What needs to happen?
First and foremost, above all else, the Sooners need chalk in the SEC. Just like last year the Sooners absolutely need Georgia to lose in the SEC title game, though this season it would come at the hands of Joe Burrow and LSU.
Plain and simple, Oklahoma doesn’t stand much of a chance over a one-loss, non-SEC champ LSU. That would all but close up the four spots for the CFP with two teams (LSU and Georgia) both getting in).
While the Sooners need chalk in the SEC, they also need an upset in the Pac 12. Utah is the betting favorite against Oregon in the Pac 12 Championship game.
The committee clearly likes Utah’s more dominant performances against lesser foes more than Oklahoma’s quality wins right now. Each year’s version of the committee is different and this one seems to prefer the “eye test” to hard numbers like strength of schedule.