This may be the most anticipated college football season in recent history.\u00a0 It seems everyone is ready to get back to full stadiums and a near-normal college football season.\u00a0 By this time teams are tired of practice and hitting each other.\u00a0 To be sure teams are ready to unleash on an opponent.\u00a0 With this being said, due to mother nature in South Louisiana, this game almost didn\u2019t happen.\u00a0 Be that as it may, let us dive into the Oklahoma vs Tulane preview.<\/p>\n
The Green Wave has traditionally been an offensive-minded team.\u00a0 As an illustration, in 2020 Tulane averaged 34.7 points a game while allowing 28.1.\u00a0 As a result, Tulane finished the 2020 campaign with a 6-6 record. Despite an average record and poor defense, the Green Wave has been to three consecutive bowl games.<\/p>\n
You know what you\u2019re getting with\u00a0the\u00a0Tulane offense. \u00a0Head coach Willie Fritz<\/strong> likes to run the ball. The Green Wave led the AAC in rushing in 2020. \u00a0But this year they\u2019re likely going to try opening it up a little more under new offensive coordinator Chip Long<\/strong>.\u00a0 The offensive line struggled in pass protection and in particular keeping defenses out of the backfield. \u00a0This doesn\u2019t bode well facing an Oklahoma defense with a strong defensive line.<\/p>\n While the Green Wave defense did allow 28 points a game, they excelled\u00a0at getting behind the line. They cranked up 101 tackles for loss and 37 sacks \u2013 finishing sixth and 13th in the nation, respectively, and led the AAC in both \u2013 but now the top linemen have to be replaced.<\/p>\n The Sooners are coming off a sixth consecutive Big 12 championship and a Cotton bowl thumping of Florida.\u00a0 Furthermore, Oklahoma looks ready to challenge for an eighth national championship. Unlike previous seasons the Sooners are equally strong on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n The Sooner offense appears set for a championship run.\u00a0 Oklahoma finished the 2020 season as the top offense in the Big 12.\u00a0 Heisman trophy front runner Spencer Rattler<\/a> is poised for a stellar season.<\/p>\n Over the final seven games, Rattler tossed 15 touchdowns with just two interceptions. Overall, he finished with 3,031 yards and 28 TDs and was voted Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.<\/p>\n Running back Kennedy Brooks<\/a> returns after opting out a year ago, then considering a jump to the NFL. It’s a good thing, too, with Oklahoma lacking other proven options.\u00a0 In addition to Brooks, Tennessee transfer Eric Gray<\/a> should carry a lion’s share of the running game.\u00a0 The running game may be the only area of concern for the Sooners.\u00a0 Oklahoma is limited to two scholarship backs due to transfers and ineligibility.<\/p>\n The receiving group is loaded with talent. \u00a0Marvin Mims<\/a> figures to have a prominent role after leading the team with 37 receptions. Mike Woods<\/a>, an Arkansas transfer presents a proven premium option.\u00a0 Not to mention Jadon Haselwood<\/a> is back after missing much of last season to injury.\u00a0 The Sooners are set at tight end with Austin Stogner<\/a> and Brayden Willis<\/a>.\u00a0Although there is plenty of talent, there will be a little shuffling to do on the offensive line.\u00a0 Starters Tyrese Robinson<\/a>, Marquis Hayes<\/a>, and Erik Swenson<\/a> return. \u00a0Anton Harrison is coming off a standout freshman year. Wanya Morris<\/a>, another Tennessee transfer, should step in at left tackle.<\/p>\n LaRon Stokes<\/a>, Perrion Winfrey<\/a>, and Isaiah Thomas<\/a> are leaders on a dominant defensive front. Linebacker Nik Bonitto<\/a>, a second-team AP All-American, dominates off the edge. Bonitto totaled 10.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 10 quarterback hurries.\u00a0 Joining Bonitto is a solid linebacker group that includes David Ugwoegbu<\/a> and Brian Asamoah.\u00a0 The Sooners also return Caleb Kelly<\/a> from injuries that limited him to just four games the past two seasons.<\/p>\n Delarrin Turner-Yell<\/a> and Pat Fields are veteran safeties who ranked second and third, respectively, in tackles a year ago.<\/p>\n The Sooners need to solidify the cornerback spots. \u00a0D.J. Graham<\/a> and Woodi Washington<\/a> and are the favorites to win jobs. Jaden Davis<\/a> has starting experience and is also in the mix.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be surprised to see incoming freshman Billy Bowman<\/strong> starting at one corner or at least the nickel position by mid-season.<\/p>\n Depth is a strength in the Sooner secondary. Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch<\/strong> wants competition in order for this defense to thrive.<\/p>\n To sum up, it has been over a decade since the focus has been on defense at Oklahoma.\u00a0 Although this may be true the Sooners have a top 10 national offense.\u00a0 Not to mention stellar offense and defense Oklahoma has excellent special team play.\u00a0 All things considered; this does not bode well for a successful visit to Norman for the Tulane Green Wave.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Oklahoma \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 52<\/p>\n Tulane\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 13<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Oklahoma vs Tulane Preview This may be the most anticipated college football season in recent history.\u00a0 It seems everyone is ready to get back to full stadiums and a near-normal college football season.\u00a0 By this time teams are tired of practice and hitting each other.\u00a0 To be sure teams are ready to unleash on an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3198,"featured_media":37419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6],"tags":[7451,1746,37,2060],"class_list":["post-38123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-big12","tag-2021-college-football-season","tag-lincoln-riley","tag-oklahoma-sooners","tag-tulane-green-wave"],"modified_by":"Jason Rhea","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3198"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38123"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38123\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/collegefootball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Tulane Defense<\/h3>\n
Oklahoma<\/h3>\n
Oklahoma Offense<\/h3>\n
Oklahoma Defense<\/h3>\n
The Last Word<\/h3>\n