Oklahoma, sitting at No. 8 in the new CFP rankings, is looking at a possible home playoff game in Norman and carrying the swagger of a team that has defeated Michigan and Tennessee on the road. And while surviving the weekly grind of the SEC feels like a program on the verge of something huge after that crazy road victory at Alabama. The Sooners have every reason to be optimistic on paper. Yet, despite all of that momentum, there is an odd little hesitation that looms over the committee room. This subtle, persistent concern puts OU firmly behind the contenders above them.

If OU defeats Missouri on Saturday and takes on LSU next week, the Sooners will be able to secure their first postseason berth since 2019. With victories at Alabama and Tennessee, Michigan at home, and defeats only to Ol

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