Projecting The Preseason Top 25: Did The Hawkeyes Make The Cut?

5) Oklahoma Sooners

Key Player: Entire Backfield

QB Baker Mayfield deserves all the praise as he has already become arguably one of the five best Sooner signal-callers ever. He will not be able to carry this team to another Big 12 title and CFP trip like he has done over his career unless some youngsters step up.

Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine were the best one-two punch we saw last season as both eclipsed 1,000 yards on the ground and each had double digit rushing touchdowns as well. Good luck finding two similar players with even close to the same production. A committee approach that includes Rodney Anderson, Abdul Adams, Trey Sermon and fullback Dimitri Flowers must perform right out of the gates with Ohio State on the week two slate.

Key Stat: Life After Bob

Norman won’t be the same without Bob Stoops. Lincoln Riley has a ton of talent despite his youth. Still, Stoops just posted his 14th season of double digit victories and it is easier said than done even with the premier talent the Sooners haul in.

Key Game: 11/4 at Oklahoma State

Oklahoma went 14-4 under Stoops against the Cowboys, but this season might be different. Stillwater is never an easy place to win, but the two may have to play a second time later in the year for the Big 12 title game. A loss in November would likely derail their chances of any CFP or Big 12/NY6 dreams.