You may have seen this article from ESPN going over the strengths and weaknesses of each team in the outlet's way-too-early top 25. What ESPN had down for the Oklahoma Sooners' biggest strength and weakness this upcoming season was. … perplexing, to say the least.
ESPN listed the Sooners' biggest strength for the upcoming season as their pass catchers. The article pointed to the additions at wide receiver and tight end as the reason for this being the strength. I admit that wide receivers Parker Livingstone and Trell Harris and the revamped tight end room are a marked improvement. But to call pass catchers the biggest strength of this Oklahoma team is laughable. Oklahoma had one of the best defenses in the country last year, and despite losing several starters to the NFL Draft, the defense has the potential to be the best that head coach Brent Venables has had at Oklahoma in 2026.
ESPN completely misses mark in Sooners evaluation
Now, what did ESPN deem to be the biggest weakness of the team? The offensive line? Maybe the run game? Something offensive, surely? None of the above.
ESPN was of the opinion that “inexperience on defense” is the Sooners' greatest weakness. Looking at our projected two-deep roster, OU is returning 10 starters or heavy rotation players into the starting lineup. How in any sense of the word does that equate to inexperience? On top of that, many of the defensive players have been at Oklahoma playing under Venables for multiple seasons. This is a veteran defense that is well-versed in the system.
Read more: Brent Venables is building something rare at Oklahoma in college football chaos
Be wary of the narratives that national media outlets put out there on your team, or any team for that matter. Not all of it is as off base as this, but knowing that it can be is important.
It’s better to let people find out than for them to know. The nation and all of Oklahoma’s rivals hope for and expect a defensive decline for OU. They will all be disappointed. This defense is elite, and the falloff is on a faraway horizon.
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