Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners, should they navigate their brutal 2016 schedule, will get into the 2016 College Football Playoff even as a one-loss Big 12 Champion. It’s hard to top the Sooners’ non-conference games with the Houston Cougars at NFC Stadium in Houston and at home against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Throw in the ULM Warhawks and the entire Big 12 conference and that’s an incredible schedule.
Oklahoma has a ton of advantages that its Big 12 counterparts don’t. The Sooners actually play defense to supplement their Air Raid offense led by quarterback Baker Mayfield and offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. Being able to hand the ball off to running Samaje Perine and count on the defense to stop these high-octane Big 12 offenses is only a plus.
While teams like the Baylor Bears, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the TCU Horned Frogs will all present formidable challenges for the Sooners, it is extremely that half of the Sooners’ 12 2016 games will be against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. The top of the Big 12 plus Oklahoma’s fantastic non-conference schedule will help them overcome an early loss in the regular season. Who else is playing two reigning New Year’s Six Bowl champions in the non-conference?
For Oklahoma, balance is the most important key to sustained success in 2016. Either Mayfield or Perine could make a trip to New York for the 2016 Heisman Trophy presentation. A strong quarterback-running back combination on offense with the most proven defense in the Big 12 makes the Sooners the favorite to repeat as conference champions in 2016. The non-conference gives them the edge to make the playoff over a champion of a weaker Power 5 conference.
Next: 3. Big Ten