The Oklahoma Sooners are now 2-0 on the year, but I can tell you this, it feels like they're 0-2 based on the reaction of the fan base, specifically the fans that were at the game on Saturday night against the Houston Cougars, who are still one of the worst teams in the group of the Power Four teams.
The Sooners won, yes, but at the same time, it doesn't feel like it. They won by four, and the defense and special teams practically carried this team. The offense was abysmal.
The Oklahoma Sooners offense was anticipated to be a significant bright spot this season, for several reasons, primarily due to the talent and scheme adjustments implemented for the 2024 season under new offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.
The arrival of new offensive pieces, particularly through transfers and recruits, is also a big reason there was so much riding on this team on that side of the ball entering their inaugural season in the SEC.
The addition of Deion Burks, a transfer from Purdue, who has already been showcasing a connection with quarterback Jackson Arnold, and the infusion of other talented players was expected to elevate the skill positions, providing Arnold with reliable targets. I mean, on paper, this wide receiver room is crazy good.
But, that hasn't been the case at all this season. Even in a 51-3 win over the Temple Owls last week, the offense didn't look great at all. Of course, it's Week 1 so the response to that was "Who cares? We won 51-3," by quarterback Jackson Arnold.
Well, this week, I can tell you that the fans definitely care. The fans booed the offense during a home game, which isn't something that has happened in a while. And, they had good reason to do so. The Oklahoma Sooners offense is now 5-26 on third down conversions, which is one of their biggest issues overall as a team.
Sure, the defense had a few errors on Saturday against the Cougars, but they were put in bad positions, and still kept the Cougars at 12 points on the day. But the offense, there is no reason they should be 5-26 against two very bad FBS teams.
Last season, the Sooners had the eighth-best third-down conversion rate in football at 48%, according to Team Rankings . That's a 19% conversion rate. And then, when the Sooners are in the red zone, on a third and 11 with a chance to put the game out of reach a bit, they run a quarterback draw for four yards. Last year the Sooners scored 101 points after their first two games -- this year, 69.
That is the exact moment when the fans started booing. They are not used to this -- looking like a bad team. They had six three-and-outs on offense on Saturday, which is unacceptable, so, yeah, the fans are going to let them know how they feel.
Related: Can the Oklahoma Sooners Fix Their Offensive Line Before SEC Play Begins?
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