The College Football Playoff has created huge upside for fans of college football and nothing but trouble for the coaches trying to get there. Before the Playoff, there were all kinds of ways to measure success that didn’t involve a national championship. But now, it’s fairly clear-cut: You’re in or you’re out.
Oklahoma was used to being in, which is really good. But in the Sooners’ three consecutive trips to the semifinals under Lincoln Riley, some shortcomings have been exposed that would seem worth addressing in coaching and recruiting to close that last gap with the teams that are truly capable of winning a national title.