Despite win, Oklahoma football, Lincoln Riley has some problems to figure out

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners scrambles for a first down against inside linebacker Luke Reimer #28 and outside linebacker Garrett Nelson #44 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 23-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Spencer Rattler #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners scrambles for a first down against inside linebacker Luke Reimer #28 and outside linebacker Garrett Nelson #44 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 23-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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The Oklahoma football team was able to beat Nebraska, but the Sooners shouldn’t have struggled to handle the Huskers.

The Oklahoma Sooners found a way and managed to take down Nebraska, but the Huskers found a way to make what could have been a blow out into a rather interesting game. Scott Frost’s team competed well, giving Lincoln Riley’s Sooners a run for their money.

In the end, Oklahoma won 23-16, but the game was ugly for everyone involved. The Sooners needed a win and that’s exactly what they got. But this game shouldn’t have been this close. Given how talented Oklahoma is and how good of a coach Riley is perceived to be, Nebraska shouldn’t have been able to compete in this game as well as the Huskers did.

Oklahoma’s offense did okay when it comes in gaining yards (they racked up 408 total yards of offense), but the Sooners sure didn’t put up many points against a less-than-stellar defense. When facing a Nebraska team that allowed Illinois to score 30 points, Oklahoma only managed to score 23 at home.

The Sooners are supposed to be dominant on offense each and every year, but they sure didn’t look great today.

Oklahoma football: Sooners win but issues need be addressed after beating Nebraska

Spencer Rattler was efficient and okay in connecting with his receivers, but he’s going to need some help in developing a more explosive passing attack. Rattler completed 24-of-34 passing attempts and he threw a touchdowns, but he only threw for 214 yards.

Oklahoma should be better than this. The Sooners have the potential to be a national title contender, but they sure didn’t look that way against the Huskers. If OU wants to be taken seriously as a team that expects to compete in the College Football Playoffs this season, the Sooners will need to be better than this.

We know this team is capable of being better than what they showed today. But, after struggling to handle Tulane and now Nebraska, it’s fair to doubt this team a little. At least until this team resolves some issues that it has the talent to fix.

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