Oklahoma one of USA TODAY Sports’ bigger disappointments in 2022
A season like the one Oklahoma just completed is something that hasn’t been seen in a long time. 6-6 is the worst record the Sooners have had since the mid-90s, but watching this team in 2022, even with as bad as it was at times, they could have finished with a better record had some plays gone their way in one or more of their close losses.
The Sooners struggled in close games. They were 0-4 in one-score games with losses to Kansas State, Baylor, West Virginia, and Texas Tech. They had significant first half leads against Weat Virginia and Texas Tech. A play or two that goes Oklahoma’s way could very well be the difference in 6-6 and 8-4.
But that’s how it goes for teams that can’t do the little things well, and down the stretch, Oklahoma failed to do the little things well consistently. They struggled on third and fourth down on both sides of the ball and in losses to West Virginia and Texas Tech, Oklahoma couldn’t hold onto a big lead.
At times they looked good, but when a perennial conference power loses six games, one can’t help but describe the season as a disappointment. Paul Myerburg of USA TODAY Sports shared his surprises and disappointments from the 2022 season and Oklahoma was among those that had a let down this season. Here’s what Myerburg had to say.
OU hadn’t lost six or more games in a season since 1998, the year before Bob Stoops arrived and transformed the program back into one of the nation’s best. There were signs that this year wouldn’t go as expected under new coach Brent Venables, including a drastically remade roster too heavily reliant on new players and transfers, but few believed this would be the Sooners’ worst finish in decades. – Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports
It was a rough one. From the three game losing streak to open Big 12 play to their loss Texas Tech to close out the regular season, the Sooners’ 2022 has been an up and down affair.
It isn’t so much that they lost games, it’s that the team never seemed to come together at the same time.
It was disappointing, but the 2022 season saw a lot of guys becoming full-time starters for the first time. Guys like Danny Stutsman, Ethan Downs. Reggie Grimes, Jordan Kelley, Billy Bowman, and C.J. Coldon got valuable experience that should only aid their development moving forward. Several of those guys will be relied upon to take a step forward in their development this offseason
Oklahoma has a lot of work to do to improve upon what was one of the worst defenses in the country. It was an inconsistent unit all year from front to back but there’s some talent to work with and some talent on the way.
6-6 was a down year in Venables first with the Sooners, but that’s no way indicative of what his tenure will look like for the Sooners.
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