5 reasons Oklahoma makes the 2019 College Football Playoff

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: The Oklahoma Sooners are wait to run onto the field prior to the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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Oklahoma made the College Football Playoff last year in Lincoln Riley’s first season. Is this team capable of making another run?

In 2017 the Oklahoma Sooners were one of the best teams in the country all season. They dominated the Big 12 Conference, finishing the regular season 11-1 and advancing to the championship game against TCU. After obliterating the Horned Frogs 41-17, the Sooners earned a berth in the College Football Playoff.

In their second appearance in the semifinals in three years, number two Oklahoma matched up against number three Georgia at the Rose Bowl. In one of the best games of the year, the Sooners and Bulldogs battled in an overtime thriller. After a missed field goal on their second overtime possession, Oklahoma saw their season come to an end. Georgia running back Sony Michel scored the game-winning touchdown a few plays later and won 54-48.

Not only did Oklahoma lose that game, but they lost a good amount of talent from one of their best teams in program history. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield highlights this crop of players, along with tight end Mark Andrews and defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo just to name a few. The Sooners will be looking to replace this talent as they prepare for head coach Lincoln Riley’s second season.

With lots of talent gone from last season, the question is: Can Oklahoma make the College Football Playoff again in 2018? It is never easy for a team to repeat their success from the previous season, especially in college football. In today’s game with players transferring in and out, graduating, freshmen on campus and other circumstances, teams can have a lot of turnover each season.

There is a lot of buzz around Oklahoma for 2018 and many consider them once again favorites to win the Big 12 and possibly make this year’s playoff. While the season will have to play out and the Sooners will need to back this up on the field, there are a few reasons this team can repeat what they did in 2017.

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