OU scores big again versus Aggies

The Oklahoma Sooners again looked like the most dominant offense in college football Saturday beating Texas A&M 66-28 at Kyle Field. Many would argue that #2 Texas Tech has the most potent offense. But the Red Raiders can't do what OU did on the ground, which is why OU's offense is better. The Sooners offensive line and running backs put on quite a show by rushing for 328 yards and 3 touchdowns, all by Chris Brown. Brown finished with 117 yards and DeMarco Murray had a career-high 126 yards on just seven carries.

Here's another stat that confirms OU's offensive supremacy. Balance. In fact, almost perfectly balanced with 325 passing yards. Sam Bradford threw for 320 yards and 4 TDs, all to different receivers. Bradford eclipsed his total touchdown number of 36 last year and now leads the nation in TDs with 38.

OU got back a little ground lost from last week in the BCS. With the help of Iowa's upset of Penn State, the Sooners moved up one spot to #5. The Sooners are off for a bye week next week and will get ready for Texas Tech. Tech is getting a lot of love in the media right now. Graham Harrell has apparently already won the Heisman and Tech will play Alabama for the national championship. OU will get their chance to end America's love affair with Texas Tech in two weeks. If OU has one thing on their side, it is that they get the opportunity for two big wins late in the year. Should OU beat Tech and OSU, they will need to be ahead of Texas in the BCS rankings to head to KC for the Big 12 Championship.

Hang on to your hats, it should be a wild ride.

Sooners Blitz Texas A&M, 66-28...soonersports.com

Rohde: OU's rout, Iowa's upset re-open title race...
newsok.com

Bradford's birthday bash a beauty...tulsaworld.com

Sooners spank Huskers 62-28, Drop Two Spots in BCS

Here's a recap of the shake-up that happened this week in the BCS poll after Saturday's games. Texas Tech beat #1 Texas to move up to #2. Florida beat #8 Georgia, moved up one spot to #5. Alabama beat Arkansas State, moved to #1. And the Sooners of Oklahoma beat Nebraska 62-28 only to fall two spots to #6.

Am I complaining about this? Okay, you got me. There are about 7 or 8 teams with legitimate arguments to be in the top five. Florida's blowout win over Georgia was definitely impressive. And you can't argue with moving Texas Tech into the top 3 after the big win in Lubbock. So what can you do?

Actually, this may be the best position for the Sooners. With Tech being #2 now, a win down in Lubbock will carry much weight and should catapult the Sooners back into the top 3. That is if the Sooner D will allow such an event to occur.

The Sooner offense was again hitting on all 12 cylinders. While the Sooner defense was giving up big plays. Hey, at least they held NU to under thirty points. That's an improvement from the past three games. The Sooners jumped out to an eye-popping 35-0 first quarter, largely due from three Husker turnovers.

Sam Bradford turned out another stellar performance with 311 yards and 5 TD passes. Quentin Chaney had a season-high 128 yards receiving and a score. The Sooners are coming down the home stretch with games against A&M, Tech and OSU. There is no question the offense can and will dominate, its up to the defense to get them back into the BCS top 5.

Oklahoma Routs Nebraska, 62-28...soonersports.com

OU drops, OSU rises in AP Poll...newsok.com

Sooners crush Huskers...tulsaworld.com

Sooner Offense Lights Up Kansas State

OU played great on offense Saturday and tied a school record of 55 points in the first half to beat KSU. The problem was they needed almost all of those points. The Sooner defense allowed 35 points against the Wildcats, final score 58-35.

The Sooners offense racked up 528 yards and were able to keep up the momentum from last week in running the ball. DeMarco Murray totaled four touchdowns, two catches and two runs. Murray rushed for 104 yards and Chris Brown rushed for 142. Brown and Murray are starting to hit a stride now and have turned into the lethal one-two punch everyone knew they could be.

Sam Bradford had a relatively quiet day, although for many QBs it would be a career day. Bradford finished with 255 passing yards and three TDs. He also added a rushing TD on a sneak. Bradford had another solid performance which should keep him at #2 on this week's Heisman board.

As the Sooner offense mowed through the Kansas State defense, the Sooner defense continued to struggle. This makes the third week in a row the defense has allowed 30+ points. Brent V's defense is allowing an average of 32 points this year against Big 12 opponents. The only bright spot on defense was the five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumbles).

Austin Box started at middle linebacker for the first time this year. Box got burned on a few plays over the middle and was out of position other times. He did, however, finish with 9 tackles. Let's hope he's learning from his mistakes. On the flip side, Travis Lewis continued his outstanding freshman year with 2 interceptions and a team-leading 15 tackles.

The coaches need to stop the bleeding on defense and figure out how to get back to early season form. Giving up 35 points to a team that scored 13 on Colorado is unacceptable.

