The Oklahoma Sooners (8-4) will play the Clemson Tigers (9-3) in the Russell Athletic Bowl for the first time since 1988. Oklahoma was once ranked No. 4 in the AP poll at the start of this season after defeating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last year. The Sooner’s couldn’t carry that momentum into this season as they lost four games at home and ended the season with a disappointing loss to Oklahoma State. The Sooners desperately need this bowl game victory against Clemson to help boost their offseason momentum and end their season with a little more excitement.
Clemson has won three consecutive games, including their big win against South Carolina on Nov. 29. The Tigers boast the No. 1 ranked defense in the country, allowing 259.6 yards per game this season. Clemson’s defensive coordinator Brent Venables happens to be the former defensive coordinator at Oklahoma, who spent a decade under head coach Bob Stoops. Venables served as the co-defensive coordinator under Bob Stoops from 1999-2003 and was the head defensive coordinator from 2004-2011 before leaving Oklahoma for Clemson.
The Clemson Tigers will be without starting freshman quarterback DeShaun Watson, who will miss the bowl game due to ACL surgery. Senior Cole Stoudt will take over as QB and hasn’t done much in the games he has played in this year, throwing for only five touchdowns and ten interceptions. The Tigers will also be without head offensive coordinator Chad Morris, who took the head coaching job at SMU, therefore Tony Elliot and Jeff Scott will call the game as the Tiger’s offensive co-coordinators.
It’s a different story for the Sooners as they will have starting quarterback Trevor Knight back in the lineup after he missed the last three games due to transient quadriplegia. If the Sooner’s offensive trio are all healthy, then Oklahoma will have a much more balanced offense and have a better chance of putting points on the board against Clemson’s powerful defense.
Keys to a Sooners victory:
Passing game: Oklahoma QB Trevor Knight has to have an impressive passing game and connect with WR Sterling Shepard in order to score on Clemson’s defense.
Force turnovers: Oklahoma has to make Clemson QB Cole Stoudt throw the ball. Stoudt has ten interceptions in the few games he has played in and if the Sooners’ defense can force pressure on Stoudt, they have a better chance of forcing turnovers.
Establish the running game: Get the freshman record-breaking RB Samaje Perine the ball. Perine needs to get going early against Clemson’s defense and continue to deliver for the Oklahoma offense.
Who: Clemson vs. Oklahoma
When: Monday at 5:30 ET
Where: Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium
TV: ESPN
*Section Photo credit to Streeter Lecka, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Andrew Weber. USA Today Sports.
