Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma Football: Previewing the 2017 second-half schedule

By Sixto Ortiz

NORMAN, OK - AUGUST 30: The Oklahoma Sooners take the field before the game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs August 30, 2014 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bulldogs 48-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - AUGUST 30: The Oklahoma Sooners take the field before the game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs August 30, 2014 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners defeated the Bulldogs 48-16. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 28 : Quarterback Baker Mayfield
STILLWATER, OK – NOVEMBER 28 : Quarterback Baker Mayfield /

November 4 — Bedlam comes early in Stillwater

One scheduling quirk for 2017 is the fact that the annual Bedlam clash between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will occur a bit earlier. Still, this doesn’t detract from the fact that this game is arguably Oklahoma’s toughest obstacle to capturing another Big 12 title.

The Cowboys come into 2017 loaded with talent and with a huge chip on their shoulder. In fact, many prognosticators are picking Oklahoma State as a dark horse Big 12 contender.

The key for the Cowboys in the coming season is the return in 2017 of offensive stars QB Mason Rudolph, RB Justice Hill and WR James Washington. Rudolph had a stellar 2016, passing for 4,091 yards, 28 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Hill paced all Cowboy rushers with 1,142 yards and six TDs, while Washington was stellar at receiver with 1,380 yards and ten touchdowns.

This potent trio will only get better over the summer, so Mike Stoops will have to dial up a stellar defensive game plan to slow down the Cowboy offense.

In 2016, an improving Sooner defense was able to stymie Rudolph, who passed for just 186 yards on 11 for 25 passing. Offensively, the Sooner offense continued to hum: Baker Mayfield, as usual, was surgically efficient, passing for three touchdowns on 13 for 19 passing, while Samaje Perine had a monster game with 239 rushing yards.

All that said, 2017 could very possibly be the year the Cowboys break through and beat the Sooners, even though Oklahoma has prevailed six of the last seven times the game has been played in Stillwater:

The stars are aligning for Oklahoma State, which gets the Sooners in Stillwater during a year when the Cowboys return considerable offensive firepower. Still, it will be a tall task for the Cowboys to slow down the Sooner offense. And if the Oklahoma defense is able to once again contain Rudolph and slow down the Cowboy rushing attack, 2017 will be more of the same for the Cowboys.

No matter what happens in this one, here’s another twist: These two teams could very likely meet again in the Big 12 championship game.

Predicted Score: Sooners 28, Cowboys 21

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