Sooners Roll at K-State, 58-35...soonersports.com

Even in victory, OU defense has fans in despair...newsok.com

OU offense a scoring machine; defense lags...newsok.com

Sooners put it to Wildcats...tulsaworld.com

Sooners bounce back against Jayhawks.

The Sooners got back in the win column Saturday against the Kansas, beating the Jayhawks 45-31. The OU offense went off on Kansas, lighting up their defense for 674 yards of total offense while setting several records along the way.

Sam Bradford continued to assault the OU record books by breaking the school record for passing yards in a game with 468 yards, just a few yards shy of KU's total offensive output. The record broke Josh Heupel's old mark of 429. WR Juaquin Iglesias also set a record for catches in a game, 12, and receiving yards in a half, 178. This, after WR Manuel Johnson left the game after an elbow injury.

OU's rushing attack came back to life with the resurgence of DeMarco Murray who had many nice runs to finish with 89 yards and two scores. Chris Brown added 92 yards and one touchdown. All together, the Sooners rushed for 209 yards.

Defensively, the Sooners held their ground when they needed to. Nic Harris was moved to middle linebacker in place of Ryan Reynolds. I would have expected to see Sam Proctor take Harris' spot at safety, but it was Quinton Carter who filled in and led the team with 10 total tackles.

Lendy Holmes undoubtedly had the best game on defense and maybe his best game ever as a Sooner. Holmes made several critical goal line plays as Kansas was threatening to score. On one drive, Holmes had a goal line interception. Then later made a tackle for loss and tipped pass on consecutive plays to limit KU to a field goal. Holmes finished with 8 total tackles and 2 interceptions.

The Sooners get a good win against a very good offensive KU team, who set many records of their own on Saturday. There are still holes on defense, specifically in pass coverage. OU will need to work on these weakness to stay undefeated the rest of the way. The Sooner offense can score with any team in the nation, but you can't rely on winning shoot-outs every week, especially in the Big 12.

Bradford, OU Scorch Kansas, 45-31...soonersports.com

Murray revived in OU win...newsok.com

Tramel: Sam, Sooners simply amazing...newsok.com

OU blasts off...tulsaworld.com

Oklahoma vs. Kansas 2008

The Sooners return to the field this Saturday against Kansas after losing their #1 ranking to the Longhorns last week. This will hopefully be a good bounce-back game for the Sooners who are looking to regain national respect after a 10-point loss. OU is a 20-point favorite at home against the #16 ranked Jayhawks.

OU will be trying to find a capable replacement for star linebacker Ryan Reynolds who was lost for the season by injury. It looks like Austin Box will be the starter at the middle linebacker position. Box is a former high school safety and has much better speed and cover skills than Brandon Crow, who got torched on the pass last week after Reynold's injury.

Also, look for the Sooners to establish a running game that has been in hibernation of late. The offensive line needs to step up their game and DeMarco Murray is slumping badly. The Sooners need to get back to a balanced offense in order run the table in their remaining Big 12 schedule, which features three ranked opponents.

The Jayhawks are no push-over. The Fighting Manginos have a tough defense with very good linebackers and an explosive offense much like OU's. Currently, the Jayhawk passing offense is rated #7. The Sooners need to win big over this Kansas team and prove they are still dominant.

Prediction: Oklahoma 45 - Kansas 24.

Stoops, Sooners Keyed in on Kansas...soonersports.com

OU football: Sooners seek answers to running game woes...newsok.com

OU football notebook: Bradford will run, if needed...newsok.com

CBSSports.com 2008 Midseason All-America Team...sportsline.com

Sooners Fall to Longhorns 45-35

Saturday, the Sooners played well enough to beat the Longhorns, but came up short in the final quarter leading to their first loss of the season. There were numerous plays in the game you can point to that were turning points which lost the Red River Rivalry for the Sooners. Penalties, injuries, blown calls, failed fakes, you name it. For me, it came down to two plays: the Shipley kickoff return (OU is absolutely horrible on KOs) & the Lamont Robinson interception that was called incomplete.

The loss hurts, especially after OU was built up as unbeatable. But there is still hope. The Sooners dropped to only #4 in the latest coaches poll. I think the Longhorns will drop some games themselves and open the door for the Sooners in the Big 12 South. The Longhorns played on emotion Saturday. I am not convinced that their team is as good as they played against the Sooners. Their defense is tough, but they have an average offense. They could easily lose to Mizzou this week or OSU and Texas Tech down the road.

The Sooners have to move on from this loss. The season is still early and crazy things can happen in the polls, just look at OSU! The BCS Champion will more than likely NOT be undefeated. OU can still back into the Big 12 Championship. They just can't lose another one.

A Heartbreaker for the Sooners...soonersports.com

OU needs help to return to top...tulsaworld.com

Red River Rivalry: OU vs. Texas 2008

It's OU/Texas time again and you can't ask for a better match-up. Two Heisman candidates going head to head and two top-five teams playing for national title hopes. It's no wonder the Gameday crew is going to be at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday.

