The Oklahoma Sooners football team is finishing its first year in the SEC. As the rest of the nation is enjoying college football chaos, the Sooners are looking toward the future. So, as bowl season starts heating up, we’re going to look back on the Sooners’ first year in the SEC. This includes the terrifying highs, dizzying lows, and what to look forward to in 2025.
Key Takeaways From the Oklahoma Sooners First Year in the SEC
The SEC’s School of Hard Knocks
The Georgia Bulldogs are at the top of the SEC this year. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Sooners are slumming it near the bottom with Kentucky. This final standing is even lower than most predicted at the start of the season.
The Sooners are finishing their inaugural SEC year with just two conference wins. One came in a late-game comeback against Auburn and the other at the demolishing of Alabama. The Sooners have won just a single road game this year. Oklahoma’s final loss to LSU was, essentially, a condensed version of everything that’s gone wrong for the Sooners this year.
Oklahoma’s Offense: Better or Worse?
Poor planning, bad luck, and incompatible coaching styles all came together to sabotage the Sooners offense this season. Big names on the recruiting trail and transfer portal ultimately became glass cannons. At one point over half of the original starting offense was out with injury. Jackson Arnold, the heir apparent to the quarterback throne, ended up in a position battle through three games this season.
On average, the Sooners pushed for roughly 220+ yards each game. Their lowest effort came in the debacle at Tennessee where Oklahoma only saw 222 offensive yards. The best came against FCS-Maine at 665 yards.
In total, the Sooners come away with 3,870 offensive yards in 2024. This is well behind the 3-9 Oklahoma State’s 4,488 offensive yards. It’s also significantly behind the Sooners’ 2023 total, which was 6,029 yards.
Jovantae Barnes is the team’s top rusher overall, coming in as the leading rusher through five games. Arnold is the next highest as the leading rusher in four games. Taylor Tatum and Xavier Robinson are tied for third place, as both freshmen had numerous breakout performances this season.
The wide-receiving arm of the team was, essentially, non-existent. Oklahoma comes away from this season with just barely 2,000 passing yards. This is just barely above a winless Kent State and well below a struggling Kentucky.
Ultimately, the Oklahoma Sooners offense has taken a massive step back in 2024. It’s not the fault of any one individual, but rather numerous unfortunate and ill-advised factors coming together. Ben Arbuckle and Brent Venables will certainly have to take things in a different direction to avoid further regression next year.
Oklahoma Sooners Defense: In Decline?
In 2023, the Sooners gave up 5,062 yards to opposing offenses. This year, the team only gave up 3,819 yards. The defense allowed 263 points to be scored this year, compared to 259 last year. The worst loss of 2024 came against Texas.
The defense’s worst game was, surprisingly, one that Oklahoma actually won. Auburn put up 482 yards against the Sooners and lost through two late-game interceptions. Oklahoma’s best defensive showing was against Temple in the season opener, with just 197 yards given up. Perhaps what best proves the strength of this defense is that they held a playoff-bound Alabama to fewer yards than FCS-Maine.
Unlike the offense, the defense has definitively been improving year over year. With superstars such as Danny Stutsman, R. Mason Thomas, and Kip Lewis on the team, though, perhaps that shouldn’t come as a shock. What may come as a surprise is that this could be the last time the defense is in the Top 25.
Stutsman chose to remain for one extra season with Oklahoma and guide his team through its first SEC season. By next year, though, Stutsman might be joining some old Sooners in the NFL. It will be interesting to see who fills in when he leaves. As team captain, Stutsman has been a driving force behind holding the team together. If anyone has been an example of what it is like to be not just a football player but also a man, it’s Stutsman. The worst part is, he’s not the only one departing.
Impact Players Leaving in 2024
Billy Bowman, Spencer Brown, Ethan Downs, Trace Ford, and Davon Sears are out of eligibility this year. Losing Bowman, Downs, and Ford in addition to Stutsman is going to seriously deplete the defense’s veteran players.
Luke Elzinga, Tyler Keltner, and Zack Schmit, the primary kickers and punters, are also out of eligibility. J.J. Hester and Jake Roberts, two of the most productive receivers, will also be leaving Norman at the end of the year. Adding to these woes are the departures to the transfer portal.
Perhaps the biggest loss is going to be Arnold. Despite affirmations that he would remain, Arnold is entering the transfer portal. Given all that he had to work through to earn the top spot, it’s a concerning move. Further, one that makes the 2025 season even more dubious.
While there is a freshmen revolution in the works there’s no telling if it’ll come together in time. Most likely it won’t. This mass exodus of veteran talents will certainly be felt when opponents such as Michigan come to Norman next year.
Last Thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners’ First SEC Year
So, what are the key takeaways from OU football’s first year in the SEC? In short, the offense regressed, the defense may have had its last big season for years to come, and the future is looking dicey. In long, see above.
The offseason has only just begun, and there’s certainly more chaos to come. Be sure to check back in every week, because Last Word On Sports will be right here in Norman to bring you the latest on all things Oklahoma Sooners football.
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