The college football post-season is in full swing, and next up is the Oklahoma Sooners taking on the Navy Midshipmen in this year’s Armed Forces Bowl. There are plenty of great bowl games on tap this year. However, few are set to be quite as intriguing as this one.
Can Oklahoma Beat Navy at the Armed Forces Bowl?
Navy’s Historic Year
The military academies are, typically, forgotten about when it comes to college football. The Army-Navy game is always a highlight, but otherwise most of the nation focuses on the headliners. Similar to pro-wrestling’s undercard stars, the talent is there, but there’s usually just nothing to write home about. Until this year, that is.
The Army Black Knights were undefeated until they ran into Notre Dame. The same was true for Navy. Then, to top off the season, the Midshipmen gave their Army brothers a walloping in this year’s Army-Navy game. Just like those undercard wrestlers, all it takes is one good run to catch the eye of the nation. Of course, on the other side of that coin, all it takes is one bad run for people to start tuning out.
Oklahoma’s Rough Year
In their first season in the SEC, the Oklahoma Sooners were expected to land somewhere in the middle. Instead, they nearly bottomed out of the conference entirely. A last-minute win over Auburn and the squashing of Alabama are the only things giving hope for next year.
Head Coach Brent Venables was hedging his bets for this season. The regular season saw injuries, losses, and coaches being fired. Now, the heir-apparent quarterback is on his way to Auburn and the transfer portal is ravaging the depth chart. Salvaging this season with a bowl win won’t be easy, so Oklahoma has to bring its best.
Who’s On First For Oklahoma?
Unfortunately, some of its best are staying home. Key players such as Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman are opting out as early-round NFL Draft picks. Stutsman and Bowman are, arguably, the two best players on the defense. Several other seniors are still on the depth chart, but, likewise, it’s uncertain if they’ll actually opt in for the game.
The offense is looking a bit more experienced- but only just. Oklahoma’s wide-receiving room is, essentially, nonexistent after the deluge of transfers. Only freshmen receivers will be playing for the Sooners to end the year. This is, of course, excluding tight ends Jake Roberts and Kaden Helms.
Oklahoma’s running backs are looking to be the same as usual. Xavier Robinson, Gavin Sawchuk, and Taylor Tatum will all likely see action of some kind in the Armed Forces Bowl game. Michael Hawkins Jr., obviously, will likely be taking all snaps as quarterback.
Navy Is Ready To Bowl
Perhaps nobody has said it better than Navy coach Brian Newberry, who spoke on the game earlier this month. “It’s interesting. We’re going through their two-deep and trying to figure out who’s going to play and who isn’t. It’s a little bit of a challenge in that regard.”
The Midshipmen are heading into the Armed Forces Bowl with opportunity on the horizon. Newberry, an Oklahoma native, may not look forward to going up against a hometown team. His players, on the other hand, couldn’t be more excited. Most are juniors and seniors who have been playing together for years. The Armed Forces Bowl, and Oklahoma, are an opportunity to make that time mean something.
Blake Horvath will be leading the offense at quarterback. Alex Tecza and Daba Fofana will be backing him up at fullback. Nathan Kent and Cody Howard will be the most likely receiving targets for any passes. Defensively, the Midshipmen will be fielding an all-senior and junior team.
Last Thoughts On Oklahoma, Navy, and The Armed Forces Bowl
Oklahoma is being hammered from all sides right now. The transfer portal, Jackson Arnold, the NFL Draft, graduation, and more are creating very long odds for the Sooners. Coach Venables probably knew this was coming, and he’s probably already digging his heels in for 2025 instead.
Navy, on the other hand, is sprinting through its third ten-win season in twenty years. College football chaos has been the name of the game in 2024, and the Midshipmen are happily doing their duty to create more. One more blow to college football’s powerhouse is that the SEC isn’t out of the question here. In fact, it’s the most likely option.
What we should focus on here isn’t the loss. The Armed Forces Bowl will be the first opportunity for the 2025 Oklahoma Sooners team to take the field. Win or lose, this will be a galvanizing experience for them and give us a glimpse into what 2025 has in store. As always, be sure to check back in with Last Word On Sports for all things Oklahoma Sooners- and for the most in-depth breakdown of this year’s Armed Forces Bowl.
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