Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Sooners make their move; ESPN puts OU No. 2

By Chip Rouse

Dec 30, 2020; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Theo Wease (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Florida Gators at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2020; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Theo Wease (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Florida Gators at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

I won’t say I told you so — not yet, anyway — but ESPN has opened the door for a top-two Oklahoma football ranking to start the 2021 season.

Others should follow as the Sooners get set to open preseason training camp on Friday.

ESPN revealed its 2021 preseason rankings on its College Football Live special on Tuesday night, along with fun segments such as the “Five Best Live Mascots,” “College Football’s Five Best Traditions” and “Five Best Rivalries.

Georgia’s “Uga” bulldog mascot was the winner in the live mascot category, by the way.

But of more relevance to Sooner fans was the collective vote of 33 ESPN college football experts who placed Oklahoma No. 2, right behind seemingly perennial No. 1 Alabama, but ahead of other long-standing college football powerhouses like Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State.

The Sooners moved up one spot from the No. 3 position in the “way-too-early” 2021 college football top 25 issued by ESPN in January this year, right after Alabama defeated Ohio State for the 2020 national championship.

Oklahoma is the heavy favorite to win a seventh consecutive Big 12 crown, and the Sooners have a favorable schedule with which to continue their remarkable run of recent Big 12 success with home games with TCU and Iowa State, the team expected to be the Sooners’ biggest challenger. Iowa State checks in at No. 7 in the ESPN preseason rankings.

With Spencer Rattler, a preseason Heisman favorite this season, returning at quarterback and a deep and talented arsenal of offensive weapons, everyone knows that the Sooners will put up plenty of points.

The difference in this year’s team from the past four season under Lincoln Riley is a defense that isn’t just getting better, but is expected to be really good this season, anchored by seven returning starters back from the unit that ranked 29th in the country a year ago in total defense.

At Big 12 Media Days last month. Riley acknowledged that, at least on paper, this Oklahoma team had the makings to be really good and go far this season, but they will have to earn it on the field, he said.

We have to agree with the OU head coach. On paper the Sooners are looking really good.

Home/Oklahoma Sooners