The Oklahoma football program will clash with the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday, only the second game between ranked opponents this postseason. A pair of somewhat new head coaches will square off, with Arizona’s Jedd Fisch (2021) and Oklahoma’s Brent Venables (2022) making their first bowl games as the frontman with their respective programs. Venables and Fisch spoke to the media on Wednesday, with each coach speaking highly of the other. Venables said the Wildcats could be the best team the Oklahoma football program has faced all season.
Oklahoma Faces Suprise Arizona Wildcats in Alamo Bowl
In a joint press conference with Arizona Wildcats head coach Jedd Fisch, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables spoke highly of the soon-to-be former Pac-12 program.
Venables applauded Fisch and the Wildcats, saying, “Recruiting guys out of high school, signing them, developing them, creating an environment where the players feel like they’re valued, and they’re part of a family, something bigger than themselves. Then they play that way. They are an incredibly efficient football team, as we’ve seen all year. Might be the best opponent we’ve seen all year.”
The Wildcats enter the Alamo Bowl as winners of six straight games, and with a win, they will crack double-digit victories for the first time since 2014 and just the fourth time in their 90-year history. Venables suggested that Arizona could be their best opponent this season, which remains interesting, given that the Sooners played the Texas Longhorns earlier this year.
Texas will play the Washington Huskies in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Day. However, Oklahoma handed the Longhorns their only season loss, 34-30. The 2023 rendition of the Oklahoma football program suffered two losses in the regular season, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks and Oklahoma State Cowboys in back-to-back games.
Oklahoma Football: Looking to Finish Season Strong on Thursday
The Sooners will try to snag their 11th win of the season on Thursday, albeit without star quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Former five-star prospect Jackson Arnold will get the nod with Gabriel leaving for the Oregon Ducks via the transfer portal. Arnold has played sparingly this season, completing 75% of his passes for two touchdowns and no picks. He has also ran 20 times for 78 yards and a score. Oklahoma enters on a three-game winning streak, most recently bludgeoning the TCU Horned Frogs 69-45. Lead back Gavin Sawchuk had 145 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Drake Stoops recorded 12 receptions, 125 yards, and a score.
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