GAME PREVIEW: No. 16 Oklahoma vs Temple

what's going on everybody it is the very first edition of The soon's Illustrated game preview show Josh callow James Z Jackson Tom Green episode week one guess you could put it that way we've made it it is game week we have an actual game coming up um tomorrow night at the stadium number 16 Oklahoma host Temple it's a 6 PM kick at the stadium it's GNA be on ESPN it feels amazing that we have an actual game um yeah I mean guys you know to get some quick hitter things out here so OB this is brand new we didn't do this last year the game preview we're going to just kind of run through for about 10 15 minutes or so kind of what we're watching for we're gonna have keys the game players watch we'll pick the game but it just feels good to actually have a game to talk about guys as the season is is here we're going to be at the stadium tomorrow night what can you say feels good first game of the year finally here yeah I mean it's been a been a long way not just this off season but I know people been waiting a few years now for this move to the SEC and it's it's finally here um for me kind of a reintroduction to the SEC after a year away in the Big 12 um so I'm excited I'm excited it's going to be a fun season I feel like just just doing this podcast I feel like it's accelerated at least the last month and a half or so like it's just like The Season's just been getting here just closer and closer like each time it's like wow yeah we're right here so it's finally here for real like this is serious we're serious business now so let's let's get let's go go ahead and do it absolutely feels really good so for this ball game obviously um I think most people are aware but Temple is not expected to be very good um to say the least Temple's pick dead last in the preseason all AAC conference poll they have one guy on the all AAC preseason teams Oklahoma is a huge 40 plus Point favorite in this game um so it's going to be an interesting kind of first little game here for Oklahoma just to kind of take care of business and move on so on that note let's go ah and get into our key keys to the game um for Friday night Oklahoma and Temple Tom I'll let you kick it off for us what is the key or thing you're gonna be watching for that Oklahoma needs to get done and you'll think it's gonna be important uh for this game on Friday um remember to show up at the stadium on Friday instead of Saturday um yes no I mean like in all seriousness look Oklahoma is going to overwhelm Temple yes you know I I I think for Oklahoma this game is more almost like a self Scout uh in essence you know for the last month they've been going you know good on good against each other in practice you know day in day out now there going to be an opportunity to face someone else and kind of work out some of those Kinks uh especially you know see how that offensive line can work out working some of these new players but I mean really like Oklahoma just needs to make sure it shows up and handles its business that that that's really the key to this one yeah I mean anytime you play you know a worse or opponent it's always starting fast just getting it out the way early and don't let them get build any momentum anything like that so you have to stress a little bit I think o is going to do that I mean we seen it last year against Arkansas State and you you looked at that score and what happened there it's kind of the same situation here with with with the uh with the owls here so just do be on them early be on them early get everything done get your business out of the way and then you can kind of work on the things you need to work on that you couldn't do necessarily against each other back in scrimmages things like that at practice with you guys both completely on that same kind of note when you're a big favorite my key would just be Health just get out of this thing healthy um there's a few guys kind of banged up we just found out earlier today or yesterday on the Brent Venable teleconference that Nick Anderson's gonna be held out I think that's smart don't push anyone if they're not ready to go hold them back I know there's a lot of you know guys are chomping at the bit to get out there and play ancy you want to build some chemistry up with everyone but it's just this isn't the time to do it's a long season I think health is a key element said Angel Anthony is going to you know be available I would you know if he's 100% you could turn him loose but you know maybe tread a little lightly there don't overextend them offensive line kind of the same thing I know they really want to build up that chemistry I know that that's important we talked about a lot this Runway at the beginning of the season but at the same time if these if any of those guys are are a little nicked up I I just I wouldn't push it I I just simply wouldn't the season is too long and you have a couple more games here in non-conference before you get into SEC play play and uh obviously again you want to just get through this game healthy it would really be uh you know injuries are never fun at any time of the year but especially in a game like this where you're likely going to win by a big number you just don't need somebody going down you're going to need later so health is a big uh thing key for me get in and out of this thing as healthy as possible players to watch uh this could be any kind of direction again as far as as the season goes