-24-5. The Sooners won (38-28) the last meeting between schools in 2011, and their last series loss (27-36) was at the prior meeting in 2010.
11/23 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE | Oklahoma leads the series 3-2-1. The Sooners lost (34-45) the last meeting between schools in 2018, and their last series win (45-31) was at the prior meeting in 2013.
11/30 @ LSU Tigers | Oklahoma trails the series 1-2. The Sooners lost (28-63) the last meeting between schools in 2019, and their only series win (35-0) was at the inaugural meeting in 1949.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Away: 1-3
Neutral: 0-1
SEC: 3-5
Non-SEC: 4-0
Overall: 7-5 (10th in SEC)
gridironpredictions.net 