SEC Football Preview: Oklahoma to prove it’s SEC ready

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - Oklahoma was the class of the Big 12 for the majority of the last decade, but have a Southeastern Conference schedule to overcome for the first time this season. Here is a short preview of the Sooners:

COACH — Brent Venables: 10-3 overall (10-3 in three seasons at Oklahoma.

2023 SEASON — 10-3 overall, 7-2 in Big 12 (T-2nd); Lost in Alamo Bowl.

RETURNING STARTERS — 13 (four offensive, seven defensive).

TOP PLAYERS — QB Jackson Arnold, WR Deion Burks, WR Nic Anderson, RB Gavin Sawchuk, LB Danny Stutsman, FS Billy Bowman Jr.

KEY LOSSES — QB Dillon Gabriel, WR Drake Stoops, TE Austin Stogner, OT Tyler Guyton, OT Walter Rouse, OG McKade Mettauer, DT Jacob Lacey, FS Key Lawrence.

SEASON OUTLOOK — The keys to the offense have been handed to quarterback Jackson Arnold, who made his first career start in the Alamo Bowl last season. The Denton Guyer alumnus completed 57.8 percent of his passes in the game for 361 yards and two touchdowns. He also was picked of three times. He’ll have to work behind a completely revamped offensive line, thanks to the transfer portal. However, he has a veteran wide receiving corps to mitigate some of the inexperience. On defense, linebacker Danny Stutsman leads the unit as a three-year starter with 268 career tackles and 28 tackles for loss. As a group, the Sooner defense ranked 14th in the country in third down conversion percentage defense (31.1%) and seventh in team tackles for loss per game (7.5).

SCHEDULE:

Denotes SEC Conference game.