Is Oklahoma In Panic Mode Right Now?

Oklahoma might be in serious trouble.

The Sooners entered this season ranked No. 10 in the country with legitimate College Football Playoff expectations.

Two games later?

They’re 1-1 and barely hanging onto the AP Top 25 at No. 24.

And when you look at what comes next, things could get ugly very quickly.

Oklahoma’s 17-10 loss at Michigan was a massive missed opportunity.

This was the same Michigan team that needed a controversial second-chance Hail Mary to escape Western Michigan 13-12 in Week 1.

Oklahoma went into Ann Arbor as the favorite.

It still lost.

The Sooners actually outgained Michigan 289-263 and tied the game 10-10 in the second half.

Then everything fell apart.

John Mateer threw an interception deep in Oklahoma territory, Michigan immediately turned it into the game-winning touchdown, and the Sooners failed to score on their final three possessions.

Ten points.

That’s all Oklahoma’s offense could produce against a Michigan team that looked extremely vulnerable one week earlier.

Now look at the schedule.

Oklahoma gets New Mexico this Saturday.

They better enjoy it.

Because after that?

At No. 2 Georgia.

Then a bye.

Then No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry.

Are we sure Oklahoma wins either of those games?

Georgia just scored 70 points against Western Kentucky.

Texas just erased a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit against Ohio State and took over as the No. 1 team in America.

Oklahoma could realistically beat New Mexico and then find itself sitting at 2-3 by the middle of October.

And it doesn’t get much easier after that.

The Sooners still have Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Missouri, all currently ranked, plus road games at Mississippi State and Florida.

That’s why the Michigan loss hurts so badly.

Oklahoma needed that game.

If you’re going to survive this SEC schedule and compete for a playoff spot, you cannot waste opportunities against teams you’re favored to beat.

Especially when Georgia and Texas are right around the corner.

And there should be pressure on Brent Venables, too.

Oklahoma has plenty of talent. Mateer is an experienced quarterback. The defense looks capable of keeping the Sooners in games.

But at some point, this program has to start winning these big matchups consistently.

The Michigan game was a chance to make a statement.

Instead, Oklahoma scored 10 points and suffered its biggest AP poll drop in a non-pandemic season since 1968, falling from No. 11 to No. 24.

That’s alarming.

Maybe the Sooners rebound. Maybe they upset Georgia or Texas and completely change the conversation.

But right now?

Oklahoma’s margin for error is basically gone.

Lose to Georgia and Texas, and the playoff conversation could be finished before Oklahoma even reaches the second half of its schedule.

The Sooners aren’t eliminated from anything yet.

But after what happened in Ann Arbor and with what’s coming next?

Oklahoma is in big trouble.

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