The fastest way to forget a disappointing season is to turn things around by winning. And in the case of the historically proud Oklahoma football program, that means finding ways to win close games instead of putting yourself in position to lose.
Third down was the Sooners’ kryptonite in the 2022 season, their first losing season in a quarter century and the first for Brent Venables as head coach. Oklahoma couldn’t get off the field on third down on defense, and the offense struggled to convert third-down chances and extend possessions and potential scoring drives. Not a healthy recipe for success.