Oklahoma football: Countdown to Cotton Bowl and OU-Florida

Some good, some not so good and an Oklahoma football wish list for Santa.

As we collectively pause a couple of days for Christmas and before things really start to ramp up in the Sooners’ full-scale preparation for Florida and the Cotton Bowl Classic, here are a few odds and ends.

Lincoln Riley said in his weekly press conference on Tuesday that the program would pause for a few days this week and allow the players to spend a couple of days at home for Christmas before getting back to work in earnest this weekend.

Clearly seems like the right thing to do, but you also have to be concerned with the added risk of COVID exposure when the players leave campus. It probably really isn’t that much different from life on a college campus in this year of COVID. In fact it might even be a less risky at home as long as you follow all health and safety guidelines.

Oklahoma Sooners Football

No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 7 Florida will meet next Wednesday at 7 p.m. at AT&T Stadium (a.k.a. the “JerryDome”) in Arlington Texas. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Alex Grinch isn’t headed to Arizona, at least

Earlier this week, it was reported by multiple media sources that OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was scheduled to interview for the head-coaching vacancy at the University of Arizona.

I’m not sure the interview ever took place, but even if it did, Grinch won’t be going to Arizona. And for the time being, at least, that is terrific news for the Oklahoma football program.

Arizona on Wednesday announced that New England Patriots quarterback coach Jedd Fisch is the new head football coach at Arizona, replacing Kevin Sumlin, who compiled a 9-20 record in three seasons at Arizona.

The dramatic improvement in the OU defense that Grinch inherited from Mike Stoops in 2018 and how the Sooner defensive unit is performing today is like day and night. In two seasons under Grinch, Oklahoma has transformed and improved from one of the worst defenses in college football into a unit that ranks 20th among FBS teams in total defense this season and third-best in rushing defense. In their last four games, however, the Sooners rank in the top-10 nationally in multiple defensive categories.

You can argue that the 2020 Oklahoma team is the best team the Sooners have had in their last six Big 12 championship seasons and in their four College Football Playoff appearances. Defense is the difference, and Grinch deserves all the credit. Which is precisely why OU doesn’t want to lose him, not yet anyway.

It is easy to understand why schools would be interested in him as a head coach candidate, and it won’t be too long until he gets that opportunity. When it comes — and it will — it will be well deserved.

Thank you, Florida, for some motivational bulletin board material

As if Oklahoma needed any extra motivation for its upcoming postseason matchup against Florida out of the SEC, Gators linebacker James Houston IV provided the Sooners with some.

Asked about playing at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in the heart of Big 12 country and what kind of advantage that would give Oklahoma, Houston told ESPN writer said he wasn’t the least bit worried or concerned about the Sooners having a home-field advantage.

Then came the kicker:

"“Oklahoma is a good matchup,” Houston was quoted by ESPN, “but they’re not on our level. They’re not the SEC. They’re not the Florida Gators. We should put on a good show.”"

Something tells me we’re going to hear that quote repeated a few more times in the days leading up to the big interconference battle

Another record, although dubious at best, that Lincoln Riley holds

In just four seasons, Lincoln Riley has set several program records and a highly impressive list of accomplishments. In winning the Sooners’ sixth consecutive Big 12 football championship on Saturday, he passed Bob Stoops with the most wins in the first four seasons as an Oklahoma head coach. He has been to three of the last four College Football Playoffs and during that time has produced two Heisman Trophy winners and a Heisman runner-up, all quarterbacks.

But one record he would to do without is his bowl record since taking over the head coaches job from Stoops.

Bud Wilkinson’s teams made three bowl appearances in his first four seasons, winning two of the three. Barry Switzer went to two bowl games in his first four years, winning both, and Stoops went to a bowl game every year in his 18 seasons, including the first four. Stoops’ record in bowl games his first four seasons was 3-1.

Riley’s OU teams have been to a postseason game every season he has been at OU, and three times since he was named head coach. All three have been College Football Playoff appearances, the creme de la creme of college football bowls. The Sooners have lost all three (to Georgia, 54-48 in two overtimes, in 2018 season; Alabama, 45-34, in 2019; to LSU, 63-28, last season.

Riley is hoping to break that winless string with a Cotton Bowl win over Florida on Dec. 30.

OU’s Christmas list for Santa

• This may be the most difficult and demanding season — without question the most different — for the Oklahoma Sooners and all of college football.
• Oklahoma’s 2021 recruiting class is beginning to take final form and there are several highly touted uncommitted players Lincoln Riley and crew would really, really like to reel in, including the country’s top-rated running back, according to Rivals, Camar Wheaton, who was expected to make his announcement as a pre-Christmas present to either Oklahoma or Alabama on Dec. 23. I’m sure glad I don’t have to make that decision, but Sooner fans are very hopeful he lands in the Sooners’ Christmas stocking.
• A bowl win over a top-10 ranked team (Florida) would be a wonderful ending to a season that the first weekend in October appeared to be taking on water and going nowhere soon. Seven straight victories followed and the Sooners clawed their way, piece by piece, back to the top of the Big 12 for the 14th time since 2000 and sixth year in succession.
• May the forthcoming year continue the enduring success, rich history and tradition that has always been a monumental part of the Oklahoma football program….Stay safe, healthy, and bless us, everyone.