The head coach
Hard to argue with the record of a coach who has three 12-win seasons in just three years as a head coach, taken his team to three consecutive College Football Playoff appearances, won three consecutive Big 12 championships and produced two Heisman-winning quarterbacks and a third who was a Heisman runner-up.
Lincoln Riley is recognized as one of the best offensive architects in college football. It’s hardly a coincidence that the Sooners have ranked No. 3, No. 1 and No. 1, respectively, in total offense the past three seasons, and Riley has been equally adept at bringing in top talent. Oklahoma’s past two recruiting classes with Riley as head coach have ranked in the top-10 nationally.
Riley’s 36 wins is the most of any OU head coach in his first three seasons. About the only thing that is missing from coaching resume after three seasons as head coach and two before that as the team’s offensive coordinator is a national championship.
With what the Sooners have accomplished in each of the past three seasons, how could you not include them as a national title contender again in 2020.