Oklahoma Football thinks they are on the same level (or even slightly better) than Texas. However, coming off of three straight seasons of not playing for the Big 12 Championship and Texas’ recent success getting all the way to the College Football Playoffs, Oklahoma has shown they aren’t currently at the level of their rival.
But are they at least ready for the SEC?
It depends on how you look. If the expectation is to come into the conference and be a middle-of-the-pack type of team, then sure, they are ready. But any Oklahoma Football fan will tell you, the expectation is to be at the level of Alabama and to be competing for a National Championship. In that sense, they couldn’t be further away.
Oklahoma Football’s Projected Win Total
According to Fan Duel, which is considered one of, if not the most reputable betting app in the U.S., the Sooners at 6.5 wins, or in other words, there is a 50% that the Sooners will win more than six games and 50% that win six or less. For reference, Texas is at 10.5 wins.
Looking at their schedule, it appears that Fan Duel has Oklahoma Football winning only three or four conference games. This is, of course, assuming they will beat Maine (FCS), Houston (likely last place Big 12), and Temple (AAC). Tulane could be a tricky game from the AAC, but even that likely will be a win with them under a new Head Coach and starting quarterback.
Putting all this together, Oklahoma is looking at having a 4-0 record in nonconference and essentially a 50% of going 2-6 or worse and a 50% of going 3-5 or better. For a team thinking they should be winning National Championships, this isn’t very encouraging.
Absolutely Brutal Stretch
Oklahoma may be the best “x” loss team in the nation next year. There is also a chance that Oklahoma starts off the season with a solid 5-2 record and ends up with a 6-6 record overall. To finish out the season, they play the following schedule:
- At Ole Miss (finished ranked 6th in 2023)
- Maine
- At Missouri (finish ranked 7th in 2023)
- OFF
- Alabama (finished ranked 9th)
- At LSU (finished ranked 12th)
Again, Oklahoma may be a top 25 caliber team next year, but unless they can find a way to have a winning record against the seven teams who spent a significant amount of 2023 ranked (and many in the top 10), they very likely won’t be ranked at the end of the season.
SEC’s Schedule is Interesting
There is no question that money talks, and it talks the loudest when there are marquee matchups. Oklahoma Football’s schedule is ridiculous, but it is filled with a bunch of games that will get serious ratings and viewership. There are teams like Arkansas or South Carolina that don’t have nearly as difficult of a schedule, but they also aren’t going to be bringing in a national audience by themselves.
Then again, in the SEC, are there any easy games?
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