For the first time since 2012, College GameDay will be heading to Norman, Oklahoma to cover the long-anticipated Oklahoma football vs. Oklahoma State Bedlam game.
College GameDay hasn’t visited the University of Oklahoma since it took on Notre Dame, but the Sooners are no stranger to the pregame show, which has been at Oklahoma football games 37 times. This makes the Sooners one of the top four teams College GameDay has covered the most.
With OU currently sitting at No. 18 in the AP Poll and OSU at No. 14, it is no surprise College GameDay will be making the trip to cover the long-time rivalry game. Though the Sooners have won 16 out of the last 20 matchups against each other we could see them fall to the Cowboys for the first time since 2014 this year.
It is important to not discredit all of the work Oklahoma football has done since its major meltdown at the beginning of the season, as it has substantially recovered since its performance earlier in the season.
However, since very early on in the season the Cowboys have been in full stride looking the best they have in multiple years. Along with having a seasoned coach Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State is fully equipped to beat the Sooners this season.
Having a bye week this week, Sooner head coach Lincoln Riley has made it clear they are aware of the challenges to come in the Bedlam game this coming week and what all they need to do as a team to prepare to take down the Cowboys.
Through the development of young quarterback Spencer Rattler and his offense alongside the rapidly improving defense, it is clear that OU is equipped as well to take on this game to the best of its ability and beat the Cowboys. What is important for the Sooners in this game is whether they will execute at the level we have seen them do in the last few weeks.
In his press conference last week, Riley made it clear he has full confidence in his team’s ability to execute, and it just comes down to the consistency in its game. Riley emphasized the fact that it comes down to the individual player. As a unit, the team is aware of what plays need to be made on both sides of the ball. It all comes down to whether each moving part is able to effectively get its job done.
On both the defense and offense Oklahoma football has proven to get the job done before, however, one missed sack or dropped ball in this upcoming game could mean the difference between a loss and win. For the Sooners, execution will most likely determine the outcome of the game.
You can watch the game this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Don’t forget to also tune in to College GameDay starting at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN.
Photo courtesy of Iowa State Athletic Communications
