Tennessee football is getting its SEC slate opened with a road trip to Oklahoma.
To preview the Sooners' first SEC game, I spoke with Jesse Crittenden of OUInsider.
Here's what he had to say.
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Do you think there will be any extra motivation with it being the school’s first SEC game?Â
Absolutely. This will be, without question, one of the most highly-anticipated games in OU history. There's no shortage of storylines here. It's the Sooners first SEC game, it's at home against a highly-ranked opponent and it'll be on primetime TV. There will absolutely be both pressure and motivation for Brent Venables and the Sooners to make a statement that they belong in the SEC.
The pressure won't just be on the team. There will be plenty of motivation for the fans and the administration to elevate the atmosphere.
What are feelings on Josh Heupel in Norman?
For the most part, there is a fondness and appreciation for Josh Heupel in Norman. His championship run in 2000 cemented him as an Oklahoma legend, not to mention his extended tenure on the coaching staff. He certainly was the subject of criticism from the fanbase in the later years of his tenure, but for the most part, that has vanished with time. I think his return to Norman will be an emotional moment for fans.
What are the expectations for QB Jackson Arnold this fall?
Despite the mixed results from his first career start in last year's Alamo Bowl, the expectations are predictably sky high for Jackson Arnold. He's one of the biggest recruits in program history with off-the-charts potential. Having said all of that, there is certainly some (slight) anxiety about this upcoming season. He's still just a true sophomore and is walking into the SEC as an inexperienced quarterback playing against some of the best athletes in the country. There is pressure for the Sooners to compete right away, and fair or not, he'll be in the spotlight the entire season. Still, I think there's optimism that he can be one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC.
What would make this season a success?
That's an interesting question. There's a lot of ways to answer that question, depending on who you ask. The easiest answer is success would be OU competing for an SEC title. Realistically, the Sooners just need to be competitive. They need to prove they belong in this conference. This is going to be a chaotic season filled with a whole lot of unfamiliarity, and they have one of the toughest schedules in the country. Eight wins is a good baseline for this season. Reach that goal, and this season can be considered a success.
What is OU’s strength?
There are two position groups where the Sooners can feel confident that they have as much depth and talent as anyone in the SEC: Wide receiver, and linebacker. At wide receivers, the Sooners have proven weapons in Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, Jalil Farooq, Jayden Gibson and Deion Burks. At linebacker, the Sooners have Danny Stutsman, Dasan McCullough, Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie, Jaren Kanak, Samuel Omosigho and a ton of young guys with upside. Those groups should be the strengths of the team.
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