Oklahoma began its 2021 Faculty Soccer Playoff marketing campaign with a victory over Tulane, simply as everybody anticipated. Much less anticipated was how shut Tulane got here to upending the No. 2-ranked Sooners within the first recreation of the season.
The Sooners narrowly escaped Norman, Okla. with a 40-35 win over Tulane in what would have been among the many best opening-weekend upsets in school soccer historical past. By the way in which, this recreation was solely moved to Norman after Hurricane Ida made it not possible for the sport to happen in New Orleans. What ought to have been a cakewalk for the Sooners as an alternative raises the query of whether or not this workforce really has what it takes to problem for a nationwide title.
The Sooners undoubtedly confirmed some good issues towards Tulane. However, it is Tulane. And the longer it takes Lincoln Riley, Alex Grinch, Spencer Rattler and Co. to beat their shortcomings from Saturday, the longer doubts round this workforce will persist.
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Here is what it’s worthwhile to learn about Oklahoma’s uneven opener.
Spencer Rattler with one other sluggish begin
Oklahoma’s Playoff hopes weren’t the one factor that had a rocky begin this yr. Rattler regarded lower than inspiring towards Tulane, finishing 30 of 39 passes for 304 yards and a landing, including one other rating on the bottom. However he additionally threw two interceptions, and almost had a 3rd if it weren’t for a questionable defensive move interference name within the fourth quarter.
For instance: His first two passes went for minus-5 yards, then his first choose of the day:
Granted, this is not the primary time Rattler has had early-season struggles: He additionally threw 4 touchdowns and three interceptions in his second begin of the 2020 season, a 38-35 upset loss to Kansas State. He completed the season with 3,031 yards and 28 touchdowns. However he was alleged to have the whole lot collectively firstly of his third yr in Riley’s system. As a substitute, he was outplayed by a real freshman in Tulane’s Michael Pratt, who accomplished 27 of 44 passes for 296 yards and three scores and added one other on the bottom.
Fortunately for Rattler, he will not face a protection that may sustain with the Sooners all season. However what occurs when a workforce resembling Texas, which might put up factors, takes on the Sooners? He’ll want to attain greater than his protection offers up. It is only one recreation into the season, however he got here dangerously near failing that problem towards a considerably much less gifted Tulane workforce. Talking of the protection:
Oklahoma protection nonetheless wants a number of work
The storyline surrounding Alex Grinch’s protection this yr is that it might now not be a legal responsibility for Oklahoma’s Playoff hopes. No, greater than that: that it might really be a energy for this workforce.
One recreation into the season, and that storyline appears to be like weaker than the Sooners’ protection did towards the Inexperienced Wave on Saturday. They pressured three fumbles and three sacks towards Tulane; that is the excellent news. The unhealthy information is that they allowed 396 yards — solely 34 fewer than Oklahoma’s offense gained — and allowed Tulane to transform 4 of 6 fourth-down conversions. Eight Tulane receivers had a number of receptions, led by Tyrick James’ six-reception, 95-yard recreation. Cameron Carroll (4 catches, 19 yards) had two landing receptions; Will Wallace (three receptions, 27 yards) had one other.
It is not simply that Tulane was in a position to move the ball persistently. It is that Oklahoma had so many busted coverages that allowed Inexperienced Wave receivers to maneuver the ball up area largely uninhibited. That led to the ultimate drive of the sport, the place Pratt fell a yard quick on a fourth-and-13 scramble to present Oklahoma the ball again and run the clock out. Had he stretched his arms out on the ultimate dive, Tulane might have continued the drive and … who is aware of?
Oklahoma faces Western Carolina earlier than going through Nebraska in its first Energy 5 recreation of the season. The protection must get its toes beneath it throughout that point, or it is going to proceed to be extra of a legal responsibility than a energy for the Sooners.
Hats off to Tulane
No workforce in school soccer confronted a more durable Week 1 problem than Tulane. The Inexperienced Wave had been pressured to evacuate New Orleans within the wake of Hurricane Ida, practiced all week in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, then traveled to Oklahoma for what was designated a house recreation in Norman.
Tulane’s response to these hardships was nothing wanting unimaginable: The Inexperienced Wave gave the whole lot Oklahoma might deal with and extra in a recreation that favored the Sooners by 31.5 factors. They weren’t excellent — three turnovers and the game-ending turnover on downs had been big game-swinging performs — however nobody anticipated Willie Fritz’s workforce to step into Norman and play the Sooners the way in which they did.
No school workforce likes to say an ethical victory, however Tulane can actually stroll away with its head held excessive.
