Skip Bayless actually made a brilliant point about Oklahoma football that will infuriate Sooners fans, but they’ll acknowledge he’s spot-on too.
Everyone knows Lincoln Riley is the quarterback whisperer and one of the best offensive minds in college football. It’s undeniable after coaching Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray to Heisman Trophy wins and No. 1 selections in the NFL Draft. Then, he turned Jalen Hurts into a Heisman runner-up after Nick Saban couldn’t develop his passing game in Alabama. It looks like he’s going to turn Spencer Rattler into a Heisman candidate and potential top quarterback draft pick too.
But Riley is also unable to field a competent defense and it cost his team again.
Oklahoma football fans are all too familiar with the pitiful defensive showings in the College Football Playoff against Georgia with Mayfield, vs. Alabama with Murray and last year vs. LSU with Hurts.
But the lack of any sort of defensive showing cost the Sooners vs. Kansas State on Saturday in their 38-25 loss when they gave up 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and 31 total points in the second half.
After the game, even Skip Bayless made a good point about the state of the Sooners and the big criticism of Riley.
Why can’t Oklahoma ever play any defense when he can recruit some elite talent on offense and yet when it matters most, the defense doesn’t show up?
How is it Lincoln Riley continues to recruit some of the best offensive skill talent nationally - and continues to trot out awful defenses??? Riley's Sooners are all offense, no defense. They win a lot of shootouts - and they just lost another one.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) September 26, 2020
Yet another shocking defensive collapse for the Lincoln Riley regime. Or should I say predictable collapse.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) September 26, 2020
Bayless also had some criticism for Rattler who threw three interceptions, including one on the final offensive play for Oklahoma that sealed the upset win for Kansas State. It was a coachable moment for Rattler who wilted at the first sign of adversity and didn’t make the play when his team needed it most.
Spencer Rattler, who has a whip of an arm, had been deadly accurate ... until the game got tight and KSt started hitting him. Then he lost his poise and his aim. I thought he was quicker/faster. Couldn't hurt the Wildcats with any escapability or breakaway bolts.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) September 26, 2020
Oklahoma will surely take a precipitous fall in the AP Top 25 next week but their playoff hopes aren’t dead. They’ll just need to win the remainder of their games and do so in impressive fashion, which means the defense will actually have to stop somebody.
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