Oklahoma Football: Turning Attention to Unfinished Business

We are a couple of weeks removed from conference championship games – yes, even in the Big 12 – and most all of the individual awards, including the Heisman, have been ceremoniously conferred. It’s time now for Oklahoma football to get back to unfinished business.

Dec 10, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Heisman finalists Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook (left to right) and Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson and Michigan linebacker Jabrill Peppers and Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson pose with the Heisman trophy during a press conference at the New York Marriott Marquis before the 2016 Heisman Trophy awards ceremony. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook are back from New York, where they finished third and fourth, respectively, in the voting for this year’s Heisman Trophy. Along the way, Westbrook also picked up the Biletnikoff Award as this season most outstanding receiver.

On Monday, Westbrook and Mayfield were named Associated Press All-Americans.

Westbrook also drew some unwanted attention over the weekend, when it came out that he had been arrested twice on domestic abuse complaints before coming to Oklahoma. OU officials contend that they were unaware of these issues despite conducting a thorough background check on the standout wide receiver, as they reportedly do for all recruits before extending a scholarship offer.

Both complaints were subsequently dismissed, but the revelation and timing of this news can’t help but taint what otherwise has been a spectacular on-the-field performance year for the senior wide receiver from Cameron, Texas. It also could have a residual effect on his NFL Draft status. Not that it will prevent him from being selected in the draft next spring, but it could realistically cost him financially if his draft status were to fall because of the current news reports.

The Oklahoma athletics department issued the following statement from Westbrook, picked up by numerous media outlets, including the Tulsa World, regarding the issue:

“There were some disagreements in the past that were cleared up years ago,” said the Sooner wide receiver. “We have resolved our issues and are focused on the future.”

Jan 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Mississippi Rebels players carry away the Sugar Bowl trophy after the presentation at the end of the 2016 Sugar Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mississippi defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 48-20. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

With less than three weeks before its Sugar Bowl matchup with No. 14 Auburn, Oklahoma gets back to work on the practice field this week, with the hope of capping off the 2016 season with a 10th consecutive win, a New Year’s Six Sugar Bowl victory and a 12th 11-win season for Bob Stoops and the Sooners.

Based on the season record of the two teams, the Sugar Bowl game with 8-4 Auburn might seem like a bit of a mismatch, but don’t allow yourself to be fooled by that. It is pretty rare when the second-best team in the Southeastern Conference finishes the regular season with four losses. Auburn did face nine opponents this season, however, who are headed to postseason bowls. The Tigers were victorious in five of those contests.

On a statistical basis, OU and Auburn are surprisingly closer statistically that you might imagine. For example, the Sooners’ advantage offensively is easily countered by Auburn’s edge defensively. It will also be intriguing to see how Auburn goes about attacking the Sooners’ 119th-ranked pass defense.

Over the next three weeks, as we countdown to the kickoff of the 83rd annual Sugar Bowl, we will look at the strengths and weaknesses of both teams, their similarities and disparities and who has the advantage where and why. We won’t leave you without the slightest detail or need-to-know to get you ready and fully informed on what to watch for as the Sooners head into their 18th consecutive bowl appearance in the Stoops era.