There is a reason why Oklahoma is considered the favorite to win the Capital One Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 – look how they got there.
No one comes into the College Football Playoffs playing better than the Sooners. Since losing to Texas on Oct. 10, No. 4 Oklahoma, who will play top-ranked Clemson in the Orange Bowl, has won seven straight games, while outscoring its opponents by an average score of 51-20 in the process.
In five of those seven games they scored 50 or more points, while scoring no fewer than 30 in the other two. In the last seven weeks the Sooners downed Kansas State, 55-0. They followed that with a 63-27 win over Texas Tech. Then they beat Kansas, 62-7, and took down Iowa State, 52-16.
They concluded the regular season by topping No. 17 Baylor, 44-34, on the road, while squeaking by No. 11 TCU, 30-29. They then thumped rival Oklahoma State, 58-23.
But what is really to be known about Oklahoma in those seven games? Yes, quarterback Baker Mayfield played out of his mind, and running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon are a one-two punch in the running game that no one seems to have an answer for. Even on defense, the Sooners are much improved.
“I think Oklahoma defensively, to me, has played at a much higher level than they did last year,” said Todd Blackledge, who will be providing color for the ESPN Broadcast on New Year’s Eve. “In fact, that to me is the biggest difference in their team, particularly in their pass defense. But the reality is in those key wins down the stretch against Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State, they didn’t face the top quarterback, you know, in those offenses.”
And those are the things that need to be considered when analyzing the Sooners.
Look at it this way, Kansas finished the season winless, while Iowa State ended up at 3-9. Texas Tech is just an average team at 7-5, while Kansas State sits at a mediocre, 6-6.
The wins over Baylor, TCU and Oklahoma State are impressive, but maybe not as impressive as one might think. The Sooners played both Baylor and TCU without their starting quarterbacks. Oklahoma needed a late touchdown to hold off the Bears, while the Horn Frogs, without Trevone Boykin, were a two-point conversion away from eliminating the Sooners from the College Football Playoff talk completely.
Boykin is perhaps the closest thing the Sooners would have seen compared to what they will get from Clemson quarterback Deshuan Watson in the Orange Bowl. Watson is the first consensus All-American quarterback in Clemson history. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and won the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s best quarterback.
“This will be a different challenge because they haven’t played a guy as good as Deshaun Watson at that position,” Blackledge said. “From a decision‑making standpoint, from an accuracy standpoint, from a run, dual‑threat standpoint, this is the best guy at that position that they’ve faced. I think the other weapons around (Watson) they’ve faced comparable talent in, Baylor in particular. But TCU was down because (wide receiver Josh) Doctson was hurt, and Oklahoma State has good skill guys.
“But the quarterback, the guy who has the ball in his hands every play, they haven’t faced a guy like this yet.”
As for the Oklahoma State win, it was impressive, but the Cowboys rank No. 96 in yards allowed per game (429.5) and 85th in points allowed (29.0). In fact, the best defense Oklahoma has faced during this current run is Baylor’s which is ranked 59th in total defense (389.0) and 69th in scoring defense (27.5)
TCU is the next best at 65th in total yards allowed (396.7) and 58th in scoring (26.1).
The Tigers, who are led by consensus All-American defensive end Shaq Lawson, rank seventh nationally in total defense. Clemson also ranks sixth nationally in sacks (38) and second in tackles for loss (108).
The Tigers lead the nation in three-and-outs, completion percentage defense and first downs allowed, and rank second in pass defense.
As for Lawson, he leads the nation in tackles for loss with 22.5, including 9.5 sacks.
“Lawson stands out when you see him on film,” Blackledge said. “I mean, he’s one of those guys that you just have to account for. You’ve got to pay attention to where he is and know where he lines up because he can ruin plays, and those are guys you have to account for in your game plan.”
Lawson, as well as guys like, Carlos Watkins, Christian Wilkins, Kevin Dodd, Scott Pagano and D.J. Reader are guys along the Clemson defensive front the Sooners have not had to account for at all during their seven-game winning streak.