TheĀ Oklahoma football team narrowly survives utter embarrassment Week 1 vs. Tulane.
While it was technically a road game for the Sooners, the Oklahoma football program nearly suffered an embarrassing loss to the Tulane Green Wave in Week 1.
Oklahoma was able to hold on to win this game that would have been in New Orleans had it not been for Hurricane Idaās destruction, 40-35. While we need to give the Greenies a ton of credit for almost upsetting the Sooners, Lincoln Rileyās team has plenty of work to do before entering Big 12 play. This team is good, but they are far from being a championship contender after Week 1ās win.
Here are the three biggest takeaways from the Soonersā narrow victory over the Green Wave.
Oklahoma football: 3 biggest takeaways from Soonersā Week 1 win over Tulane
3. Kennedy Brooks is back, and the Sooners need to give him the ball more
A big reason Oklahoma has had such a prolific offense under Riley is that it offers balance with not just an Air Raid aerial attack, but a punishing ground game. After opting out of the 2020 college season, running back Kennedy Brooks is back for OU. He led the way with a game-high 87 rushing yards on 14 carries and a touchdown. Here he is converting on a fourth-and-short spectacularly.
2. Oklahoma does not win on Saturday without Gabe Brkicās powerful leg
Donāt tell Oklahoma fans special teams arenāt important. They have to understand they do not win on Saturday without the incredible game out of kickerĀ Gabe Brkic. He connected on four of his five field-goal attempts, three of which were 50-yard bombs, including one to end the first half. It may sound crazy, but his 16 points were the difference here. Watch him go Trae Young from the logo.
1. Spencer Rattler is still in the Heisman conversation, but must play better
While Spencer Rattler still threw for over 300 yards, he did turn the ball over twice in a non-conference game that did not need to be this close. He may be the most talented quarterback to play in Norman in some time, but his inherent recklessness with the football is this teamās margin for error. Hopefully, he can learn from this close win to build on a sensational sophomore season.
Oklahoma has one more tuneup game with Western Carolina before Nebraska comes to town.
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