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The way the Oklahoma Sooners won in 2025 isn't everyone's cup of tea. The Sooners relied on a relentless, physical and suffocating defense as the offense mostly sputtered.
Oklahoma routinely found ways to win close games, earning them the "Hard to Kill" mantra. However, that style of football does not always capture the attention of the national media. That is likely a major reason why Oklahoma enters the 2026 season without the same national hype as other playoff contenders and is flying under the radar. However, Brent Venables' team would likely not want it any other way. The Sooners will instead use that lack of respect as motivation to prove the doubters wrong.
But why are the Sooners being overlooked? A major reason could be uncertainty surrounding the offense, combined with Oklahoma once again facing one of the toughest schedules in the country.
On3's Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman discussed Oklahoma on their show. They said that when they've had analytic gurus on the show, they typically love the Sooners.
"Maybe it's because every time we bring somebody on who does the advanced analytics… they're like, 'You know, Oklahoma's going to be really good,'" Staples said on "Andy & Ari" on On3. "I looked at them and said, 'That's the hardest schedule in the world.' They went 10-2 against it. Their quarterback was hurt for half the year."
The national perception of Oklahoma may not match the reality of what the Sooners accomplished last season. Winning 10 games against one of the toughest schedules in college football, while dealing with an injured quarterback and an inconsistent offense, shows the foundation Venables has built in Norman.
If the offense takes a step forward and the defense remains elite, Oklahoma has a chance to prove the analytics experts right and once again be one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Analytics are high on Oklahoma despite brutal schedule
Continue reading...
Oklahoma routinely found ways to win close games, earning them the "Hard to Kill" mantra. However, that style of football does not always capture the attention of the national media. That is likely a major reason why Oklahoma enters the 2026 season without the same national hype as other playoff contenders and is flying under the radar. However, Brent Venables' team would likely not want it any other way. The Sooners will instead use that lack of respect as motivation to prove the doubters wrong.
But why are the Sooners being overlooked? A major reason could be uncertainty surrounding the offense, combined with Oklahoma once again facing one of the toughest schedules in the country.
On3's Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman discussed Oklahoma on their show. They said that when they've had analytic gurus on the show, they typically love the Sooners.
"Maybe it's because every time we bring somebody on who does the advanced analytics… they're like, 'You know, Oklahoma's going to be really good,'" Staples said on "Andy & Ari" on On3. "I looked at them and said, 'That's the hardest schedule in the world.' They went 10-2 against it. Their quarterback was hurt for half the year."
The national perception of Oklahoma may not match the reality of what the Sooners accomplished last season. Winning 10 games against one of the toughest schedules in college football, while dealing with an injured quarterback and an inconsistent offense, shows the foundation Venables has built in Norman.
If the offense takes a step forward and the defense remains elite, Oklahoma has a chance to prove the analytics experts right and once again be one of the most dangerous teams in the country.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Analytics are high on Oklahoma despite brutal schedule
Continue reading...