Both teams come into the Red River Rivalry with a lot of momentum. Oklahoma, however, has the edge in almost every facet of the game and is a 7-point favorite. The game will definitely be decided in the trenches and OU will have to move the ball on the ground to be effective and I believe they will. This will open up the passing opportunities which will definitely favor OU since Texas is ranked 109th nationally in pass defense.

Defensively, the Sooners will need to stop an effective Longhorn offense ranked 6th in scoring. OU lines up better against Texas' offense. The Sooners have the nation's best pass defense and Texas' leading rusher is Colt McCoy. Look for the Sooner D to disrupt the Longhorn's offensive plans.

It doesn't get much better than OU/Texas each year. What makes it even better is when both teams are playing at the top of their game. That's what we have again in '08. College football in October, ya gotta love it! Sit back and watch the fireworks.

Stoops, OU Players Discuss Texas...soonersports.com

A tale of two coaches...newsok.com

Tales from the Cotton Bowl tunnel...tulsaworld.com

Breaking the huddle on the Red River Rivalry...espn.com

#1 Sooners Blowout Baylor 49-17

The Sam Bradford-led Sooners took care of business Saturday against unranked Baylor, beating the Bears 49-17. OU scored 28 points in the first quarter and certainly looked like a #1 ranked team should look.

Bradford had another Heisman-esque performance, with 372 passing yards and two TDs. DeMarco Murray added 96 yards on the ground with a pair of TDs. Defensively, the Sooners again looked impressive led by linebacker Keenan Clayton with a career-high 14 tackles.

The blowout was a good warm-up for the Big 12 schedule, especially for next week's showdown with Texas. The game every Sooner fan looks forward to each year has finally arrived. Every year they say it, and just about every year it is true: the winner of this game will have a great chance at the national title. The Sooners will put their #1 ranking on the line this week against the #5 ranked Longhorns.

Lee Corso and the crew will be in Dallas this weekend, let OU/Texas Week begin!

Sooners Win Big 12 Opener, 49-17...soonersports.com

No. 1 OU bewilders Bears...newsok.com

Sooners grin and Bear it...tulsaworld.com

OU vs. Baylor 2008

The Sooners will take the field in Waco against Baylor for the first time this year as the #1 team in the nation. There is a lot of pressure that comes with this ranking and the Sooners will have to play at an extra level each and every week. OU now has an even bigger target on their back.

The Sooners open up their conference schedule with a team that has consistently taken up residence in the cellar of the Big 12 South. But the Baylor Bears are seemingly improved from previous years with the help of their phenomenal freshman QB Robert Griffin.

Sam Bradford should continue his stellar statistics as his Heisman campaign really gets underway. The Sooners should also be able to run the ball much better this week, giving them a balanced attack.

OU has never lost to Baylor and it looks like that trend will no doubt continue on Saturday. OU is favored by 25 points.

Prediction: Oklahoma 55 - Baylor 17.


It's a 1-derful world for OU...newsok.com

Game Notes: Oklahoma at Baylor...soonersports.com

Looking out for No. 1...tulsaworld.com

OU beats TCU, moves to #1

The star of Saturday night's game against TCU was #1. As in Manny Johnson. It was fitting that the receiver, who set OU's single game receiving yards record wears jersey #1. Because that's the ranking the Sooners took over after beating TCU 35-10. It certainly was a crazy weekend of college football, with the #1, 3 & 4 teams all going down. The Sooners now own the top spot ahead of Notre Dame for most weeks at number one.

Sam Bradford bolstered his Heisman campaign with 411 yards passing and 4 TDs. He was helped by three big passing plays to Manny Johnson, who now owns the Sooner record for receiving yards in a game with 206 yards. Bradford also set an OU record for passing yards in a quarter with 199 yards in the first quarter.

The Sooners got off to a fast start against TCU and never let up. Even thought the Sooners never established a running game, they were able to torch the Horned Frog defense through the air. OU scored 21 points in the first quarter and TCU had no answer offensively. OU's defense played strong again, led by linebackers Ryan Reynolds and Travis Lewis.

The Sooners return to the top of the mountain after five years off. It is the first time since 2003 the Sooners have been ranked #1.

Sooners Blitz No. 23 TCU, 35-10...soonersports.com

Oklahoma vs. TCU

Oklahoma takes on the Horned Frogs of TCU this Saturday night in Norman. Everybody's been talking about the 2005 game. Yes, OU has a little bit of payback due to these Frogs. And the fact that they're ranked in the top 25 makes this match-up even more intriguing. This game is now OU's toughest non-conference game when only three weeks ago, Cincinnati was the toughest. The Horned Frogs are something like 4-1 against OU in Norman and have a very good team this year. So far they are unbeaten, albeit they haven't played anyone. They are strong on offense and lead the nation in total defense. However, they haven't seen an offense like OU's fourth ranked unit. Their offense is powered by a strong running game, but OU matches up well in that respect.

