Oklahoma can get back in the playoff mix, but not without fixing some big issues

HOUSTON -- The Oklahoma Sooners know better than most that a single loss doesn’t necessarily doom a season. After all, they rebounded from a seemingly disastrous defeat to Texas last October to surge into the College Football Playoff.

But after starting this season with a dud, Oklahoma’s margin for error these next 11 games is now zilch. Which, given the defects that surfaced Saturday, means that returning to the playoff is an undertaking that will require an almost immediate turnaround.

“Had nothing to do with coming in ready to play or playing hard -- we didn’t play very smart,” coach Bob Stoops said after his team fell to Houston 33-23 in a game the Sooners never were really in after the…