The Oklahoma football program is on an upward trajectory under the supervision of head coach Brent Venables. Despite a challenging start in 2022, Venables, a two-time College Football Playoff National Championship winner at Clemson, guided the Sooners to a respectable 10-3 record last year and a spot in the Alamo Bowl against the Arizona Wildcats. Notably, this marked only the second time in nearly a decade that Venables and company held Oklahoma’s opponents to under 24 points per game, a testament to Venables’ defensive emphasis.
Yet, the departure of Lincoln Riley in 2022 still stings for many OU fans despite the team’s recent success. Riley darted to USC two seasons ago, taking superstar quarterback Caleb Williams with him. Riley’s feeling of betrayal still burns deep in the minds of the Oklahoma faithful. So on Wednesday, with the news of Riley’s new team, USC, and their home-and-home cancelation with SEC powerhouse Ole Miss became official, naturally, Oklahoma fans responded swiftly and harshly, taking to social media to express their discontent with their former head coach.
Oklahoma Football Fans: Take Aim at Lincoln Riley Amid Cancellation of Tilt with SEC Opponent
Insights from different sources in 2021 suggest that Lincoln Riley’s decision to leave Oklahoma for USC was influenced by his dissatisfaction with the team’s move to the SEC. George Wrighster of Fox Sports reported on his eventual departure, saying, “I’ve heard from multiple people that for Lincoln Riley, this was about him not wanting to go to the SEC. He wasn’t happy that Oklahoma was moving, and that gave him a wandering eye.” This decision came a year before Oklahoma’s official move to the SEC and Riley’s transition to the USC Trojans.
Ole Miss’ home-and-home football matchups against USC have been cancelled, AD Keith Carter tells me.
— Michael Katz (@MichaelLKatz) June 18, 2024
Nevertheless, with Riley moving to the Pac-12, and now the Big Ten, the head coach couldn’t wholly avoid the SEC, with USC scheduled for a home-and-home with Ole Miss starting in 2025. However, news broke on Wednesday that the two teams will mutually cancel the future matchups, much to the displeasure of college football fans. Oklahoma football fans are roasting Riley and USC for taking away a potentially excellent out-of-conference game.
He scared to play SEC opponents because he knows that his team can’t play defense
— Matt Dukes (@MattDukes19) June 18, 2024
this shit is bad for CFB.
USC and Ole Miss will replace these games with OOC FCS or bad G5 teams. Because the playoff system has told schools that scheduling tough OOC games doesn't matter.
So we, the fans, are getting robbed of great cross conference matchups. https://t.co/ubepPi8Nvo
— #10 Clemson Addict (5-1) (@Clemson_Addict) June 18, 2024
Death, Taxes, and Lincoln Riley's fear of the SEC.
— Marc (@RealistMarc) June 18, 2024
Is lincoln really that scared?
— Sutterledbetter (@Sutter61680779) June 18, 2024
Soft.
— Jonathon Edward Miller (@THEJonathonMill) June 18, 2024
Lincoln running from SEC again…?
— SECSOONER_LIFE (@Sooner_kyle7) June 18, 2024
Oklahoma Football: Heading to SEC Next Fall
After a near century in the Big 12, the Oklahoma football program will head to the SEC next fall. The Sooners will face a demanding conference schedule next season, with matchups against Tennessee, Auburn, Texas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama, and LSU. The SEC will no longer compete in divisions, meaning a solid showing by Oklahoma in 2023 could potentially result in a matchup against an elite Georgia Bulldogs squad in the SEC Championship.
Although the SEC has a strong reputation for being the best conference in football, Oklahoma holds a strong 120-49-3 record against existing league members. Current SEC members Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas A&M all played with Oklahoma in the Big 12 before moving to their newest conference.
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