In Brett Venables 2nd year the Oklahoma Sooners will be taking on the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl. It’s an interesting matchup considering the Wildcats will be joining the Big 12 while the Sooners will be exiting the conference in 2024.
The Sooners bounced back in Venables 2nd year after a rough 6-7 season in Venable’s debut year. OU was much improved having an impressive 10-2 record and having the best win in the country, a neutral site victory over the playoff-contending Texas Longhorns in October.
However, for some fans, the Sooner’s final year in the Big 12 was a bitter pill to swallow. The Sooners lost to the Kansas Jayhawks for the 1st time since 1997 and also fell to hated rivals the Oklahoma State Cowboys in possibly the last Bedlam ever.
To make matters worse they watched from home as their other rivals the Texas Longhorns hoisted the Big 12 trophy, a trophy the Sooners have won 14 times, more than anyone else, and a trophy they will never get to win again.
Nevertheless, the future looks bright for the Sooners, despite veteran QB Dillon Gabriel entering the transfer portal, the Sooner’s offense looks to be in good hands led by QB Jackson Arnold who may be a better QB than Gabriel and appears to be much more talented. Arnold is inexperienced only passing for 202 yards on 24 attempts but he looks the part.
The Sooners also boast a dangerous running game led by Gavin Sawchuk who boasts 610 rushing yards and Tawee Walker who has totaled 496 yards rushing on the year. They are led in receiving yards by the son of Big Game Bob himself, Drake Stoops who has 880 yards receiving.
If the Sooners can pull off the victory against a good Wildcats team, it will give them momentum heading into their 1st year in the SEC.
As for the Wildcats, they had an unexpectedly great year going 9-3 in a tougher-than-expected Pac-12 that was arguably the best conference in college football this year. They were led in passing by Noah Fifita who had 2515 passing yards and 23 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.
They also had a strong rushing attack led by Jonah Coleman who had 851 yards rushing, and Tetairoa McMillan led the Wildcats in receiving with 1242 yards. The Sooners will have a tough test on their hands against an Arizona team that will give the Sooners their best shot.
