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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PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 01: OL Bobby Evans (71) of the Oklahoma Sooners and OL Dru Samia (75) of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrate after an Oklahoma touchdown during the 2nd quarter of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Oklahoma Sooners on January 1, 2018, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Chris Williams/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. A down year in the Big 12

Not only are the Sooners losing talent, so are their conference opponents. High-profile players at the skill positions such as Oklahoma State’s James Washington, Iowa State’s Alan Lazard, and TCU’s Kenny Hill have all moved on. With quite a few teams looking to retool, it may bode well for the Sooners in conference play.

The biggest position that is the cloudiest in the Big 12 heading into 2018 is the quarterbacks. Four of the teams, including Oklahoma, will be looking for a new starting quarterback as fall camps have opened. The ones who are returning for the rest of conference do not appear to be as talented as those of last year outside of West Virginia’s Will Grier.

Every conference game for Oklahoma looks winnable this season. A midseason stumble last year against Iowa State was their only loss in Big 12 play. Had they not lost that game, the Sooners would have been undefeated and likely made a case for being the number one seed in the College Football Playoff.

The non-conference schedule is favorable too. Florida Atlantic appears to be on the rise with Lane Kiffin, but not to the level of seriously competing with Oklahoma. UCLA is entering the Chip Kelly era after a 6-6 finish in 2017 and a loss in the Cactus Bowl. The Bruins will win some games in the Pac-12, but more than likely not against the Sooners. Army went 9-3 last year and won the Armed Forces Bowl, but Oklahoma is still highly favored in that one.

A relatively easy schedule and the Big 12 possibly set to have a down year; the conference title and an undefeated season are Oklahoma’s for the taking. Achieving both would more than likely give them a playoff berth.

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