The Oklahoma Sooners have pulled off two of their biggest wins in years after taking down the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide in back-to-back weeks. Now firmly in the driver’s seat to qualify for the College Football Playoffs, they are two wins away from reaching the playoff for the first time under head coach Brent Venables.

However, to host a playoff game, it gets a little trickier. Currently, the Sooners are sitting at the eight seed and would host Notre Dame. Even if they win out, however, it’s not a guarantee that they will host. To guarantee that, they need some chaos around the country to help shore up their chances of a Playoff game in Norman on top of winning out.

Which teams should Oklahoma fans be rooting for this weekend to help secure their first College Football Playoff bid in years?

#15 USC OVER #7 Oregon

I know I’m asking a lot of Oklahoma fans to actively root FOR USC and Lincoln Riley, but sometimes the hardest choices require the strongest of wills. Oregon losing any other game on their schedule would vault the Sooners into the 7 spot, and away from having to play Ohio State in the quarterfinals. The higher the Sooners can climb, the farther away they get from having to take on one of Ohio State or Texas A&M.

Additionally, USC winning could potentially earn them a shot at playing Oklahoma in the playoff in Norman. A chance to give Lincoln Riley a crushing defeat in Norman would be sweet, sweet revenge for fans.

Cincinnati OVER #11 BYU & Kansas State OVER #12 Utah

I’m clumping the two of them together because it’s the same rationale for both of these teams. Knocking BYU and Utah out before the conference championships helps ensure the committee doesn’t have to debate between a potentially 11-1 Big 12 Champ BYU/Utah and 11-2 Texas Tech for hosting privileges over an Oklahoma squad that didn’t make their title game.

None of them have the resume the Sooners do, of course, but given the committee’s…erratic nature, it’s better to be safe than sorry and root for them to lose just in case.

#18 Michigan OVER Maryland

This one is pretty straightforward. The Sooners need every advantage they can get, and that means keeping their non-conference strong. To do so, they need Michigan to keep winning. This one shouldn’t be overlooked, as Michigan has been limping to the barn to finish games and are battling injuries on both sides of the ball. Up against a talented quarterback in Maryland’s Malik Washington and Ohio State looming, this is one the Wolverines can’t overlook.

Temple OVER #24 Tulane

I’m asking for a lot here, but much like with Michigan, every non-conference booster the Sooners can get will help their resume. Temple is playing for their first potential bowl game bid since 2019, and first year head coach K.C. Keeler has the Owls playing much better than they have been in years. It’s at home, and a Temple win would give the Sooners another solid non-conference win in their resume, especially over a team that upsets a ranked Green Wave.

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