This game will not be anything like the 2005 loss. OU has a dominant, experienced offensive line. In 2005 these current senior linemen were all freshman and learning the offense like the rest of the young team. OU's quarterback situation is also worlds apart in comparison. The 2008 Sooners have a much better quarterback in Sam Bradford compared to 2005's Rhett Bomar. There's all the difference you need. OU is favored by 18.5 points.


OU'S O-LINE IS FAR BETTER THAN THEY WERE IN 2005

OU will need to play well against this feisty TCU team, whose fans are definitely hyped up for this one. And after a week off, Sooner fans will be just as hyped to see their #2 ranked team in action again.

Prediction: Oklahoma 47 - TCU 20.

In Sam Bradford news, the star QB is not only getting Heisman recognition but also getting buzz as a top NFL prospect in next year's draft. If you've been listening to Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay from ESPN.com, they are talking up Bradford as the best quarterback for the 2010 NFL draft. McShay even went so far as to say Bradford is the best eligible quarterback for the 2009 draft! Of course Bradford wouldn't come out after this year, (we hope), but may have to make a decision after his junior year.


BRADFORD IS GETTING NFL HYPE

Make sure to tune in to Gameday on ESPN this Saturday. Gameday is doing a spotlight piece on Bradford.

Gameday to Feature Bradford...soonersports.com

Stoops, Sooners Preview TCU Game...soonersports.com

OU football notebook...newsok.com

OU Notebook...tulsaworld.com

Rare home loss inspires Sooners vs. TCU...espn.com

OU routs Washington 55-14

Sam Bradford and the Sooners' offensive machine mowed down another opponent Saturday night. It was another impressive performance by the sophomore quarterback who now has me believing that there's a serious chance of him winning the Heisman this year. Bradford was near flawless in the Sooner win, hitting on 18 of 21 passes for 304 yards. And the fact that the Sooners were playing on the road in a hostile environment makes it even more impressive. The guy doesn't seem to make a wrong decision and he doesn't get rattled.


SAM BRADFORD IS MAKING HIS CASE
FOR THE HEISMAN

This Sooner win wasn't a one man show by far. The offensive line played great allowing two running backs, DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown, to eclipse 100 yards each. Murray and Brown had holes to run through all game long. In all, OU finished with 274 rushing yards to balance their 300+ passing yards. Several receivers stepped up once again. WR Ryan Broyles and TE Jermaine Gresham each had two TD catches. Each had an impressive long TD reception of highlight quality. By the way, is there a better stiff arm in the nation than Gresham's?


THE SOONERS WERE ABLE TO RUN
AT WILL AGAINST THE HUSKIES

Defensively, the Sooners were stout again. This OU line seemingly gets better and better. Gerald McCoy is a beast. And Jeremy Beal is trying to take over Auston English's title of "best defensive end on the team." The D-Line caused havoc in the backfield and stuffed the run over and over, holding Washington to 87 net rushing yards. The secondary played well and broke up several passes, including one in the endzone.


THE OU "D" IS COMING ON STRONG

Yes, it was a very impressive win in Seattle for the Sooners. The 41 point victory on the road was enough to vault the Sooners past Georgia, who had an unimpressive 14-7 win over South Carolina. The voters put the right team at #2.

Right now, it appears that the teams to beat are Oklahoma and USC. Followed close behind by Missouri and Florida. If the Sooners can play this well on the road in the Big 12, I think no one will be able to stop them.

Three weeks in, three teams stand out...espn.com

Sooners Trample Washington, 55-14...soonersports.com

Tramel: Beware of these Sooners...newsok.com

Husky roadkill...tulsaworld.com

OU vs. Washington Buzz

Oklahoma takes their show on the road this weekend against the Washington Huskies and are a 21 point favorite. The Sooners invade Seattle Saturday night versus a team that got hosed last week on a Pac-10 official call much like the 2006 Sooners at Oregon.

OU will try to improve on last season's bad road performances. The Huskies are not a good team. Even though they took #18 BYU down to the wire, Washington is playing without two starters and should be no match for the red-hot #3 Sooners.

Sam Bradford cracked into this week's ESPN Heisman watch at #5. Look for Bradford to hit super-frosh WR Ryan Broyles again for big yardage. After his performance last week vs. Cincy, Broyles may have become Bradford's favorite target.


BRADFORD GETS HEISMAN BUZZ

On defense, the Sooners are looking tough. The secondary has hardly been tested so far, but have played well. The linebacking corp has become solid with the emergence of RFr. Travis Lewis. On the line, the Sooners have been great at getting pressure in the backfield.

OU vs. Washington won't be as compelling as the other west coast match up Saturday night. But the Sooners have to prove they can win despite Pac-10 officiating. And prove they can win on the road.

