Ranking the Big 12 - #4 (by Chris Flanagan)

[HornSports Staff]

 
submitted Today, 11:35 AM in Texas Longhorns Football By Chris Flanagan
 
In anticipation of the 2015 football season, Horn Sports is ranking all ten teams in the Big 12 based on the anticipated finish of each school.

10. Kansas Jayhawks
9. Texas Tech Red Raiders
8. Iowa State Cyclones
7. Kansas State Wildcats
6. Oklahoma State Cowboys
5. West Virginia Mountaineers

#4 Oklahoma Sooners

Location: Norman, OK

Stadium: Gaylord Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 82,112)

Returning starters: 14 (8 off, 6 defense)

Recruiting class ranking:

15th nationally, 2nd Big 12 (247Sports)

14th nationally, 2nd Big 12 (Rivals)

Preview:

Boomer gloomy - that's the way Sooner fans felt after last season. Not only was 2014 another season that started with high expectations for the Sooners that ended in mediocrity, it also ended in embarrassment with a 40-6 loss to Clemson in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

The Sooners haven't competed for a national title for quite some time. The fan base is starting to grow weary of Bob Stoops, who doesn't seem interested in stepping away from the team gracefully. Unfortunately for the conference, the Sooners aren't likely to rebound anytime soon.

OU has the best rushing attack in the Big 12: Sam Perine returns for his sophomore year, plus Joe Mixon will play for the Sooners this season (which is likely going to be a lightening rod for controversy). However, the quarterback is a massive question mark. Trevor Knight is hit or miss and Baker Mayfield is an unknown in the Sooner offense. This will be the issue that sinks the Sooners' Big 6 bowl chances.

Oklahoma will win 9 games this season, but will lose a crucial game against the 3rd place team that gives that team a foundational victory in their pursuit to regain greatness.

Predicted record: 9-3 (6-3 Big 12)

 

[Matt Cotcher]

With that ground game, Mayfield doesn't need to be more than "good". Perine/Mixon should make his throws pretty easy with opposing safeties crashing.