Oklahoma Football: Forecasting the Sooners 2021 season

In his annual college football preview, writer Phil Steele forecasted the 2021 season for every team, including Oklahoma football. After a 1-2 start last season, the Sooners ended the year with eight straight victories. Freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler threw 18 touchdowns to just three interceptions in that span. OU took down Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship before a dominant 55-20 victory against Florida in the Cotton Bowl.

The Sooners enter 2021 at the forefront of the College Football Playoff conversation. Rattler is garnering attention as a Heisman candidate and has the weapons around him to take them far. Below is a summary of what Steele said about OU.

The Offense

Oklahoma football averaged 44.3 points per game this past season, the third-best in Lincoln Riley’s four years as head coach.

Rattler not only finds himself at the top of Heisman predictions but also draft boards. He returns top targets Theo Wease and Marvin Mims, plus adds Arkansas transfer Mike Woods (619 yards receiving in 2020). Steele projects the Sooners to have the No. 1 offensive line and No. 2 receiving corps in the country.

The difference-maker is running back Kennedy Brooks. The junior had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons in 2018 and 2019, but opted out of last year. His return to the field makes OU the most potent offense in the nation.

The Defense

Eight starters return on defense, including linebacker Nik Bonitto (nine sacks).

The Sooners must focus on forcing more turnovers as they finished with just 11 last season. They brought in defensive coordinator Alex Grinch in January 2019 after finishing with the worst defense in the Big 12. OU finished second in the conference in total defense in his first year and third last season.

A lackluster defense has held back explosive offenses in recent years. Steele’s predictions say this could be the Sooners’ best unit since 2009, which should scare the rest of the country.

The Forecast

Riley has missed the CFP only once in his four seasons as Oklahoma football coach.

This roster could be his best all-around group since taking over, with the No. 1 offense and No. 6 defense according to Steele. Fifteen starters return, including all of the best offensive players. They also have the benefit of playing Iowa State at home. The Sooners have lost just twice at home under Riley, though one of those losses was to the Cyclones in 2017.

He’s not in the minority, but Steele is high on OU in 2021. He calls for their first national championship since 2000.