MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Lincoln Riley’s Oklahoma offenses are always capable of providing opponents with a nightmare before gameday. But this year the Sooners have added a Grinch who could steal a national championship.
Halfway into his first season as Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator, Alex Grinch has transformed the fortunes of a unit that previously stood out as the team’s Achilles heel.
Last year, the Sooners ranked 114th nationally in total defense, 101st in scoring defense, 119th in third-down defense and dead-last in passing defense. Those deficiencies were plenty evident in last year’s game at West Virginia, a 59-56 Oklahoma win.