Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Ranking the five most difficult OU games in 2023

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma and Texas players get in an argument during the Red River Showdown college football game between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Texas won 49-0.Lx19094
Oklahoma and Texas players get in an argument during the Red River Showdown college football game between the University of Oklahoma (OU) and Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Texas won 49-0.Lx19094 /
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Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) scores a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas Jayhawks running back Devin Neal (4) scores a touchdown against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

2. @ Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, Oct. 28

Some would find it highly unusual that I would list a game against Kansas as one of the most difficult for Oklahoma in the coming season. After all, Oklahoma has won nearly 75 percent of the 113 games played between the two schools (80-27-6) and has won the last eight games the two teams have played in Lawrence.

Here’s the concern: Kansas probably should have beaten the Sooners the last time they played in Lawrence. The Jayhawks led going into the fourth quarter and were it not for some late heroics by OU quarterback Caleb Williams, the eventual 35-23 OU win could easily have gone the other way. And last season, in Norman, Kansas played the Sooners extremely tough and with the Jayhawks’ backup quarterback. Oklahoma won the game 52-42 but didn’t look particularly good doing so.

Kansas QB Jalon Daniels wasn’t available for last year’s game in Norman, and he is rated this season as one of the best returning quarterbacks in the Big 12 and is the Preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

The Jayhawks are improving every year under head coach Lance Leipold. This isn’t the same Kansas team the Sooners faced in 2021. It’s a better Kansas team, and that’s why this game should be of big concern to OU.

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