It’s one of the biggest stories in sports. The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns left the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] and moved to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. The move became official on July 1, and the regular season begins at the end of this month.
Depending on who you talk to, OU will either sink or swim in 2024. The doubters think that a porous offensive line will lead to the demise of quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and that [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ defense won’t be able to hold up. Those who believe in the Sooners this year point to the best defense in Norman in nearly a decade and the talent that Arnold possesses. as well as the loaded weaponry at wide receiver.
ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum has been extremely complimentary of the Sooners this offseason. He took time during his show “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Monday. During the show, he gave his optimism and a record prediction for Oklahoma.
“I think Oklahoma is a 9-3 team,” Finebaum said. “I’ve been out there a couple of times this year in April and July and had a chance to be around Coach Venables and the rest of the staff. I’m really high on what’s happening out there.”
This isn’t the first time Finebaum has praised Venables, and now a respected SEC voice is backing up his offseason talk with a record prediction.
Of course, 9-3 isn’t the standard in Norman, but Oklahoma’s difficult schedule makes it a pretty successful record in 2024. Couple that with the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] expanding from four to twelve teams, and the Sooners could be on the fringes of making their fifth playoff appearance this season.
Needless to say, it will matter who OU loses to, if they lose, and what happens around the country. However, navigating an absolutely brutal schedule to get to 9-3 would be a strong statement from Venables in Year 3. Playing in college football’s toughest conference and winning some of the games the Sooners would have to win to get to 9-3 would mean that the playoff could be a reality if OU can get the job done.
A [autotag]CFP[/autotag] appearance in the SEC just two years after going 6-7 would let the country know that Venables is building a big winner at Oklahoma.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum predicts Oklahoma’s 2024 season
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