College Football Preview 2024: Oklahoma Sooners win projections, strengths and weaknesses, quarterback spotlight and more

Head coach: Brent Venables (third season)
2023 record: 10-3 (lost Alamo Bowl)
PFF power ranking: 13th
Chance to win SEC: 4%
Strength of schedule: 13th
Projected win total: 7.6
FanDuel win total: 7.5
2024 recruiting rank (On3): No. 9 nationally, No. 6 in the SEC

Brent Venables’ tenure at Oklahoma got off to a rocky start, as the Sooners finished the 2022 season with their first losing season in the 21st century. The program bounced back in a big way in 2023, though, finishing with a 10-3 record.

This upcoming season will begin a whole new era of Oklahoma football. It’s the Sooners’ first in the SEC. They have a new starting quarterback and a new offensive coordinator. They will also field a completely different offensive line. Luckily, they still have a top-10 receiving corps and a loaded defense at the second and third levels to help usher in the new age.

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Biggest Strength: The back seven of the defense

Oklahoma’s defense features a top-10 secondary and a linebacker unit that is headlined by Danny Stutsman, a third-team AP All-American last year.

Biggest Weakness: A brand-new offensive line

The Sooners won’t return any starting offensive linemen from last season. While SMU transfer Branson Hickman is a terrific addition in the middle, there will be uncertainty around the other four spots.

2023 Team Overview

Offense
EPA per play	Yards per play	Successful play rate	Explosive run play rate	Explosive pass play rate
0.184	6.7	41.5%	14.8%	19.7%
6th	13th	7th	T-77th	12th
Defense
EPA allowed per play	Yards allowed per play	Successful play rate allowed	Explosive run rate allowed	Explosive pass rate allowed
-0.092	5.5	32.6%	15.6%	14.6%
31st	T-59th	36th	70th	77th

Three Notable Transfer Portal Additions

C Branson Hickman (SMU): 79.7 PFF grade
WR Deion Burks (Purdue): 65.7 PFF grade
TE Jake Roberts (Baylor): 70.6 PFF grade

Three Notable Transfer Portal Losses

QB Dillon Gabriel (Oregon): 91.9 PFF grade
OG Cayden Green (Missouri): 53.7 PFF grade
RB Tawee Walker (Wisconsin): 82.6 PFF grade

Quarterback Spotlight: Jackson Arnold

2023 Grade: 69.1
Key Stat: Five turnover-worthy plays in first career start (Alamo Bowl vs. Arizona)