Texas Football: 3 most overrated teams on 2023 schedule
Oklahoma
Date: Oct. 7 (Dallas, TX)
Potentially the most overrated Big 12 team among the four that ranked in the preseason AP Poll is the Oklahoma Sooners. Head coach Brent Venables and the Sooners rang in at No. 20 in the preseason AP Poll and No. 19 in the preseason Coaches Poll.
This comes after Venables and the Sooners posted a record of 6-7 (3-6 Big 12) during their head coach’s first year at the helm last season. Venables has much to prove to show that Oklahoma can live up to the billing as a preseason top-20 team this fall.
Moreover, my problem with Oklahoma stems from the lack of proven production and quality playmakers on offense. Oklahoma’s defense looks in much better shape heading into the season, with more than half of last season’s starters returning, along with some quality standouts in the secondary and at linebacker.
On offense, though, the Sooners return just a handful of starters. This fall, the skill positions are particularly problematic for Venables and OC Jeff Lebby. Oklahoma loses its two leading receivers, including a 1,000-yard receiver and NFL Draft pick in Marvin Mims. Senior running back Eric Gray, Oklahoma’s leading rusher last season, is also gone.
The offensive line isn’t in much better shape than most skill positions for the Sooners this year. Oklahoma loses three of its five starters along the offensive line. And the replacements don’t bring much returning production or efficiency. New starters Tyler Guyton (right tackle), Savion Byrd (left guard), and Walter Rouse (left tackle) have never graded among the top half of Power Five starters at their positions in any season of their collegiate careers.
Lastly, I still have questions regarding Dillon Gabriel’s ability to consistently and successfully lead a high-octane Power Five offense. Gabriel was up and down for the Sooners in his starts in conference play and the postseason last fall. He went 3-5 in conference starts last season and was held under 250 passing yards and one total touchdown in Oklahoma’s Cheez-It Bowl loss to the Florida State Seminoles.
The advanced analytics aren’t thrilled about the Sooners heading into the season. Sharp College Football ranks Oklahoma among the bottom five teams in the Big 12 in its preseason 2023 Beta projections. Oklahoma also ranks 61st in the FBS in returning production this fall.