Returning to national prominence is OU’s quest.
The 2024 season ended on a bittersweet note for Oklahoma, losing to Navy 21-20 in Friday’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. OU entered the game shorthanded as several players entered the portal or sat out of the game to prepare for the NFL Draft (e.g., LB Danny Stutsman and QB Jackson Arnold).
Oklahoma came out strong, building a 14-0 first-quarter lead. However, momentum shifted dramatically when the Midshipmen answered with one TD in each of the remaining quarters and kept OU off the scoreboard. Behind 21-14 with 4:34 left in the game, the Sooners clawed their way back into the contest, scoring a TD on a Michael Hawkins to Jake Roberts pass with six seconds left. But OU’s quest to win the game in regulation was quashed when Hawkins was sacked during the two-point conversion attempt.
Oklahoma finished the season with a disappointing 6-7 record, its second losing season in three years (6-7 in 2022). That outcome starkly contrasts with a program that had won at least 10 games in 19 of the last 25 seasons.
Despite the outcome, OU fans can take solace in the performances of several young players. One is Michael Hawkins Jr., who was making just his fourth career start in place of Jackson Arnold. The redshirt freshman demonstrated ability as both a passer (28 for 43 for 247 yards) and a runner (17 carries for 67 yards). He connected on a dazzling 56-yard touchdown pass to Zion Kearney and completed that late 10-yard TD pass to Roberts.
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (9) throws a pass during the Armed Forces Bowl football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Navy Midshipmen at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.
Hawkins’s mobility allowed him to extend plays and make positive yardage even when the offensive line struggled to protect him. A microcosm of the 2024 season, the O-line allowed four sacks and failed to open up the Sooners’ running game after OU took that 14-0 lead. The inability to open holes for running back Gavin Sawchuk (67 yards on 13 carries) proved costly.
Another issue was OU’s receiving corps. WRs Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson were unavailable, and the Sooners were left with only four scholarship wideouts. The inexperience showed. Too many passes were dropped, and separation on deep routes was difficult to come by. However, several players stepped up, including Senior Jake Roberts, who took over the starting role when Bauer entered the portal and signed with LSU. Roberts had a few drops but also caught two passes on the final drive, including the touchdown that brought Oklahoma within one point. Freshman Ivan Carreon led the Sooners with seven catches for 72 yards, and Jacob Jordan, another freshman, caught five passes for 27 yards.
While the loss is disheartening, it provided a valuable opportunity for young players to gain experience. Their growth will be crucial for Oklahoma’s future as they look to bounce back from a difficult season and lay the foundation for a more decisive 2025 campaign.
Oklahoma needs to improve in all areas, from the passing game to special teams. Penalties, missed assignments, and failure to execute in critical moments were rife in ’24, and those issues must be addressed going forward.
But looking ahead, there’s reason to be optimistic, too, with key players returning and new talent arriving in Norman. Rivals.com ranks the incoming class #17 nationally, and nine players will come via the portal (per On3.com as of December 28).
As the Sooners prepare for another year in the SEC, they must also shake off the lingering doubts that have followed them. National pundits like Colin Cowherd have dubbed Oklahoma “the new Nebraska of college football,” a label that stings. While Oklahoma has the talent to rebound, it will take hard work, commitment, and, most importantly, improvement to turn losses into wins and return the program to national prominence.
There is hope in Norman, with multiple reasons to believe that 2025 will be a successful year for Oklahoma football.
