My second post was a list of 10 predictions for the 2017 season, and well, some of them turned out to be pretty decent. Let’s see how I did.
1. Baker Loses Another Heisman
But he’ll get close again! Baker will have another great season, but his numbers won’t be as good as last season. Pair that with the already piss poor reputation of Big 12 defenses and we have a narrative that could sink this campaign.
Thank god I was wrong on this one. Somehow, Baker completely torched his production from last season, breaking his own NCAA record in passer rating as well as topping almost every other statistical measure from his fantastic 2016 campaign. Big 12 defense narratives, controversies and basically anything under the sun couldn’t stop this man from getting the Heisman.
2. Rodney Anderson has a breakout season
As is tradition, OU will reload its running back core this season. Losing two highly talented and experienced backs in Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon will be a blow early on, especially in Columbus. Abdul Adams should be a more than capable back in relief, but I think Rodney Anderson will have a huge impact come midseason.
Nailed it. This prediction wasn’t looking too hot early on, as Trey Sermon and Abdul Adams looked like the better backs, but once midseason hit (like I said), Rodney took off into superstardom, performing as well as any back in the country. Anderson’s breakout year was capped with a 201 yard, two touchdown performance against Georgia in the Rose Bowl. Hopefully, 2018 brings more of the same from 2017’s best surprise.
3. OU beats Ohio State
This is where things get weird. I believe Ohio State is a better team on paper than OU. They are at home and they have Urban Meyer against rookie head coach Lincoln Riley. The game last season illustrated just how wide the physical athletic gap was in terms of speed and size, mainly on the defensive side. So, how do the Sooners bridge that gap in a year? My bet is that Riley throws convention out the window, and gets real weird with the playbook. One of Riley’s best traits as a playcaller is his ability to throw out crafty plays that use players in unconventional ways. I have a weird feeling that if this game gets close, the Sooners have an edge just on sheer ballsiness. Weird stuff happens in college football. That being said…
Another risky one right! The Oklahoma offense and Baker Mayfield was just too much for the Buckeyes on that wonderful night in Columbus. The difference in this once came with OU’s usually unreliable defense holding strong in crucial moments and JT Barrett becoming a complete non-factor. This was the night OU looked destined for the Playoff.
4. They miraculously lose at K-State for some reason.
21st century OU football seasons usually go one of two ways. Some years, they shit the bed early, get out of the national title conversation and through one way or the other, win the Big 12, go to a decent bowl game and then ride off into the offseason (I.E. 2006, 2010, 2016). Those are okay, at least my expectations as a spoiled fan are changed early enough to mentally settle for another Big 12 title. However, the seasons that piss me off are the ones where OU starts out on fire, beats a good team early on, shoots up to the top 5 and then collapses against a random ass team (2007 & 2011 Tech, 2015 Texas). Given the timing (right after the Red River Shootout), the opponent (The Manhattan Wizard) and it being away from Norman, I think the Sooners slip here.
They almost did. I nailed the “miraculous loss after Ohio State” thing, but honestly who in their right mind would think it would be Iowa State at home? The Sooners played down to their opponents all season, nearly laying eggs in Waco, Dallas, and Manhattan. Thankfully, things ironed themselves out later on, but that formula of getting a great start before blowing it to a garbage team still remains.
5. Chix and Styx is going to be a terrible bar (RIP Chimy’s)
Honestly i’m not opposed to a wing place on Campus Corner and the old Chimy’s layout is almost too great to fail. BUT HOW AND WHY WOULD ANYONE NAME IT THIS. It’s impossible for me to have any optimism that Chix and Styx will even remotely fill the shoes of the GOAT, Chimy’s. Bring back the legendary DP Shootouts from the Chimy’s era and then we can talk success.
Yup.
6. Kyler Murray Will Play a Decently Major Role
I have no idea how, but I just have a feeling Lincoln Riley finds a way to get one of the best athletes on roster on the field this season. This one is a pure hunch, clearly some seriously well thought out Journalism here at The Schooner.
Sure, Kyler Murray as the pitchman in overtime in the biggest game of the year was decently major, as well as majorly stupid. That being said, in the few glimpses we saw him play to his full capabilities, there were plenty of things to get excited about.
7. Some drunk dude in the student section will call for Lincoln Riley’s head after the first offensive drive
And then promptly ask his friends if they want to go to Logie’s, which they will probably do.
God, early Schooner Blog was rough.
8. OU avenges its one loss in the Big 12 Championship
The Sooners always seem to heat up in the second half of the season, and that’s what I think happens here. The young receiving corps will grow up by the time the bigger back half games come around. After taking a theoretical loss to K-State earlier in the year, holes and issues should be covered up enough for OU to take home Big 12 Title #11.
Iowa State almost gave us a chance before returning to mortality. Instead, we just beat up on TCU again.
9. OU makes the Playoff
This one is going to be tight again. There will be three one loss teams; OU, USC and Ohio State. The problem? Alabama has two losses and gets in over one of them. It’ll be some crazy shit, but the Big 12 finally catches a break and adding the Big 12 Championship somehow pays off. However…
The Sooners did make the Playoff and Ohio State did get bumped out over Bama…just not exactly how I described it.
10. The season ends against USC in the Rose Bowl
Just our luck right? Well knock on some damn wood because somehow we’ll end up playing the hometown team, as is tradition. Unlike 2004, this will be a close game. Sam Darnold vs. Baker will be an all time duel, but it just isn’t enough. Baker Mayfield walks off like so many other all time great Sooner quarterbacks before him; title-less. That being said, the new direction Lincoln Riley turns the program in leaves an optimistic end for the Sooners.
Or maybe not, idk I just started this blog a day ago 🤷🏼♂️
The season did end in an all time duel in the Rose Bowl. The only thing wrong here is me thinking that USC would actually be good. The bolded part is almost creepily accurate in how it ended, except instead of optimism we are all just pissed about Mike Stoops and a squib kick.
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