Prediction: Oklahoma 49 - Washington 13

Sooner Gameday Central...soonersports.com

Game Notes: OU at Washington...soonersports.com

Stoops, Sooners ready to move past last year's road losses...newsok.com

OU Notebook...tulsaworld.com

Sooners take care of Cincy 52-26

OU overcame a shaky second quarter to thump the Cincinnati Bearcats 52-26. The Sooners came out strong in the first quarter via two great offensive scoring drives, each capped off by Sam Bradford touchdown throws. The second quarter became a little scary when Cincinnati came within 8 points after picking off Bradford twice. Cincinnati also got help from their special teams with great kickoff returns from record-setting specialist Mardy Gilyard.


BRADFORD HAD A BIG DAY
PASSING THE BALL

But in the end, the Bearcats couldn't pull off the upset. OU made the right adjustments at halftime and came out strong once again the third quarter. Overall it was an outstanding performance by Sam Bradford who threw for career high 395 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tight end Jermaine Gresham continued his dominance with two touchdown receptions and finished with 93 yard on 7 catches.

The offensive breakout player of the game was by far Ryan Broyles. Broyles lived up to the hype he was given by coaches in the preseason. His first two collegiate catches were very memorable. First he caught a short pass by Bradford and took it down the sideline for an impressive thirty-yard plus gain. A few plays later, he caught a 27 yard pass for a OU's first touchdown of the game. Broyles finished with a game-high 141 receiving yards. His most impressive catch was a jump ball caught over two defenders for 43 yards. What a debut! This guy is going to be awesome.


RYAN BROYLES HAD A BREAKOUT GAME IN HIS SOONER DEBUT

On the defensive side, OU played just as well. They weren't given much to work with after two interceptions and bad field position from several great Cincinnati kickoff returns. But the defense held when they needed to and played very well. Dominique Franks came up with a huge end zone interception in the first half. The potential touchdown would have made the halftime score very close.

Defensive stars included defensive end Jeremy Beal, who was in the backfield all day and finished with 10 tackles, and redshirt freshman Travis Lewis with 12 tackles. Lewis was the Ryan Broyles of the defense, having a coming-out party with an impressive game. Lewis now has the potential to be the regular starter and may have solidified the spot over Austin Box. Box, a player I thought would be the starter this week was limited in action. Coaches may still be holding him back a little after having knee surgery. But Lewis, so far, has been solid in only his first two games as a Sooner.

Overall, this was a great win for the Sooners. The offense was dominant against a very good Big East defense. And the defense played solidly versus a good spread offense. Cincinnati should win a few games this year and Oklahoma will be able to point to this game as a quality non-conference win.

Sooners Thump Cincinnati, 52-26...soonersports.com

Broyles sparks OU in impressive debut...newsok.com

Sooners pull away from Cincinnati for a 52-26 win...tulsaworld.com

Oklahoma's Broyles breaks out in romp over Cincinnati...
dallasnews.com

OU vs. Cincinnati Buzz

The Sooners come out in week two against Cincinatti, a team that won 10 games in 2007and went bowling. This opponent will be a stark contrast to the cream puff Chattanooga Mocs of week one. The Sooners are favored by 22 points. The game is scheduled for 2:30 on ABC.



The Sooners should be at full strength and will be even deeper at linebacker with Austin Box set to make his OU debut after having surgery. Cincinatti has a passing attack capable of moving down the field and scoring. Their rushing game is a different story, however. The Sooner defense should be able to handle this offense if they can't run the ball.


AUSTIN BOX COULD MAKE HIS
FIRST START AS A SOONER SATURDAY

On defense, the Bearcats have two All-Americans and could be a challenge for OU offensively. This game will be a good test for the Sooners in preparation for a non-conference road game the following week.

This Cincinatti game looked like a cupcake opponent when the Sooners scheduled them two years ago. Now, however, it may not be the cake walk everyone was hoping for. Still, I believe the Sooners will take care of business. Home game. #4 team in the nation. National (or regional) television. Sooners win.

Prediction: Oklahoma 45 - Cincinnati 17

OU vs. Cincy Scouting Report...soonersports.com

Game Notes: OU Hosts Bearcats...soonersports.com

Sooners Win Big in Saturday Opener

Saturday night, OU needed only one half of football to prove dominant over Tennessee-Chattanooga. After scoring 50 points in thirty minutes, there was no need in coming out in the second half and after a 90 minute rain delay. But they did anyway. When the storm finally eased up, so did the Sooners. Final score: OU 57, Chattanooga 2.



Sam Bradford and the rest of the offense played very well and moved the ball with ease while breaking in their new no-huddle offense. Bradford picked up where he left off the 2007 season connecting on 17 of 22 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. DeMarco Murray also played well coming off of knee surgery. Murray carried 15 times for 124 yards and two scores. Chris Brown punched in three touchdowns from short distances and had 64 yards on the ground.

But it was WR Manny Johnson who may have had the best game. Johnson finished with 9 catches for 120 yards and one touchdown. It was good to see production like this out of Johnson. The tandem of Juaquin Iglesias and Johnson will pack a powerful punch down the stretch.



