Game Preview: Temple

We're back! Tomorrow begins the 2024 Oklahoma football season, and I couldn't be more excited. There is much change this year. We have a new starting QB, new elite WR, new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator, new defensive line, and a new conference. This team is shaping into a potential monster, and their first prey is the Temple Owls. Let's get into it.

Oklahoma

The Sooners went 10-3 last season with losses to Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Arizona. If you had listed those teams any other year, you'd think, “That team must have been terrible." That is, until you notice all three of them are ranked coming into this season. Oklahoma also enters the season ranked #16 and is preparing for a new challenge: the SEC. See the graphic above for a list of our expected starters (the graphic was made before Nic Anderson was ruled out for Friday's game).

For the first time in I don't know how long, the offense for Oklahoma is the most significant question mark going into the 2024 season. We know we have an elite running back in Gavin Sawchuk, with an excellent second running back in Javontae Barnes. We know our wide receiver room is amongst the nation's best. We know we have a drastically better tight-end room than last year. However, the two most essential areas are question marks. Jackson Arnold can potentially be one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to wear the crimson and cream. His outing against Arizona has some concern, but he did about as well as he could, given that it was his first career start with a new offensive coordinator against a top-30 defense. We also have yet to determine what the offensive line will be like. We are returning no starters from last year on the line. Yes, we gained some high-level transfers. But how will they work together as a group? Can they handle SEC defensive lines? What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? I couldn't answer any of those. All that said, I trust Bill Bedenbaugh to get the unit ready. I trust Seth Littrell to get Jackson Arnold ready. We will see the offense throw for a little over 300 yards, and the running game will average at least 4 yards per carry tomorrow. Jackson Arnold has too much talent not to torch the Temple defense. On top of this, despite Nic Anderson being out, he still has Deion Burks, Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony, Bauer Sharp, Jacquaize Pettaway, and more elite pass catchers to throw to. When it comes to running the ball, our running back room is too good. You've got Javontae Barnes, who can lower the boom against any defender who tries to tackle him, but he's not even our main guy. That role falls to Gavin Sawchuk, who can do the trucking, as mentioned earlier, of defenders, then outrun the rest of the defense.

When was the last time we knew the defense would be elite, but the offense was a question mark? That's where we are right now, which I have mixed feelings about. So, what do we know about the defense? First, they added a dominant defensive lineman from TCU, Damonic Williams. Almost the entire defensive line is hanging around for this year, and none of them can be accused of being small. Second, we know we have one of the best linebacker units in all college football. Danny Stutsman’s return was huge news. On top of that, he has Kip Lewis, Kobie McKenzie, and Jaren Kanak to work with him. Finally, we know our secondary is full of monsters. Billy Bowman and Peyton Bowen are elite at the safety position. We've got tall DBs with much experience. Gentry Williams is healthy again. There is not one spot on this defense that could be considered a weakness. Granted, we have yet to play a game, so we will learn more as the season progresses. Also, keep an eye on big #65 on the defensive line, Jayden Jackson. The depth chart for week one lists him as a starter on the line. He is a true freshman. If you are going to be a true freshman starter in a Brent Venables defense, there's no way you are not an elite player. This prediction will likely not shock you when you read what I say about Temple below. I predict we will hold Temple to less than 200 yards of total offense. Our defense as a whole is too good. I anticipate Temple finding the endzone at least once, as a shutout is very hard to accomplish. We will see the OU defense get three or more sacks, force at least one turnover, and force a three and out at least six times.

Temple

The Temple Owls are coming off a 3-9 season last year, with their only wins coming against Akron, Norfolk State, and Navy. It was not a very good season for them, and it only gets worse when you realize that they lost a significant amount of talent. The graphic above has whom I’m predicting will be their starters this year, but I can't say with certainty. Their leaders in all four categories are either done with college football, on a new team, or in the NFL.

The Temple Offense is filled with more questions than answers. Who will their starting quarterback be? Who will their starting running back be? How good is their wide receiver room? It took me longer than usual to find information on their starters because so many are gone. This is a very young and inexperienced team. Yes, they are filled with D1 players who will play like D1 players. You should never count out an opponent’s ability. That said, think about what Barry Switzer used to say. "It's not about the x's and the o's, it's about the Jimmy's and the Joe's." When Team A has an elite roster on defense, and Team B has a roster of question marks, it’s hard to believe that Team B will put up much of a fight. Given Temple's offensive system last year, I'm predicting we see a 50/50 split of passes and runs. They passed the ball more than they ran it last year, but given their current starting QB situation, they will likely run it more than they're used to. I wish them luck running the ball against Damonic Williams, Jayden Jackson, Ethan Downs, R Mason Thomas, Danny Stutsman, and Kip Lewis. All power to them.

The Owl's offense looks bleak. But their defense? Even worse. They lost their six best tacklers from last season, ranging from the defensive line to the deep safeties. They gave up, on average, 35.7 points per game last year while only facing one ranked opponent. Take away their six best players from that defense and throw them against the Sooners? Oh boy. Their rushing defense allowed just shy of 200 yards per game, and their pass defense allowed 243 yards per game. The pass defense was solid. Their running defense? Not so much. Given the questions in Oklahoma's offensive line and QB, we will see a lot of pressure from the very first snap of the game. Temple will do whatever they can to force Jackson Arnold into bad throws or take advantage of mistakes made in run blocking. When they're not bringing pressure, I anticipate we will see many three-man rushes with eight players in zone coverage. Oklahoma's receivers are at their best when flying around the field. A man-to-man defense would do nothing for the Temple defense except allow them to get carved up like a Thanksgiving Turkey.

Prediction

I want to give Temple more credit—I really do. They haven’t done anything to offend me or any other Sooner fans. Despite this, OU is going to massacre them. There will be a crime committed tomorrow night at Owen Field, and it will be so ugly. We might see the pride taking snaps in the fourth quarter.

Score prediction: Temple 7, Oklahoma 63

Oklahoma Yardage:

• Passing Yards: 300-350

• Rushing Yards: 150-200

• Total Yards: 450-550

Temple Yardage:

• Passing Yards: 90-120

• Rushing Yards: 50-80

• Total Yards: 140-200

We have waited long enough, and I am beyond excited to see what the 2024 Oklahoma Sooners have to offer. Let's go dominate Temple, dominate the SEC, and win a National Championship this year. Boomer Sooner!

All stats above courtesy of ESPN, cfbstats.com, and sports-reference.com.