ESPN.com · Sep 30, 2016
With playoff hopes all but gone, Oklahoma seeks direction
This isn't the first season under Bob Stoops that Oklahoma has held national championship aspirations only to see them dwindle away during the first half.
In 2005, the Sooners opened in the top 10 of the polls, only to get knocked off by TCU in the opener.
In 2006, Oklahoma dropped games to Oregon and Texas by the second weekend of October.
In 2010, the Sooners debuted at No. 1 in the BCS rankings only to be upset by Missouri later in the week.
And in 2014, fresh off its Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, Oklahoma lost two of its first three conference games.
Two of those teams got off the mat to win the Big 12. One rallied to win six of its final seven games. The other, well, spiraled.