Oklahoma football’s 2022 season has been a disaster for Brent Venables and he’s now dangerously close to ending an illustrious Sooners streak.
The last time Oklahoma missed the postseason, Jalen Hurts and Google were only a few months old, Bill Clinton was in trouble for his affair with Monica Lewinsky, and Britney Spears had just debuted “…Baby One More Time.”
College football has seen more than two decades with Oklahoma in a bowl game each and every year. The longest active bowl streak in the sport is now in danger of ending.
The Sooners lost their fifth game of the season against West Virginia on Saturday. The fittingly-named Casey Legg booted through a game-winning kick with no time left on the clock.
The Mountaineers looked like Oklahoma’s surest chance to get a sixth win and qualify for a bowl. With Oklahoma State and Texas Tech remaining, another win is not certain. New head coach Brent Venables has just two games to get the victory they need.
Oklahoma football’s 23-yard bowl steak is in grave danger
It’s not a done deal that the Sooners will miss a bowl. However, they won’t get it done if they don’t find a way to get more out of every phase of the game, particularly offense and special teams.
Eric Grey had 211 yards while averaging 8.4 yards per carry yet OU managed just 20 points. Two missed field goals left six points on the field. Two failed fourth-down conversions ended drives. They managed to convert just one third down all game.
Meanwhile, the defense gave up four fourth-down conversions to West Virginia.
Sooners fans can take an optimistic view of things by looking at the team’s most recent two losses. Baylor beat Oklahoma by a field goal. So did West Virginia. The margins haven’t been terrible.
Moreover, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech are vulnerable. The Cowboys have lost three games since starting the season 5-0. The Red Raiders have a losing record themselves.
There’s still time to salvage the season by keeping the bowl streak alive.
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