Thomas Gouard
The Oklahoma Sooners did what all teams strive to do which is win! And they did it in one of the more hostile environments in college football against a team who they share longtime history with. For anyone disappointed in the playoff committee’s decision to put the Oklahoma Sooners into the College football playoff, I wanted to share with you all 3 reasons why I believe they did, but most importantly the 1st & 3rd reasons are most likely why.
1. Avenged loss against the Texas Longhorns
I personally felt that this game could have went either way despite most of the wins and losses over shared opponents were very close. The Oklahoma Sooners loss to the Texas Longhorns in week 6 by 3 points, but avenged that loss in week 14, winning by 12 points at AT&T Stadium – Arlington Texas.
2. Defeated longtime rival, the Texas Longhorns in Texas
I believe that the Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns rivalry is underrated in comparison to the Ohio State vs Michigan Wolverines rivalry. It is just as intriguing! In fact, the Red River Showdown dates back to the 1900’s, and this rivalry has more meaning than just two teams going back-and-fourth against each other.
Red River? The Red River forms part of the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma that has caused conflict in the past between both states, most notably the 1931 Red River Bridge War between both states.
Getting back to the point! I always feel that rivalry games could go either way, even if one of the two teams are stacked with top tier athletes more than the other. The expectation to live up to all the hype that comes with rivalry games can either bring out the best in athletes or cause any athlete to make mistakes.
3. Conference champions
The Oklahoma Sooners were ranked No. 5 during week 14. During week 14, we also saw a No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs team lose to a No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, which as always teams that lose fall in the rankings. With the falling of the Georgia Bulldogs, it gave the Oklahoma Sooners a chance to move up in the rankings. Plus, the Oklahoma Sooners won the Big 12 Championship, so that put them even closer to entering the College football playoff over the Ohio State Buckeyes, who also won a Conference championship, yet were ranked No. 6, and did not play in such a hostile environment like the Oklahoma Sooners. They also took in to consideration that the Ohio State Buckeyes loss to an unranked Purdue Boilermakers team by 29 points.
<a data-snax-placeholder="Source" class="snax-figure-source" href="https://bleacherreport.com/oklahoma-sooners-football" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">https://bleacherreport.com/oklahoma-sooners-football</a>
That have a great team no doubt.
Oklahoma & Alabama has an interesting history together. I took some notes that I would like to share before the match up.
I have family from Oklahoma – they would probably agree.
Sweet! Most likely they would.