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In offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley's first season last year with Oklahoma football, the Sooners running game was slow to develop. The Sooners averaged just 144.2 yards on the ground through their first five games. Then the offensive line solidified, Riley became more comfortable utilizing his running backs in the Air Raid offense and Oklahoma averaged 299.9 yards per game over the final seven games of the regular season to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.
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There is no time for a gradual build-up this season.
The Sooners have one of the nation's most demanding non-conference schedules. Oklahoma starts the season traveling to Houston on Sept. 3 then two weeks later hosts Ohio State.
"I think our guys have a strong understanding if we don't (play better early), we're going to be in trouble," Riley said. "We play some real good teams in the beginning. We have to be very good, very early."
On the offensive side, much of that weight figures to fall to quarterback Baker Mayfield and running back Samaje Perine.
Mayfield finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting a year ago with a flashy style of improvisation -- both with his arm and feet -- when things broke down and strong decision making.
Perine, who broke the NCAA's single-game rushing record as a freshman in 2014, isn't flashy but consistently puts up strong numbers.
He needs just 1,057 yards to break the Oklahoma career rushing mark held by Billy Sims. Along the way, he's also pass players like Adrian Peterson, DeMarco Murray and Joe Washington.
"Part of me likes it a lot, the fact that I'm being mentioned with some of the greats that have been through here," Perine said. "But the other half of me, I can't buy into that. I still have to do whatever I have to do to help the team win. That's what I'm here for. I'm not here to be the leading rusher at OU. That's nice to say when I'm, like 40. But for now, I don't really care too much for it."
NOTES, QUOTES
SPOTLIGHT ON SEPTEMBER: Only one other time -- in 2009 when the Sooners played BYU and Miami -- during Bob Stoops' tenure has Oklahoma played two ranked non-conference opponents during the regular season. Not only will that change this season but the Sooners play two teams with College Football Playoff hopes in Houston and Ohio State. The strength of Oklahoma's schedule might allow for one slip-up in those two games much the way they rebounded from an early loss to Texas last year to make the College Football Playoff. But things aren't any easier on the Sooners starting Big 12 play, with games against TCU and Texas back-to-back in early October. So not only must the Sooners stay afloat during a very tough early schedule but they must also stay healthy to be ready to hit the ground running in conference play.
KEYS TO SUCCESS: While Samaje Perine is the clear No. 1 running back, redshirt sophomore Joe Mixon is expected to play a much bigger role offensively after rushing for 753 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Mixon missed the 2014 season after being charged with a misdemeanor where he punched a female OU student in the face at an off-campus restaurant leading to his suspension not only from games but from all team activities for a season. Oklahoma coaches said Mixon didn't get to 100 percent until very late in the season. His versatility to be able to used more in the passing game and line up regularly in the slot could be a dangerous weapon for the Sooners' offense and with not much experience returning at wide receiver, Mixon's contributions in the passing game could be bigger than what he does on the ground.
AREAS OF CONCERN: Oklahoma must replace three of its four starting linebackers from a season ago with only inside linebacker Jordan Evans returning. Five-star recruit Caleb Kelly is expected to be a big part of the new wave of linebackers, filling in one of those outside spots. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo also figures to fill the other gap on the outside. On the offensive side, the Sooners need to replace a sizable hole left by the now-departed Sterling Shepard. Dede Westbrook and transfer Geno Lewis are expected to pick up some of the slack after Shepard had 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns receiving a year ago. Freshman Mykel Jones has drawn comparisons to Shepard early in camp. The interior offensive line is also a question mark as center Ty Darlington and guard Nila Kasitati graduated and the other guard, Jonathan Alvarez, will move to center. The Sooners hope redshirt freshman tackle Bobby Evans will be able to start and allow Dru Samia, who had nine starts at right tackle a year ago, to move inside to one of the guard spots.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think he's just happy with the direction of our players and staff. He feels good about the players and the work ethic of our team. We've had very few distractions. When you have a guy like Baker (Mayfield), it makes you feel good. Every time I go to practice, I shake my head at what I see. It's kind of mind-boggling. I think we're getting stronger as we go forward and that's always a positive." -- Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, on his brother Bob Stoops' renewed energy.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops, 18th year at Oklahoma, 179-46 record at Oklahoma and as a head coach
MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER: QB Baker Mayfield -- Mayfield somewhat surprisingly won the starting job a year ago, beating out incumbent Trevor Knight, and posted incredible numbers. He threw for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns with just seven interceptions and rushed for 405 yards and seven more scores. While those playmaking abilities alone make Mayfield the most important player for the Sooners, their backup situation makes him even more valuable. With Knight having transferred and incoming transfer Kyler Murray having to sit out, the only other eligible scholarship quarterback for the Sooners this season is true freshman Austin Kendall.
BREAKOUT STAR: DT Charles Walker -- Walker has stayed relatively under the radar during his two seasons in Norman but was looking like a star by the end of the year. Walker didn't start but was the best interior defensive lineman the Sooners had by the end of the regular season. He had 36 tackles and six sacks but missed the Orange Bowl with a concussion. Walker, a junior, is expected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft next year.
NEWCOMER TO WATCH: WR Geno Lewis -- Lewis is a graduate transfer from Penn State who is expected to help the Sooners fill the void left by Sterling Shepard's departure. Lewis had 55 catches for 751 yards as a sophomore in 2014 but recorded just 17 catches for 196 yards last year. Oklahoma has had success with Penn State wide receiver transfers before. Justin Brown transferred from the Nittany Lions for the 2012 season and Brown had 73 catches for 879 yards and five touchdowns as well as being an effective punt returner.
ROSTER REPORT:
--Junior Michiah Quick moved from wide receiver to cornerback following the spring. Quick had nine catches for 103 yards last season.
--Junior DT Charles Walker had wrist surgery in the offseason and has been practicing with a soft cast. He's expected to be able to go without it by the time the season starts.
--Junior OT Christian Daimler suffered a leg injury just before camp that is expected to sideline him for a month. Daimler was expected to compete for a starting spot.
--Junior CB Jordan Thomas was arrested for public intoxication and interference with official process in June. Bob Stoops said he hadn't decided whether or not Thomas would miss time.
