Oklahoma football 2018 kickoff preview: Games 1 through 4

The Owls descend into Norman

At first blush, this looks like an easy matchup for the Sooners. But, a closer analysis reveals this game will be anything but a walk in the park for OU, which had better be ready to play ball from the first whistle.

For starters, Florida Atlantic had a great 2017 season. The Owls finished the 2017 season with a Conference USA championship and an 11-3 record. Once the Owls recovered from an inauspicious 1-3 start, they reeled off ten consecutive victories en route to a league title, including a 50-3 demolition of Akron in the Boca Raton Bowl.

The FAU Owls, guided by first-year head coach Lane Kiffen, finished 2017 ninth in the nation in total offense, paced by a rushing offense that was sixth-best in the country. The fact that sophomore running back Devin Singletary returns (1,920 yards, 32 TD’s and a 6.4 yards-per-carry average in 2017) means the Owl rushing offense will once again be very good.

Even though quarterbacks Jason Driskel and Daniel Parr are gone, FAU has two very capable signal callers in former Oklahoma signee Chris Robison and former Florida State Seminole De’Andre Johnson. The fact that Robison may  potentially start adds a bit of drama to this game, since Robison was expelled from the Oklahoma football team for violating team rules.

Interestingly, Robison was suspended indefinitely back in March, but returned to the team two days later when head coach Lane Kiffen lifted the suspension.

The 6-foot, 2-inch, 205-pound Johnson, a mobile quarterback who can throw, may present bigger problems for an Oklahoma defense that had issues stopping the run last season. Johnson was good enough to be a potential starter for powerhouse Florida State before an ugly off-the-field incident (he punched a woman at a bar) led to his dismissal. After a stint at East Mississipi Community College of “Last Chance U” fame, Johnson signed with FAU in 2017.

Bottom line: This intriguing matchup will be huge test for Mike Stoops’ retooled Sooner defense. Oklahoma, notorious for slow starts early in past seasons, cannot afford to let up in this one. The Sooner offense should have no problem scoring points against the FAU defense, but the bigger question is, can the defense shutdown the Owl attack?

This game will be a very telling indicator of the Sooner defense’s progress (or lack thereof). If the defense struggles, expect defensive coordinator Mike Stoops’ seat to warm substantially.

Prediction: Oklahoma 35, FAU 21