Oklahoma Sooners need to improve efficiency based on Saturday in the South

The Oklahoma Sooners will play their first game against a Power Four opponent this season when they host the Houston Cougars on Saturday night. It will also be the only Power Four opponent outside of the (autotag)Southeastern Conference(/autotag) that OU will face in 2024.

The Cougars are in their second season in the Big 12 and are also the only new member of the conference that OU did not play in 2023. As the Sooners enter their first year in the SEC, Houston is far from the most intimidating opponent on the schedule. The Cougars fell at the hands of UNLV by a score of 27-7 last week, while Oklahoma defeated Temple 51-3. That being said, anything can happen in college football and OU needs to improve in a couple of areas as league play approaches.

Saturday Down South writer Connor O’Gara gave his first impressions on each SEC matchup as we head into the second week of the season. Oklahoma vs. Houston is far from the marquee matchup on the schedule, but there will be a few things to keep an eye on.

Third-down conversion is something Oklahoma will have to improve before conference play begins. However, Saturday’s game against Houston is another solid opportunity before tougher opponents come to town.

First-year head coach Willie Fritz is an excellent coach who has moved up a level of competition from Tulane to Houston. While he still doesn’t have the highest level of overall talent on his roster, he will still be an intriguing third-down opponent against Seth Littrell.

Oklahoma and head coach (autotag)Brent Venables(/autotag) didn’t have many opportunities to improve the SEC schedule in 2024. One opportunity they did have, however, was that their first big game isn’t until Week 4 on Sept. 21. Having three non-conference games to break in new starters and coordinators before Tennessee comes knocking is a situation the Sooners should take advantage of. That started Friday against Temple, in a game that showed what OU needs to improve. It should continue Saturday against Houston, starting with an improved third-down conversion rate from offensive starters.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners need to improve efficiency according to Saturday Down South