Oklahoma football: How does the Big 12 stack up behind OU in 2018?

Even with the loss of Heisman-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield and Mackey Award-winning tight end Mark Andrews, don’t expect a drastic drop off on offense by the Sooners in 2018.

Oklahoma’s offense will be different with a new quarterback, likely Kyler Murray, at the controls, but the Sooners are blessed with an abundance of riches in the backfield and in the receiving corps and have three starters returning on what arguably was the best offensive line in college football a year ago..

The OU defense absolutely must get better, and that has been a primary emphasis of both head coach Lincoln Riley and defensive coordinator Mike Stoops in the offseason.

The Sooners have one of the best home records among FBS teams over the past two decades (they’ve actually won more Big 12 titles than they’ve lost at home over the same period), and they play seven games at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in 2018. OU has only four true road games on the 2018 schedule.

The Sooners’ toughest two games in 2018 are likely to fall in the middle of the schedule — the Red River rivalry game with Texas, followed by a trip to TCU. The outcome of these two contests will reveal a lot about OU’s chances of securing a fourth consecutive Big 12 crown. On the plus side, the Sooners have a bye week between the Texas game and the away game at TCU.