CFB Insider Identifies How Oklahoma Sooners Could Gain an Advantage in SEC Play

The Oklahoma Sooners face an adjustment heading into a first season in the SEC. The team heads into the most physically imposing conference in college football.

Despite the challenge ahead of the Sooners, new SEC opponents will have an adjustment of their own. They'll have to adjust to Oklahoma's playing style.

The Oklahoma offense has long been known for its explosive play potential. Much of the explosion could be attributed to its fast pace.

Former Oklahoma offensive lineman Gabe Ikard shared how the Sooners might attack defenses in 2024. He gave the following thoughts on "The Oklahoma Breakdown with Ikard and Lehman."

"If you feel like you are undermanned along the offensive line, tempo is typically a way teams try to neutralize a deficiency up front. Like, hey, we're just gonna play really fast, make the defense kinda scramble around, and just be in better shape than them."

Oklahoma's offensive line departures are well documented. The Sooners are set to have five new starters up front. The instability at the position raises questions for some as to how the team will perform in its first year of SEC play.

Ikard questions whether or not tempo is the most effective way for the team to have success. To him, it could all depend upon new starting quarterback Jackson Arnold's comfortability with fast offensive pace. Still, Ikard reasons that Oklahoma's offensive staff will likely continue to rely on tempo like they have in past seasons.

"I think their base mode of operation is going to be tempo. I mean, that's what Joe Jon Finley and Seth Littrell have been doing for a long time offensively," Ikard reasoned. "At this point it just feels like they're going to be a tempo offense."

SEC defenses have some familiarity with defending fast paced offenses. Most notably, teams have had to adjust to the Tennessee Volunteers ' up tempo style. Still, the Sooners' explosive offensive attack could create issues for a handful of opponents in 2024.

Oklahoma opens its season against the Temple Owls on Aug. 30.

Related: Oklahoma Football: 2024 Sooners Season Preview and Prediction