Oklahoma’s football program is on the rise under head coach Brent Venables. Despite a tough start to 2022, Venables, a two-time College Football Playoff National Championship winner at Clemson University, led the Sooners to a respectable 10-3 record last year and an Alamo Bowl berth against the Arizona Wildcats. Notably, this was just the second time in nearly a decade that Venables and his team held Oklahoma opponents to fewer than 24 points per game, a testament to Venables’ emphasis on defense.
But despite the team’s recent success, the departure of Lincoln Riley in 2022 is still bitter for many University of Oklahoma fans. Riley made a sudden transfer to USC two seasons ago, taking superstar quarterback Caleb Williams with him. The sense of betrayal by Riley still lingers deep in the hearts of Oklahoma fans. So when the news of the cancellation of Riley’s new team’s home-and-home game against USC and SEC powerhouse Ole Miss was made official on Wednesday, Oklahoma fans naturally responded swiftly and harshly, taking to social media to air their displeasure with their former head coach.
Oklahoma football fans take aim at Lincoln Riley as games against SEC opponents are canceled
Insights from a variety of sources There are indications that Lincoln Riley’s decision to leave Oklahoma for USC in 2021 was influenced by his dissatisfaction with the team’s move to the SEC.Fox Sports’ George Rigster reported on his eventual departure: “I’ve heard from multiple people that for Lincoln Riley, this was about him not wanting to go to the SEC. He wasn’t happy with Oklahoma transferring, so that took his attention away from him. ” The decision came a year before Oklahoma officially moved to the SEC and Riley transferred to the USC Trojans.
The home-and-home football matchup between Ole Miss and USC has been canceled, AD Keith Carter told me.
— Michael Katz (@MichaelLKatz) June 18, 2024
Still, Riley’s move to the Pac-12 and now the Big Ten didn’t allow the head coach to completely avoid the SEC, as USC is scheduled to play Ole Miss in a home-and-home series beginning in 2025. But when news broke Wednesday that the teams would mutually cancel their upcoming matchups, frustration among college football fans grew. Oklahoma football fans are slamming Riley and USC for taking away a potentially great non-conference game.
He was scared to play against SEC opponents because he knew his team couldn’t defend.
— Matt Dukes (@MattDukes19) June 18, 2024
This is bad for the CFB.
USC and Ole Miss will replace these games with OOC FCS or weaker Group of 5 teams because the playoff system means schools know that a tough OOC schedule of games doesn’t matter.
This means we, the fans, are being denied a great inter-conference matchup. https://t.co/ubepPi8Nvo
— Clemson Addict (@Clemson_Addict) June 18, 2024
Death, taxes, and Lincoln Riley’s fear of the SEC.
— Mark (@RealistMarc) June 18, 2024
Is Lincoln really that scary?
— Sutter Leadbetter (@Sutter61680779) June 18, 2024
soft.
— Jonathan Edward Miller (@THEJonathonMill) June 18, 2024
Lincoln running again from the SEC…?
— SECSooner_Life (@Sooner_kyle7) June 18, 2024
Oklahoma football team: Heading to the SEC next fall
After nearly 100 years of playing in the Big 12, the Oklahoma football team will advance to the SEC next fall. The Sooners will face a tough conference schedule next season that will see them face Tennessee, Auburn, Texas, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama and Louisiana State. Because the SEC will no longer compete in divisional games, a strong performance by Oklahoma in 2023 could put them up against an elite team in the Georgia Bulldogs for the SEC Championship.
While the SEC has a strong reputation as the best conference in football, Oklahoma boasts a strong 120-49-3 record against existing league members. Current SEC members Arkansas, Missouri and Texas A&M all played against Oklahoma in the Big 12 before moving to the newest conference.
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