2031 Week Two Preview - Nebraska (0-0) vs. #1 Oklahoma (1-0)
Boone Tillman // Sooner Born • Published: September 7th, 2031
It may not have been the vulgar display of power Sooners' fans had hoped for, but regardless, Oklahoma extended their winning streak to 27 games with the close win in Las Vegas to kick off the 2031 campaign.
On deck, a rivalry showdown with the Nebraska Cornhuskers that has been decidedly one-sided in recent years. With this being the last scheduled year of the rivalry, we'll talk with Armando Leon about the future of the rivalry, when it's time to hang up the whistle, and more in the latest "Schooner Scoop."
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#1 Oklahoma Sooners (1-0) | Description | Nebraska (0-0) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 97 Overall // 96 Offense // 99 Defense | Team Rating | 86 Overall // 86 Offense // 86 Defense Armando Leon (43-4) | Head Coach | Bill Belichick (7-6) Air Raid | Offensive Scheme | Multiple 3-3-5 | Defensive Scheme | 3-4 Multiple
Oklahoma Sooners 2030 Stats Nebraska --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SO Markelle Nickey (88) 357/525 (68%), 4,191 Yds, 47 TD, 15 INT | QB | SO(RS) Ezekiel Hart (78) DNP SO(RS) Dillon Slye (91) 57 Att, 341 Yds, 6 TD | HB | JR(RS) Ruben Raimann (90) 136 Att, 585 Yds, 11 TD JR(RS) Johnny Chubb (91) 45 Rec, 651 Yds, 3 TD | WR | JR JC Barr (88) 52 Rec, 637 Yds, 5 TD SR(RS) Dillon Booker (90) 19 Rec, 277 Yds, 2 TD | WR | JR DeAndre Kane (84) DNP (Michigan) SR MLB Gordon Paul (92) 77 Tkl, 16 TFL, 5 Sacks | DEF | JR(RS) DE Dalton Jones (88) 18 Tkl, 6 TFL, Sack SO(RS) LB Fredrick Garbutt (90) 45 Tkl, 17 TFL, 2.5 Sacks | DEF | SO(RS) LB Sateki Kasitati (82) 51 Tkl JR DT Cole Leo (93) 9 Tkl, 5 TFL, 4.5 Sacks | DEF | SR SS Byron Tonges (85) 7 Tkl SR(RS) CB Dom Sierra (89) 71 Tkl, INT | DEF | SR CB Josh Poljan (85) 75 Tkl, 3 INT
SEC Week One Schedule
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Schooner Scoop
BT: "As the Sooners move to inch closer to their own wins record, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are on deck. What was once a historic rivalry has turned into a bit of a punching bag as of late, with Oklahoma outscoring Nebraska 105-35 over the past two contests. What do you think the University wants to see in what could be the last scheduled game between these two rivals to keep the rivalry ignited going into the future?"
AL: "They have to show us something, Boone. I think I speak for the whole program—we love playing these rivalry games. But, at some point you have to look at the product on the field. I've made it a point since arriving in Norman to have challenging, impactful non-conference games. This isn't Alabama or USC scheduling FCS schools or New Mexico State to open the season. We've got Oregon, Oklahoma State, and Miami. All ranked, or soon to be ranked, opponents. Then you have Nebraska looking like the odd-man out. One thing I've approached leadership about is transitioning the Nebraska rivalry game to a rotation of either ranked former Big 12 rivals, or scheduling more teams from the Big Ten. At the end of the day, I don't want a schedule where someone can point to a certain non-conference game and say "that's a cupcake." So, if Nebraska can't rise to that standard, we'll find someone else who will."
BT: "On the subject of Nebraska, one more question. Bill Belichick is approaching 80 years old. His impact since joining the college ranks has been marginal, at best, boasting a 44-34 career record. When do you think you'll know when it's time to hang up the whistle?"
AL: "First things first, Bill Belichick is a legendary NFL Coach. No debates there. He should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer and the fact he had to wait until his 3rd year is ridiculous. But, his joining the college ranks felt like a gimmick at the time and still does seven years later. At some point, you have to look yourself in the mirror and say "what am I accomplishing?" Because all he is doing now is muddying his legacy. As for myself? I'll know it's time to go when it's becoming detrimental to my family, period. Family always comes first."
BT: "Final question. The defense looked up to snuff in their first game, aside from a few big plays for the Hurricanes. Offensively, a different story. Obviously, Nick's health is the key point. How is he feeling leading up to the rivalry game and if he's healthy, can we expect more explosive plays? 'Cause to be honest, it looked a lot like last year's offense where if guys didn't have space to do damage, we dinked and dunked down the field and prayed Butch could bail us out."
AL: "Let's not sit here and pretend Miami isn't a top-tier defense, either. We aren't going to face teams as physical and athletic as them very often. Nick is feeling great, his throwing shoulder looks good. I expect a much more spirited performance from him and the offense this week."
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Coach Leon is right; Nebraska is not Miami. That does nothing to ease my apprehension at the display we put on the field in Las Vegas. We had every right to lose that game, the only reason we didn't was the top-notch defense Pat Surtain Sr. and Leon put out on that field.
We won't need an improved performance from the offense to dispatch Nebraska. But we NEED to see an improved performance to renew the faith that this team can continue their march towards history.
I'm going to give them a mulligan and hope last week was a blip on the radar. If we continue to struggle, against NEBRASKA, then we've got to start thinking about sounding that alarm.
14 Nebraska, 45 Oklahoma.
