They're more than OK
Matt Murschel
Orlando Sentinel
It's no surprise that the early favorite comes from where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain — Oklahoma.
The Sooners (12-2), who finished this past season ranked sixth in the nation after claiming the Big 12 championship and beating Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl, should have enough talent to claim the top spot starting next season.
Quarterback Landry Jones, who finished with 4,718 yards and 28 touchdowns, will be back for his junior season, along with his biggest weapon, Ryan Broyles. Broyles, an All-America wide receiver, had 131 receptions for 1,622 yards and 14 touchdowns and should be a major factor for the Sooners' success. While coach Bob Stoops will have to replace DeMarco Murray in the backfield, the defense has nine starters returning to a squad that help opponents to 14.5 points per game.
mmurschel@tribune.com
Sooners look tough
Teddy Greenstein
Chicago Tribune
When Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles announced he'd pass on the chance for NFL cash, the Sooners became the team to beat.
Broyles will snag passes next year from Landry Jones, a junior-to-be who put up these outrageous numbers in the Fiesta Bowl against UConn: 34 for 49 passing, 429 yards, three touchdowns. And Jones will be protected by an offensive line with four returning starters. The defense could return nine.
An early-season victory over Florida State in Tallahassee would give the Sooners a surge. And they won't even have to win the Big 12 title game — because there won't be one. Minus Nebraska and Colorado, the incredible shrinking conference will determine its champion the old-fashioned way — by the standings.
tgreenstein@tribune.com
Oklahoma or Oregon
Chris Dufresne
Los Angeles Times
I would like Auburn to repeat if I knew student/freak athlete Cam Newton was returning, but I'm guessing his dad has already contaminated son's eligibility Tuesday morning by signing with several agents.
Ohio State is also mystery meat. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor "promised" to return for his senior year as a condition of playing in the Sugar Bowl, but that guarantee wasn't written in tattoo ink. Louisiana State is loaded and watch out for Stanford now that Andrew Luck has decided to return.
But the two best teams, I think, on Jan. 11 are Oklahoma and Oregon. Oklahoma returns 18 starters, quarterback Landry Jones and looked pretty talented in the Fiesta Bowl. Oregon returns the internal organs of its fast-pace offense in quarterback Darron Thomas and tailbacks LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner.
cdufresne@tribune.com
Look to the SEC
Nick Mathews
Daily Press
I want to answer Oregon. Coach Chip Kelly has the confidence — "We'll be back," he said Monday — and the explosive offense.
If not Oregon, maybe Oklahoma, which looked dominant at times in its 12-2 season. Or maybe Ohio State, which will be fine in its first five games (four at home and a trip to troubled Miami) without suspended QB Terrelle Pryor. All three are good answers.
But, wait, they are not SEC schools. Only schools from the biggest, baddest conference in the land are allowed to win the title. It has claimed the last five after all. So, whichever team survives the SEC will be the correct answer. Which will that be? Who knows? So, I went to pickrandom.com, put the SEC schools in alphabetical order and hit enter. Came out Florida. Really. Works for me.
nmathews@tribune.com