Greg McElroy explains what finishing top three in the SEC would mean for Oklahoma

Oklahoma will be having to adjust to life in the Southeastern Conference this year. What if they immediately do so, though, as one of the best in the league this fall?

Greg McElroy recently considered what it would mean for the Sooners to be top-three in the SEC in 2024. Simply put, OU would be earning their fifth playoff berth in history after handling a very difficult schedule in their first season in the conference.

“Well, if you’re in the top-three of the conference, you are in the playoff. I think that goes without saying,” said McElroy during an episode of ‘Always College Football’. “If they finish in the top-three in the SEC, they’ll have a home playoff game.”

“If you really think about this schedule? It would be insane. To finish in the top-three, I’m assuming you’ve got to be 10-2 or better more than likely. 10-2 probably gets you in the top three in the SEC,” McElroy said. “Think about the games that they have. 10-2 so you have two losses – pick whatever two you want to lose here. Tennessee at home, Alabama at home, at Missouri – three teams ranked in my Preseason Top-10. At Ole Miss – another Top-10 team. Two of the four on the road – brutal. At LSU – a team that I feel really good about as a Top-12, Top-15 team at worst, maybe better depending on how they do with their defense. Then their annual game against Texas.”

McElroy also thinks it would mean that QB Jackson Arnold became the player that you hoped he would. It’s tough for them to have lost QB Dillon Gabriel and OC Jeff Lebby in the same offseason. Still, with what they have on offense, Arnold playing very well could get them into that spot in the standings.

“If Oklahoma finishes in the top-three, Jackson Arnold probably played at an All-American level – probably did,” said McElroy.

Finally, for the Sooners to finish in the top-three, both of their lines would have to have stepped up to the level of play in the trenches in the SEC. That will take work with the changes on both lines but would be a significant factor if they do so.

‘The big question is along both lines of scrimmage. If they’re in the top-three, that means Bill Bedenbaugh, their offensive line coach, should get a gigantic raise,” said McElroy. “Imagine stepping into a scenario where you’re going into the SEC and you don’t have anybody back along the offensive line? But, hey, if they’re in the top-three, they were obviously pretty dang good there so Bill Bedenbaugh did an amazing job at that position.”

“It also means the defensive line and some of the question marks surrounding the defensive line probably were pretty dang good, some of the people they added in the portal were probably pretty dang good,” added McElroy.

This tall order would be a major accomplishment for Oklahoma in their debut in the SEC. It would also be quite the resumé boost for Brent Venables as he leads them into their new era.

“If they go 10-2 or better and they finish in the top-three, Brent Venables will probably be considered Coach of the Year,” said McElroy. “I don’t know how you couldn’t be based on the schedule they have to run and the teams they have to face.”

The post Greg McElroy explains what finishing top three in the SEC would mean for Oklahoma appeared first on On3.