on it's a living organism so he can be a guy you think needs to play well to win the game probably not the case in this one but just a guy you're watching for for any in particular reason James we'll let you start uh on this one for player to watch for you uh on Friday night I mean this is an easy one especially starting this off for us I mean it's Jackson Arnold I mean just yeah keeping the keeping the ball in the OU's hands I mean that's that's what he was been he's been he's been hearing about that all off season like is he going to be a turnover turnover guy if he comes out here and does what he needs to do here it could change a lot of the narve about him it can make the U offense look even a lot better than what people think they could be and so that's that's the biggest thing the player of the watch here is for Jackson arold I do you want more than one I give you another one but I'll let you one we men do one yeah go ahead but yeah Jackson Auto is the guy because I mean as we as I said just the whole off season that's gota that's gota you know get under your skin a little bit if you're the if you're Jackson arold like I can be better than what I showed there I mean this is so now you get the chance to do it 100% with you um that's a great pick I'm going to go I'm going to stick on the offense I'm going to go Bowers sharp um I thought you were gonna take and I ended up taking you gonna take away but I'll roll with B Sharp um you know this is a guy that you know has come in to revolutionize the tight end room after it was not really a Factor last season we didn't really see it in the spring game you know he didn't you know the tight ends weren't really utilized much at all in the past game at least in the spring game but all we heard all spring all summer and now certainly all fall is that this guy has come in and just been a machine and I mean he was named a captain this week for his first game at Oklahoma which is a big statement in of itself this guy has come in expected to be a big force and a big part of this offense and we really haven't seen him you know play really at all or do much obviously in the limited time that we've seen at practice spring game things like that so it's a major chance for coming out party I'm just excited to just kind of see what he can do a little bit uh frankly more than anything and I think just kind of getting that Rhythm and getting him involved early could serve some good benefit for Oklahoma down the road so I'm gonna go with bow sharp as my player to watch Tom I stole him from you I tried to avoid who I thought you were gonna say so I'm gonna have to Pivot now because I I was leaning toward Bowers sharp here and just to kind of pay you back off of what Josh was saying like I'm like not just B Sharp I want to see how they use that tight end position I don't think that you know they're gonna empty the Playbook by any means I think they're going to keep things pretty vanilla early on here don't want to put too much on film before you know the competition ramps up a little bit but I am interested to see how he does and how they kind of start utilizing that position because I do think it's going to be a lot different from what we saw with Jeff Levy as offense coordinator sure um but since you guys both pick someone on offense I will go ahead and do someone on defense there you go there you go I'm gonna go with Jaden Jackson that's what I thought you were gonna take yeah yeah he was my backup pick but yep true freshman defensive lineman first to start a season opener for Oklahoma since Tommy Harris in 2001 just the fourth in program history uh the other two were Marcus low in 1987 and Corey Collins in 1997 um so very rare err here for Jaden Jackson sure um you I've got a feature up on the site this morning that I hope you guys read um just a really impressive young man um obviously has put in the work to kind of earn this snod and even just when we were talking to him earlier this week you know he feel he said he feels like in his eyes he hasn't earned anything yet you know he still has to go out there and prove it and and show that he can do this every day um because he feels like they have a very talented defensive line group um but for a true freshman and you know not not just that he's a true freshman but just the context of everything I mean he came in with David Stone who was you know the highest rated player in the class who was his teammate at IMG so like he was almost flying sort of under the radar just from his own School in that sense um so to come in and and be as impressive as he has been I want to see how that looks on the field because everything we've heard about this kid is just so impressive so far and we're finally going to get to see him do it in a game 100 per. that's actually who he was my pick and then I clear of him to give you the honor then I have taken your pick anyway James you said you had some bonus ones you wanted to throw in man see I could I was going to throw in jayen Jackson as well just in case and get to him but obviously that's a good one but Branson Hickman at Center I mean running that offensive line we talked about the offensive line this whole offseason how well is he going to you know navigate that unit how well is he going to do that because I mean we we we know about his talent we know about his skill set we've heard a lot of different things even from you know players that played against him like