The 2022 season was one to neglect in Norman, Oklahoma. For the primary time since 1998, Oklahoma completed the 12 months with a shedding file at 6-7 after a heartbreaking 35-32 loss to No. 11 Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl.
It was a real “rebuilding year” for the Sooners, and each a part of the staff’s DNA proved that to be the case because the season progressed. OU misplaced 5 video games by seven factors or much less, and 4 video games by precisely three factors.
There had been promising moments, flabbergasting errors, and downright complicated outcomes over the course of Brent Venables’ first season in Norman. However, the 2022 season won’t outline Venables’ legacy at Oklahoma, nor will it outline a program that has been the gold commonplace for faculty soccer for the reason that trendy period started.
At the identical time, expectations are excessive at Oklahoma and that won’t change in 2023 as Sooner Nation will count on its staff to show issues round in a rush and be again to competing for Big 12 Championships after a two-year hiatus. So, whereas 2022 didn’t outline Venables’ legacy at OU, 2023 simply may.
247Sports’ Brad Crawford named Oklahoma as a “college football program facing a pivotal season in 2023,” together with Ohio State, Miami, and Texas A&M amongst others. Here is what Crawford needed to say concerning the Sooners’ upcoming season and why issues could be wanting up.
“Oklahoma’s overhaul on defense may take longer than expected for Brent Venables, whose loss during bowl season sent the Sooners to their first losing season since 1998. Signing a top-five recruiting class for 2023 is absolutely the best offseason news Oklahoma could have received, however. Not only did the program land five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold, who will be “the guy” in 2024, following the departure of returning starter Dillon Gabriel this coming season in 2023. It made large strides defensively with the arrival of five-star flip Peyton Bowen, five-star edge Adepoju Adebawore and several other quick influence Day 1 starters in the switch portal, together with defensive finish Dasan McCullough. The Sooners gave up 461 yards per sport and 30 factors per sport final season, their worst marks for the reason that 2018 season underneath Lincoln Riley.“
– Brad Crawford, 247Sports
The Sooners have made some big-time additions by way of the switch portal and in their fourth-ranked 2023 class, which means that assistance is on the best way. However, it additionally signifies that of us in Oklahoma will count on some main enhancements in 12 months two underneath Brent Venables, and which means the strain is on in 2023.
As I discussed earlier, Oklahoma misplaced 5 one-score video games in 2022. The Sooners seemingly don’t want to enhance that a lot to show these video games in their favor, and in doing so would’ve been an 11-team in 2022. Don’t fall into the entice of pondering that 6-6 is the brand new commonplace in Norman, as a result of issues will seemingly be headed upward in 2023 and going ahead.
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