re: Being realistic here, with Texas & Oklahoma coming in,

Here’s the thing. Every conference is a grind because the teams in that conference have to play a majority of games vs said teams. Teams build their rosters to get through the conf grind no matter what.

Then you have playoffs. The reason SEC has done great in playoffs is because the other conferences are built differently - the SEC top teams are defense oriented.

I think most would agree with over a month to prepare for playoffs this favors defense over offense. Easier to slow down an offense. OU had some of the most prolific offenses ever and yet had a crappy D. That did them in in playoffs.

Going foward OU is gearing up for defense and brought in Venables and Roof and some other specialty defensive coaches. They will have a much better balance going in.

Once you get past the top 2-4 SEC teams its similar to other conferences where the rest can beat you on any given Saturday but are not top teams.

So in one way I agree it’ll be a grind but in another its already a grind based on conf and how teams are constructed. The biggest adjustment is if due to these big conferences you will play conf games right out of the gate. Way less popcorn states for everyone to start the year and work out kinks. Thats going to be for all teams not just OU.

Conferences go in cycles too, I recall the Big 12 South had the best division in college for a spell.

OU won’t win as much for sure. And the games will be exciting. New venues, new traditions to learn. New rivalries. I look forward to it.