Dominic Williams has has spoken really highly of Branson hman so really want to see what he does so that that Center quarterback you know Duo I guess is what I'm really paying attention to when it comes to the offensive side of the ball in this first game yeah I mean you you could put the whole offensive line at this point just because that's been such a question mark um I will I will I thow I will throw one honorable mention in there um because I think we're gonna see a decent amount of him especially in this first game Taylor Tatum I would not be surprised at all if he ends up being the leading rusher just because I think this game is gonna get out of hand pretty quick and you know they're gonna empty the the you know depth chart basically and I think he's his opportunities javant needs his carries man let's let's get him he he didn't get has up but I would not be surprised if Taylor Tatum you know let them rushing this game just because of you know circumstances of the scoreboard and stuff like that but I mean it's gonna be his first time out there in Oklahoma uniform because he wasn't here in the spring um so I'm sure a lot of others are eager to see him too 100% I throw Michael Hawkins in there too just because debut like that I'm also curious you know I kind of mentioned the other day I think I did but just does he have a package like Arnold did last year even earlier the game you know they they worked Arnold in defin a different OC but you know I'm kind of curious on that too so we might get a little little taste of that uh on Friday let's go and pick the game um I guess I'll go and get a start here score prediction um obviously I think ok's gonna win by a lot they're 42 and a half Point favorites like I said temple was picked last in the preseason poll they have one guy on the preseason all AAC team uh it was a second team offensive lineman uh I got his name here Luke Watson he gonna play a guard for them left guard Stan Drayton their head coach is on the hot seat I mean it's kind of everything you kind of have set up for a team that's not expected to have a big year so I'm going to take Oklahoma by a big number I'm gonna go 59-7 is gonna be my final score wouldn't shock me if they shut him out I think defense is going to dominate I kind of give him a touchdown just because it's hard to predict a shut out you know garbage time or just any crazy thing happens up there in the end zone but uh I think Oklahoma's going to pretty thoroughly dominate this game not quite to the level of last year's 73 nothing but uh it'll be pretty convincing I think Oklahoma cruises to say the least Friday you mentioned last year and that was that was the big thing before like we our score predictions before that game we like there is a chance they could score in garbage time and things like that but that they they all talked about they have they have so much pride in each other the competitive de they were like nobody wanted them to score we were not going to allow to happen which kind of altered my decision this time I'm going 563 I think there there could be a field goal there but I don't think they're going to get in the end zone just because I think they're going to have that type of Pride once again this this OU defense uh the AL defense they there were they have nine new starters I think I read somewhere on on our site they have nine new starters coming in so like that's difficult in itself when you have going against an Oklahoma offense like this is expected to be a high caliber offense I mean there's going to be some points scored it could be even higher than 56 like I'm saying I it could be you know like Arkansas State last year it could be the same thing like one of those type of scores but yeah so I mean just I think I think they'll I think they'll get a field goal but that would be the most they'll get against especially this OU defense yeah I mean Oklahoma can name it score in this game um whatever wants to put up I think they they'll be able to um I actually think they're gonna score a little bit more than you guys I got them at 66 to1 um okay that's big I think there's room for a you know a late touchdown I I wouldn't be surprised if Temple like got a field goal I don't want to say early on but you know second third quarter type situation um but yeah like I said Oklahoma can name a score in this game Temple is the third worst team in ESPN's SP plus out of what 132 134 teams they are the third worst coming into the season they've gone three and nine each of the last two years like you said stand Ron not in great position right now um Oklahoma's gonna have an overwhelming Talent Advantage here and again it's name your score take care of business get home healthy 100% And you have the extra day going into the next game uh because of the Friday night kick yeah should be uh should be pretty sound for the Sooners roll in agreement there all right we are going to be at the stadium on Friday night um be sure to keep up with coverage on Sooners Illustrated all day there's already a ton of coverage there more to come uh today and obviously going into tomorrow we'll all be at the stadium and then keep an eye out for our instant reaction on the field after the game tomorrow night live from Norman the season is here feels good that's it for now for Tom Green James Z Jackson I'm Josh Callaway we'll see you guys tomorrow night at the stadium as Oklahoma opens up the 2024 season against Temple see you