The Oklahoma Sooners are the lowest-ranked team in the College Football Playoff, but the Sooners have shown they have what it takes - and more - to beat Clemson in the Orange Bowl and then win the title. Here are three reasons why Oklahoma will win the national championship this season:
3) Dominant rushing attack
Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon combine for perhaps the best running back tandem in the country, combining for for 2,040 yards and 22 TDs this season. Perine is the bruising back to Mixon's quickness, proving to be an unstoppable thunder-and-lightning combination. Much has been made of Oklahoma's successful switch to the spread offense this year, but their dominance in the running game allows them to still dictate the tempo and control every game they play in.
2) High-quality defense
Oklahoma's defense has been amazingly impressive ever since they lost to Texas, giving up just 19.4 points per game over the last seven games. Their game against Clemson will be between between two top-five offenses, but the talent the Sooners have on the defensive side of the ball - led by Zack Sanchez, Eric Striker, and Charles Tapper - to confuse and limit the opposing quarterbacks they face.
1) Baker Mayfield's brilliance
Mayfield has surpassed nearly all expectations placed on him this season, completing over 70 percent of his passes for 3,389 yards, 35 TDs, and just five interceptions. He's also proven to be a dual-threat, racking up 420 yards and seven TDs on the ground. He nearly became a Heisman finalist with his impressive performances against the best teams in the Big 12, and with the way he's playing right now, I expect him to put up eye-popping numbers again against everyone they play.
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