The Sooners kick off their 2024 season Friday night with a home opener against the Temple Owls. Oklahoma is heavy favorite in this matchup, with the Owls coming to Norman entering the game as 42.5-point underdogs.
Oklahoma is coming off a 10-3 season in 2023, while Temple finished with a 3-9 record. The Sooners have a talented roster, led by quarterback Jackson Arnold, and are expected to dominate this game. Here’s a look at some of the key matchups and storylines as we inch closer to game day.
Key Matchups:
- Oklahoma’s Offensive Line vs. Temple’s Defensive Front: The Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive line will need to gel quickly to create running lanes and protect quarterback Jackson Arnold against Temple’s defensive front. Veteran linemen Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor will be key contributors, while transfers Michael Tarquin, Branson Hickman, and Febechi Nwaiwu from Oklahoma will also be important additions. On the other side, Temple’s defensive line has been bolstered by the addition of transfer defensive end Cam’Ron Stewart and nose tackle Latrell Jean. This matchup of experienced offensive linemen against a strengthened Temple defensive front will be a crucial factor in determining the outcome of the game.
- Oklahoma’s Secondary vs. Temple’s Passing Game: Temple’s offense relies heavily on their passing game, led by quarterback Brock Forrest and wide receivers Zae Baines and Xavier Irvin. Oklahoma’s secondary, led by Billy Bowman Jr. and Peyton Bowen, will be tested a little at the start of the season.
- Temple’s Offensive Line vs. Oklahoma’s Defensive Front: Oklahoma’s defensive line, led by veterans Ethan Downs and Da’Jon Terry, along with recent transfer Damonic Williams, should be able to dominate Temple’s offensive line. Temple will need to protect their quarterback and create running lanes against Oklahoma’s powerful defensive front, which is expected to have a significant advantage in this matchup.
- Temple’s Defense vs. Oklahoma’s Explosive Offense: Oklahoma’s offense, led by quarterback Jackson Arnold and a talented group of wide receivers including a now healthy Andrel Anthony and transfer Deion Burks, showed its potential in the Alamo Bowl against Arizona, where they amassed 562 yards. However, they also struggled with turnovers, committing six in the game. Temple’s defense will face a tough challenge in containing Oklahoma’s explosive offense and forcing turnovers to limit their scoring opportunities.
Key Storylines
- Oklahoma’s Offensive Debut: The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense is expected to be one of the most explosive in the country this season, led by talented quarterback Jackson Arnold. However, this will be Arnold’s first full season as a starter, so it will be interesting to see how he performs against a live opponent. He must prove that he has corrected the aforementioned issues with starring down his receivers and turning the ball over, as evidenced by the six turnovers in the Alamo Bowl against Arizona. The Sooners also have a strong group of wide receivers and running backs, making them a formidable offensive force.
- Temple’s Defensive Improvement: Temple’s defense struggled last season, allowing a lot of points and yards. They will need to improve significantly to compete with Oklahoma’s powerful offense. The Owls have made some changes to their defensive scheme and added some new talent, but it remains to be seen if they can make a significant turnaround.
- Home Field Advantage: Playing at home gives Oklahoma a psychological advantage and the support of their fans. However, it’s not just the team that has to prove its SEC readiness; the fans will need to do the same. The Sooners’ home crowd must ramp up the volume level and create a hostile environment that fuels the team to victory. If they wait until Tennessee comes to town to try and replicate the SEC atmosphere, it will be a sad disappointment.
- Impact of Transfers: Both Oklahoma and Temple have added transfers to their rosters, with Oklahoma potentially having as many as seven transfers starting between the two sides of the ball and possibly more than a dozen making their way onto the field. How well these transfers integrate into their new teams will be a key factor in the game. Oklahoma has added several talented players, while Temple will be looking for their transfers to make an immediate impact as well.
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