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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FORT WORTH, TX – DECEMBER 03: Kenny Hill
FORT WORTH, TX – DECEMBER 03: Kenny Hill /

November 11 – The Horned Frogs visit Norman

In 2016, the Sooners opened their Big 12 schedule against the Horned Frogs. This was a tough game mentally for the Sooners, who came in battered and bruised after their dispiriting 45-24 home loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes. At that point, the season was dangerously close to falling off the rails as the Sooners started Big 12 play on the road against a tough opponent.

The 52-46 victory over the Frogs, while a bit too close for comfort, marked the beginning of a ten-game winning streak that culminated with the Sugar Bowl victory over Auburn. All good things must begin sometime, and this was an inauspicious beginning to an amazing turnaround.

In 2017, the Sooners get the Horned Frogs in Norman. The TCU offense will once again be led by quarterback Kenny Hill. Hill is a dangerous quarterback who can get hot in a hurry: last season. He passed for 449 yards and five touchdowns against the Sooners in that game. Job number one for the Sooner defense in 2017 will be to keep Hill in check and prevent him from getting hot.

One key for the Sooners in this game will be preventing TCU from getting off to a fast start. In 2016, the Frogs raced to a 21-7 lead before the Sooner offense scored 28 unanswered points.

Another key for Oklahoma is to stay consistent: The Sooners took their collective foot off the gas in 2016, and saw a 49-24 third quarter lead evaporate in the fourth quarter as the Frogs rallied and narrowed the Sooner lead to three points.

The Frogs bring a seasoned team to Norman in 2017, led by senior quarterback Hill. Considering that the Frogs gave the Sooners fits last season and always seem to play OU close, there’s little doubt that this matchup could prove troublesome for Oklahoma in 2017. Some may even list this one as an upset alert for the Crimson and Cream, even with the game in Norman.

Predicted Score – Sooners 35, Horned Frogs 21

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