Bryan Terry-USA TODAY Sports
The Arizona Wildcats are going to pose problems for the Oklahoma Sooners. Their offense averages 34 points per game and defense averages 20 points allowed per game. Their three losses were to Mississippi State in overtime early in the season and to Washington and USC (again in overtime).
Noah Fifita is one of the best freshman quarterbacks in the country and he will certainly show up on Heisman watch lists in the future. But this day will not be about Fifita. This is the coming-out party for Jackson Arnold and Seth Littrell.
The Oklahoma Sooners offense, with roughly a month to prepare, comes out firing on all cylinders. Despite the turnover along the offensive line, the running game continues to hum, setting Arnold up with favorable coverages on the back end. The Sooners hit several big plays in the passing game, showing off Arnold’s arm, which helped him earn Elite 11 MVP and Gatorade National Player of the Year Honors in 2022.
Defensively, this game resembles much of what happened this year for the Sooners. They bend, allowing a good Arizona offense to move the ball, but they make timely stops on their side of the 50-yard line to hold the Wildcats to field goals at times throughout the game.
The final game of the 2023 season provides big plays on both sides of the ball, and like last year’s affair against an up-and-coming Florida State team, this one is a close game throughout. However, this time, the Sooners come out on top to give Brent Venables his first bowl win as a head coach.
Sooners 37, Wildcats 34
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