College football: 10 teams that will take the next step after big bowl win

College football team ready to make a leap No. 2: Oklahoma Sooners

Bowl Result: Def. Florida 55-20 in Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic

There were big-time expectations for the Oklahoma Sooners entering this season considering their reign over the Big 12 in recent years. But some early-season hiccups ultimately cost Lincoln Riley’s team any chance of making it to the College Football Playoff. By season’s end, though, the Sooners were playing as good of football as any team in the country.

The Cotton Bowl was evidence of that in a big way. Oklahoma’s defense has been an albatross for them over the years but they showed up in a monster way on the big stage, picking Heisman finalist Kyle Trask off three times to start the game. Moreover, the Sooners offense was near unstoppable.

And that’s where the optimism for OU comes from. Spencer Rattler improved seemingly with every week in his first year as the starting quarterback, culminating in his four total touchdown performance against the Gators. Moreover, the Sooners have a young receiving corps that should be filled with playmakers and Marcus Major made a big impact with limited work in the rushing game, showing that part of the game is in good hands.

Riley had made a living getting the Sooners to the CFP prior to this season. While they missed out this year, all signs point to them getting back to the final four once again at the end of the 2021 campaign.