Why the Oklahoma Sooners SEC Schedule is Considered the Hardest in the Conference

While Texas enjoys a relatively easy transition into its first SEC season, Oklahoma's schedule is packed with formidable opponents. Although they avoided Georgia, the Sooners are set to face teams ranked fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth, 11th, and 16th in SP+. Notably, Tennessee visits in September, and Alabama arrives in November. Despite a weak nonconference lineup, the Sooners are only projected to win 7.5 games, with an overall SP+ projection of 15th.

This could be a significant adjustment for the Sooners. In Brent Venables' second season, Oklahoma finished 10-3, narrowly missing the Big 12 championship game due to last-second losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State. They improved to eighth in offensive SP and 38th in defensive SP. Progress is expected this season, especially if quarterback Jackson Arnold is ready for his spotlight moment. However, this improvement might not reflect in their win totals.

Jackson Arnold, a top-five recruit and the highlight of Venables' 2023 class, showed promise as Dillon Gabriel's backup in 2023. Arnold completed 18 of 24 passes during the regular season and demonstrated flashes of brilliance in OU's bowl loss to Arizona, despite three costly interceptions.

This season, Arnold will work with new coordinator Seth Littrell and a reconstructed offensive line, following the loss of 57 of last year's 65 starts and the addition of four transfers. The skill positions remain strong, with sophomore running back Gavin Sawchuk and receivers Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, and Andrel Anthony, who combined for 110 catches at 17.5 yards per catch last year.

Defensively, the Sooners made strides in 2023 but still have room for improvement. They excelled in disruption metrics, ranking second in stuff rate, 16th in havoc rate, and 17th in pressure rate. However, they struggled with missed tackles, allowing quarterbacks to escape pressure, and conceding big plays.

The linebacking corps and secondary feature standout players like linebacker Danny Stutsman, safety Billy Bowman Jr., and the nickel pairing of Kendel Dolby and Dasan McCullough. The defense will rely on these playmakers and a rebuilt defensive line, with key contributions expected from transfers Caiden Woullard (Miami-Ohio) and Damonic Williams (TCU), as well as rising stars like sophomore end Adepoju Adebawore and freshman tackle David Stone.

Among the defensive standouts, inside linebacker Danny Stutsman shines the brightest. Stutsman led the defense in tackles for loss (15.5), run stops (25), and forced fumbles (two) last season. He also recorded three sacks and 18 pressures while allowing just a 27% completion rate in coverage. His return is a massive boost for Venables and the Sooners' defense.

As Oklahoma navigates this challenging schedule, the performance of key players and successful integration of new strategies will be crucial. The Sooners face a tough road ahead, but their resilience and talent could lead to a surprising season.