3 most overrated teams in the SEC
Oklahoma
Oklahoma heads into the SEC led by a first-year starting quarterback and a former five-star recruit, sophomore Jackson Arnold. The talented second-year signal-caller is tasked with leading an offensive unit that lost most of its starters from last season.
Head coach Brent Venables had to not only replace most of the two-deep for the receiving corps and almost every single starter along the offensive line but also the offensive coordinator after Jeff Lebby left for the Mississippi State head coaching job.
Former North Texas head coach Seth Littrell brings his high-flying air-it-out scheme to Oklahoma, likely giving Arnold plenty of opportunities to pad his stats this coming season.
Oklahoma's non-conference schedule gives it an opportunity to build some early-season momentum before the SEC schedule toughens up immediately. Before the Sooners face the Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in early October, it'll have to take on the Tennessee Volunteers in Norman and the Auburn Tigers on the road.
Tennessee and head coach Josh Heupel have a high-powered offense that will test Oklahoma's stout secondary early in SEC play. The Vols return multiple starters in the receiving corps and a talented young quarterback of their own in sophomore Nico Iamaleava.
Tennessee's aggressive defensive front and a unit that loves to generate turnovers could also pressure a young Arnold early in his first go-round in conference play as a collegiate starting quarterback.
The back end of Oklahoma's conference schedule doesn't do them any favors either. Oklahoma has to face the likes of the LSU Tigers, Mizzou Tigers, and Ole Miss on the road in the regular season's final month between late October and Thanksgiving.
Sandwiched in between matchups against Mizzou and LSU, each coming on the road, is a home meeting with new head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Oklahoma will be a tough out for many SEC teams this fall, especially for those playing against the Sooners in Norman this year. But there are too many losable games on OU's schedule for me to confidently say they'll top the 7.5-win total in the latest projections for the 2024 campaign.