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Oklahoma football: Key games for the Sooners’ CFP hopes

By Christopher Dukes

LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 22: Steven Parker #10 of the Oklahoma Sooners intercepts a pass during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on October 22, 2016 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - OCTOBER 22: Steven Parker #10 of the Oklahoma Sooners intercepts a pass during the first half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on October 22, 2016 at AT&T Jones Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL – NOVEMBER 11: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up during a game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL – NOVEMBER 11: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish warms up during a game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Syracuse at Notre Dame

This is probably the Sooners’ best chance at a Notre Dame loss. The Orange are a tough out. They took Clemson to the limit earlier this season and have the team speed to give the Irish fits. Plus, they owe Oklahoma a favor for the gift of transfer running back Abdul Adams.

Michigan at Indiana

This one might be a bit of a long shot, but the Hoosiers always seem to play up to their competition and have given a scare to elite Big 10 teams in the past. Their passing attack will challenge the Wolverine defense in a new way and they have the firepower to turn the game into a shootout in the right circumstance. Sooner fans just have to hope there isn’t a basketball game scheduled at the same time and the fans actually show up.

ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Derek Kief
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 08: Derek Kief /

Auburn at Alabama

The Sooners almost certainly need two Crimson Tide losses to jump them at this point and this could be the source of at least one of them. The Iron Bowl is a bit like the Red River Rivalry in that the best team doesn’t always prevail. That’s what Oklahoma has to hope for.

Michigan at Ohio State

This is a big one every year and the Buckeyes have owned the Wolverines in the recent past. The committee will have to think long and hard about putting an Ohio State team with an ugly loss to Purdue ahead of the Sooners should the Buckeyes manage to prevail in this rivalry tilt.

Notre Dame at USC

The Irish have to go on the road to a hostile environment and conquer a rival. USC is far from the great team they have been in the past, but much like Florida State, this is a squad with plenty of four and five-star players on the roster. All it takes is something to bring them all together for 60 minutes of football. Could a shot at knocking a rival out of the College Football Playoff picture do that?

South Carolina at Clemson

This might might have the farthest odds of actually happening and one loss might not be enough to leave out Clemson, but this is still a rivalry game and that gives the Gamecocks a fighting chance.

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