Greg McElroy previews Oklahoma schedule, believes Sooners could make Big 12 championship

Greg McElroy dove into the Oklahoma football schedule and when he looked at it on paper, he said the Sooners could make a run to the Big 12 Championship Game.

“I think this team has a chance to be a player,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “A lot of people think there’s no way they’re going to be able to catch TCU and Texas and the other schools, Texas Tech, in the Big 12. I think they could very well find themselves in the Big 12 championship. 

“I really believe that because I think about what they did as far as their high school recruiting class, I think about what they did as far as eight of their top 10 prospects that they signed in their high school recruiting class coming on the defensive side, I think nine overall, or the number nine overall transfer class in college football, which includes six immediate starters off of other power five defenses has me feeling really optimistic about the direction of this program.”

Brent Venables goes into Year 2 and there were a lot of expectations right off the bat. The team limped to a 6-7 finish in 2022, but this fall could be a nice bounce back opportunity.

“Because it was obvious what their issues were, what their deficiencies were, and the offense took a little while to take hold and guess what, when you lose your quarterback, it’s hard to win,” McElroy said. “Maybe, with all due respect to the backup quarterback situation, when Dillon Gabriel wasn’t available there in the middle of the season, it wasn’t going to be the same. 

“And he looked even a little bit hobbled at times after the fact. So I’m really optimistic about where they’re going. I think they are going to be back in the mix. Maybe not in the playoff mix this year. But I think they have a chance to be very very dangerous.”

Greg McElroy sees path to Big 12 Championship for Oklahoma

That’s when McElroy turned his attention to the schedule. Oklahoma has a favorable slate in its last year before the SEC.

“Let’s go through the schedule right, Arkansas State should be a winner,” McElroy said. “Be careful with SMU, but that should be one that you get taken care of. At Tulsa, we know Tulsa is going to be juiced for that one, nut I’m not overly concerned about what Tulsa brings at this point. 

“I look at the road game to Cincinnati … I think that could be one where Cincinnati comes back to Earth … So I think Oklahoma can get that one. Now we’re looking at a situation man you’re 4-0, things look pretty good. Iowa State’s coming to you … I’m going to leave with the Sooners at the moment. You could be 6-0 heading into the Red River rivalry. That’s a pretty good spot to be at now.” 

Texas could be better than Oklahoma this year, in fact many picked Texas to win the Big 12. But that’s why you play the game.

“I think you could be 6-1 coming out of the Texas game,” McElroy said. “UCF at home. I feel good about it …  How about at Kansas, at Oklahoma State? Two very difficult games. If you can get a split there, you got to feel good about it. If you’re Oklahoma, you know that Kansas, maybe not the most hostile environment, but a difficult offense to play against and a group that could cause some problems for you. 

“And we know Oklahoma State, they’re going to have that one circled for sure, based on what you’ve heard from Mike Gundy in the offseason … West Virginia at home that should be one you get, TCU at home in the last game of the year. That should be one that I think will be a bit of a toss up but I like your chances in that game as well. And then the road trip that is sandwiched by those two aforementioned games is BYU. Be careful … That’s one of the more interesting games on the schedule.”

McElroy sees Oklahoma knocking on the door of double digit wins, a steady improvement from last season.

“Oklahoma sitting at 9-3, I mean, I think it’s a very real possibility,” McElroy said. “I’m not trying to drink the Sooner Kool Aid, but I would be surprised if this team limped to the finish like they did at times last year.”