Oklahoma football: 5 questions the Oklahoma Sooners must answer in 2020

Oklahoma football has been a CFP staple but big questions loom for 2020.

Lincoln Riley took over the top spot in Norman as the head coach of Oklahoma football and has enjoyed nothing but success. The Sooners have only three regular-season losses under the head coach, have made the College Football Playoff in all three years and have been led by two Heisman Trophy winners along with another strong candidate last year in Jalen Hurts.

But now comes a new challenge for Riley and Oklahoma. This is the first time Riley will be starting that he recruited to the program out of high school. More importantly, it’s time for the team to get over the hump as the Sooners, though in the CFP, have yet to win a game in the playoff. To get over that hump, though, there are some questions that must be addressed.

These are the five questions that Oklahoma football needs to find answers for their 2020 season to be as successful as possible.

5. Oklahoma football preseason questions: Is Brooks ready to be the unquestioned leader in the backfield?

It’s a near certainty that the Oklahoma rushing attack was going to look different in the 2020 season with the departure of Hurts. He led the team in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns last season. So even if young quarterback Spencer Rattler takes over, there’s very little chance he runs that much, which should put the onus on starting running back Kennedy Brooks.

Brooks isn’t the most talented running back in college football by any measure but he proved to be effective. He rushed for 1,011 yards on 155 carries last season with 10 touchdowns. That was also his second-straight 1,000-yard rushing season. Moreover, he impressed Riley and the coaching staff enough that they fully bought into Brooks over Trey Sermon, who has since transferred to Ohio State.

There is no denying what Brooks can do for this offense as he’s a big-bodied back who can consistently break off chunks of yardage. But as he’s not the most versatile player, it is a rightful question to wonder if he can be the featured player out of the backfield instead of being part of a committee.

Perhaps the answer is Rhamondre Stevenson, who had 64 carries for 515 yards and six scores last season. If he’s able to step into a large role and complement Brooks, then concerns about the rushing game are alleviated. Until we see it, however, it’s well worth questioning heading into the 2020 season.