Defensively, the game was a shut out. The Sooners covered well, tackled well, and rushed the QB well all night. Sack master DE Auston English had 2.5 sacks and six tackles to lead the Sooners along with LB Ryan Reynolds.

The Sooners now look ahead to a much better opponent in Cincinnati. The Bearcats were a bowl team a year ago and finished in the rankings at #17.

OU Opens Season with 57-2 Win...soonersports.com

OU notebook: Sooners play clean...newsok.com

OU cruises to 57-2 win after lightning delay at halftime... tulsaworld.com

Oklahoma Season Opener: Sooners vs. Mocs

The Sooners open their season Saturday night in what will be anything but a "game". More like a scrimmage. The opponent, Tennessee-Chattanooga, is a division I-AA school. It's a ding to the Sooners' strength of schedule, therefore Bob Stoops needs to win big. Of course OU should have no problem with the Mocs and are favored by 48.5 points. I'm sure that's what Michigan fans were saying one year ago! But Appalachian State was a division champion and a much better team than this Chattanooga team.


BOB STOOPS READY FOR 10th SEASON OPENER

For the fans, this game will be full of offensive highlights. Will Jermaine Gresham catch three TD passes? Why not? Will DeMarco Murray break his five-touchdown personal best? Possibly. Will Sam Bradford throw for over 400 yards? More than likely. All of these scenarios are possible Saturday night against the Mocs. The Sooners will be able to do what they want, whenever they want. And playing the Mocs is a perfect time for OU to practice their new offense, the no-huddle.


GET READY FOR A FEW END ZONE
CELEBRATIONS THIS SATURDAY

For the players, this game is the time to unleash all that preseason energy and finally hit somebody not wearing your same colors. I predict the players will come out fired up and quickly put points on the scoreboard.


THE TIME HAS ARRIVED, SOONER FANS

It should be fun to watch. Football is finally here, baby! Boomer Sooner!

Prediction: Oklahoma 63 - Chattanooga 7

OU Opens Season Saturday Night...soonersports.com

OU Gameday Information...scout.com

Mocs savoring their moment on the big stage...newsok.com

OU Notebook...tulsaworld.com

Sooner Linebackers

The Sooners' linebackers will be going through a crash course this fall. OU returns only one experienced linebacker in starter Ryan Reynolds. Barring injury, (we'll keep our fingers crossed) Reynolds should be the solid foundation and leader the Sooners desperately need in a very green unit. Austin Box, who will miss the season opener due to surgery, should contribute immediately. Box fits the mold of previous Sooner linebacker greats. After a few games under his belt, Box should be playing very well by mid-season.


RYAN REYNOLDS

A story I'm looking forward so watching develop at linebacker this year is the move of Keenan Clayton to outside linebacker. A converted safety, Clayton possesses the speed to cover receivers and tight ends, providing OU valuable pass coverage in a pass-dominated league. This switch reminds me of the move of Lewis Baker to linebacker a couple years ago.


AUSTIN BOX

Behind these three LBs, OU will rely on JUCO transfers Mike Balogun and J.R. Bryant for depth, as well as Travis Lewis, Brandon Crow and Lamont Robinson. I predict Sooner fans will see the full array of linebackers during the non-conference games until the coaching staff finds the right three guys.

OU Notebook...tulsaworld.com

Reynolds' knees a concern...tulsaworld.com

Sooners Defensive Secondary

The Sooners' preseason question marks on defense have been primarily focused on the linebackers. The linebackers are inexperienced, that's for sure. But more pressure will be on OU's defensive backs this year. Not only do the Sooners return just two DBs with significant playing time, but they are also in a conference of all-out air assaults. This is no time to be unstable in the defensive backfield.

The good news is that the coaching staff and practice reports indicate that the unit is playing well. It's easy to forget who's playing where during this preseason of "musical chairs" backfield. Lendy Holmes went from starting to backup, then back to starter in a matter of weeks. Holmes is now penciled in as starting free safety. He brings experience and leadership, along with four-year starter and Thorpe Award candidate Nic Harris at strong safety. Pushing for playing time is redshirt freshman Sam Proctor. Proctor was almost a starter and should get significant reps this season at safety. The Sooners may use Proctor in the nickel formation. Holmes and Harris have played as well as anyone the past two years and will be depended upon to play consistent while the new corners adjust.


NIC HARRIS

Oklahoma lost two key corners to graduation - Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker. Also gone is D.J. Wolfe. Replacing these three is not an easy thing to do. During the 'Fiasco Bowl', freshman Dominique Franks started in place of the injured Smith. Franks played well, but really developed into a solid player during the spring. Franks had three interceptions in the Spring Game and should continue to play well as a sophomore. On the other side is junior cornerback Brian Jackson. According to coaches, Jackson has been a ball hawk in practice, breaking up several passes and intercepting others. If Franks and Jackson develop, they have a chance to be as good as their predecessors. That would be a great asset in a league of gunslingers.

