What should OU football prioritize in final two weeks of 2024 season?

NORMAN — It’s been a rough season for OU football.

The offensive line has been a mess, Jackson Arnold struggled and was replaced and then replaced Michael Hawkins Jr. himself, injuries have battered the wide receiver corps and more.

But with two games remaining, Saturday against Alabama and then Nov. 30 at LSU, there’s still plenty for the Sooners to play for.

Here are OU’s five biggest priorities over the final two weeks of the season:

More: What’s gone wrong for OU football in 2024 season, and how can Sooners fix it for 2025?

Earn bowl eligibility

This might be the toughest piece of these five.

OU needs a win over the Crimson Tide or the Tigers to extend their bowl streak to 26 consecutive seasons.

It’s one the Sooners desperately need, not just for momentum and prestige but also because of what the extra few weeks of practice would do for the Sooners’ development for the future.

The regular-season finale might present the best opportunity for that.

The Tigers are reeling after losing three consecutive games and they don’t exactly have an easy game this week when they host Vanderbilt.

But Baton Rouge is a tough place to play.

More: How OU football kicker Zach Schmit found perfection through accepting imperfection

Send Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman off right

Linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman made a difficult decision to return for this season and have each played significant roles in the Sooners’ defensive success this season.

But the win-loss results haven’t been what the Sooners had hoped for.

Stutsman and Bowman have both said they don’t regret their decisions to return, but it’s hard to imagine them not questioning their decisions on some level.

OU’s younger players, especially on defense, have said how much the leadership from both have meant to their development.

So while the Sooners…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ou-football-prioritize-final-two-113100801.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2024-11-18 11:31:00

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