ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 19: Brock Purdy #15 of the Iowa State Cyclones carries the ball against Nik Bonitto #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half of the 2020 Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship football game at AT&T Stadium on December 19, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
To put it bluntly, the Oklahoma football defense was not a respected or relevant group before Alex Grinch came to the rescue.
Since Grinch took over the defensive coordinator responsibilities at Oklahoma prior to the 2019 season, the Sooners have returned to respectability on the defensive side of the ball.