Sooner cornerbacks face challenging role filled with criticism...newsok.com

Sooners defense seeks redemption...iht.com

Old and new fill secondary...normantranscript.com

Sooners' Offensive Line and Tight Ends

There is probably not a better O-Line in the country than Oklahoma's line. With all five starters back, three of them 2007 all-Big 12 selections, the Sooners' line should be dominant in both pass protection and run blocking.



The headliner of the unit is left guard Duke Robinson, a 1st team All-American and a certain first-round NFL draft pick. Robinson, along with big left tackle Phil Loadholdt will anchor the left side of the line. Center Jon Cooper, a Remington list candidate this year, Brandon Walker and Branndon Braxton round out the other side of the trench.


DUKE ROBINSON

If this unit plays well, they should give all kinds of time for Bradford to throw, just as they did last year. In 2007, the running lanes weren't always there. I would definitely like to see this aspect improve. If it does, and DeMarco Murray gets a seam, it's lights out.

Moving on to the tight ends, OU returns two incredible players. Jermaine Gresham came to OU two years ago with mega-hype and has delivered. His 11 touchdown catches led the team and all TEs in the nation last year. He is a beast this year, bulking up even more to 260 pounds. There will be few defenders who will be able to cover him, if any. I foresee Gresham playing an even bigger role this year with the loss of Malcolm Kelly. If I was Sam Bradford, I'd be throwing his way every down.


JERMAINE GRESHAM

Brody Eldridge is the best blocker on the team. He lines up at fullback often and lays key blocks in running situations. Eldridge will no doubt dominate defenders again this year. He is an unsung hero and a favorite of Bob Stoops'.


BRODY ELDRIDGE


Being an offensive lineman 'all guts, no glory'... newsok.com

Loadholt big man for OU...enidnews.com

Duke Robinson and Ryan Stanchek: The Best of College Football's Big Uglies...bleacherreport.com

Gresham says he'll stay...tulsaworld.com

Gresham just getting better and better...ardmoreite.com

Oklahoma Sooners: Wide Recievers

If you had to pick a weakness on the offensive side of the ball for OU, it would have to be at wide receiver. The Sooners will certainly miss super-talented Malcom Kelly. But there are several capable replacements to shoulder the load. Sam Bradford will have the luxury of throwing to veteran senior wide receivers. The most notable pass-catcher in this unit is Juaquin Iglesias, OU's leading receiver from 2007. Iglesias will provide experience and leadership at the position and will probably be Bradford's #1 target.


JUAQUIN IGLESIAS

After Iglesias, OU has seniors Manny Johnson and Quentin Chaney. Johnson has been a consistent reciever for three years but the jury is still out on Chaney. He has only limited game experience in his career but had a breakout game in the Fiesta Bowl. The consensus in the Sooners' camp is that the best young receiver is redshirt freshman Ryan Broyles. Stoops has compared Broyles to Mark Clayton - wow! I will be interested to see how good this kid can be this year.

And don't forget about junior Adron Tennell. Tennell was a top 10 receiver out of Texas in 2006, but has been bitten by the injury bug. I'de love to see him reach his full potential and have a breakout season. Other newbies to look for include redshirt freshmen Tyler Stratford and Cory Wilson and true freshmen Jameel Owens and DeJuan Miller. As for the Josh Jarboe situation, I say good riddance and kudos to Bob Stoops for taking a stand.

Stoops: Freshmen receivers likely will play this season...tulsaworld.com

Oklahoma Sooners Offensive Backfield: QBs & RBs

No team in the nation could boast of having a more talented freshmen duo at quarterback and running back than the Sooners last year. Redshirt freshmen Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray provided an unforgettable season of highlight reel runs (Murray) and record-breaking TD passes (Bradford). The two are now seasoned sophomores and will no doubt contribute in a big way in 2008.


BRADFORD AND MURRAY MAKE UP A LETHAL SOONER BACKFIELD

Behind Bradford, the QB position is solid, with a more experienced Joey Halzle and talented true freshman Landry Jones. Halzle proved he could capably backup Bradford last year in Lubbock. Jones will probably get a redshirt this year.



Backing up Murray will be Chris "Touch-Down" Brown. Brown has been a reliable and consistent runner for OU the past two years now. He is probably good enough to start at most schools. With Murray and Brown sharing the load, the Sooners running game is in great shape. Mossis Madu is another consistent back. He will see PT and should give the Sooners good depth at a valuable position. Looking further down the line (and future seasons) OU has true freshmen Jermie Calhoun and Justin Johnson. I can't imagine either of these guys cracking through the depth chart, so I predict redshirts for both.


CHRIS BROWN

Other news:

Sam Bradford was recently named as a candidate for the Walter Camp Award.

Sooners land first QB of 2009 class: San Antonios's Allen...newsok.com

Sooners No. 4 in AP Preseason Poll...soonersports.com

OU's No-Huddle Offense Should Be Pretty Exciting

After last year's unexpected juggernaut offensive performance, Sooner fans know what to expect from this 2008 unit. Bradford. Murray. Gresham. Locked and loaded. Of course the new wrinkle this year is the "no-huddle" introduced by coach Bob Stoops and coordinator Kevin Wilson. This will undoubtedly be the most interesting aspect of the Sooners' offensive scheme. If effective, it could be crippling to opposing defenses. That's the point.



Yes, this OU offense is loaded and will light up Big 12 scoreboards all season long. I can hardly wait to see a new, faster offense. I can smell Bevo roastin' already.

Scrimmage Wraps Up Week One...soonersports.com

OU joins OSU on no-huddle bandwagon...newsok.com

Why the no-huddle?...newsok.com

Sooner Season Just Weeks Away

FOOTBALL IS HERE!!!

The time is upon us Sooner fans. Fall practice starts this monday, single-game tickets go on sale friday, and the opening kickoff is only four weeks away! There is NO better time of the year than these next few months. Glorious, glorious football will soon be here.

It's time for the 2008 Oklahoma Sooners to begin their quest for their third straight Big 12 Championship. The season opener is August 30th against Division I-AA 'Nooga. Let's hope this game doesn't get us in the schedule strength debate later in the year. We must and will obliterate this team.


DeMarco Murray

This Sooner squad will be out to prove once again, that the season-ending bowl loss to West Virginia was flukish and far from being a reflection of the talent and ability that abounds this team. This team is straight up loaded and will be gunning for NC #8 in '08. Actually the NC will take place in '09, but whatever
The consensus of talking heads in the media have OU ranked in the top five. I forget where we started last year, maybe seven? But this year I have seen the Sooners ranked as high as #2. (Yes, I'm counting EA Sports College Football 2009 as an official ranking source).



These are high times again for Sooner fans. We can taste another run at the title. Fingers crossed that we don't have those "hiccup" games that plagued us in 2007. This team should be more mature and focused than last year's.

More to come on the upcoming season. Stay tuned...

OU Signs Another Great Class

I haven't been able to bring myself to blog ever since the Fiesta Bowl debacle over a month ago. I, like many of you, have had to painfully learn how to erase bad memories of these routinely awful BCS bowls. Let's not revisit that. Instead, let's focus on the new crop of Sooners the OU coaching staff recently signed.

OU ranked #8 and #5 by ESPN.com and Rivals.com respectively. With several playmakers now heading off to the NFL early, several positions are in need of filling. This is a class Sooner fans should be excited about. Among the 5-star recruits OU nabbed there's Jermie Calhoun. Calhoun is the Demarco Murray of two years ago as the #2 overall RB in the nation. He may get to see the field this year as a true freshman. If so, he and Murray could become a lethal combo in the Sooner backfield. Next, there's big OL Stephen Good. Good apparently lives up to his name. The 305 pounder was Texas' top lineman which usually says a whole lot. From what I've heard, he has the potential to crack into the starting rotation of a very good and experienced Sooner O-Line. Now that's "Good". Defensive end R.J. Washington is OU's third 5-star player but probably won't see much action for a while. The Sooners already have the two end postion locked down with Auston English and Jeremy Beal. Washington could play into the rotation though.

OU landed a trio of top-ranked receivers. With this move, OU appears to be looking down the road to 2009 when they lose three senior wideouts. Even though the Sooners missed landing the nation's top receiver in Julio Jones, they signed their best receiver class since 2005. Jameel Owens, Josh Jarboe, and Dejuan Miller all have big-time potential and one, if not all, could see significant action this fall.

Two other offensive headliners in this class include QB Landry Jones and RB Justin Johnson. Neither will play immediately but hopefully will be impact players of the future. Jones is a pro-style quarterback with a big arm. He is OU's best ranked QB recruit since Rhett Bomar. Johnson was ranked in Texas right behind Calhoun as the state's best running back. Good times should be ahead for the Sooner's running game.

The biggest issue the Sooners faced in this year's recruiting process was reloading at linebacker. OU didn't get the big names they wanted early on, but finished pretty strong by getting J.R. Bryant and Mike Balogun from the JUCO ranks. OU has a great track record of getting quality JUCO linebackers. Hopefully these two will continue that tradition.

Recruiting is one of my favorite parts of college football. This OU class has some big-time players who have been committed since early '07. I hope all of them pan out, but the sad fact is that not all of them will. There will be some busts, there always are. But there will also be some sleepers who make a great impact. I'm excited to see who contributes in 2008. With this great incoming class, this Sooner team should be just as loaded as last year's.

Only seven more months!

Signing Day 2008...soonersports.com

OU recruiting breakdown...tulsaworld.com

Oklahoma classes from 1999 to 2007...newsok.com

Oklahoma, Texas post top-10 classes...espn.com

Some clips of future OU stars...