Oklahoma prepares for SEC debut ‘like every other week’

NORMAN — Yes, ESPN College GameDay will be in town. Yes, No. 15 Oklahoma is a touchdown underdog at home for the first time in more than 25 years. Yes, the Sooners host No. 6 Tennessee in their most important conference opener of the century Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

But if their nerves are on edge, they refuse the world any indulgence towards their sufferings.

“Treat it like any other week,” says Sooners, a fifth-year senior Jake Roberts “Every game is a big week. From Temple to Houston to Tulane to Tennessee to Alabama, every game, the next one is going to be the biggest game,” Memorial Stadium said Monday.

The players who spoke at Monday night’s press conference at Memorial Stadium rarely acknowledge the stakes of the Southeastern Conference’s debut on Saturday (though not to underestimate Tennessee, as several have said). Nico Yamaleava (Quarterback skill and the Vols’ skill at almost every position). After every generic statement about practice and preparation, one couldn’t help but think, Can someone just admit that this is the biggest game of their life?

“It’s just another week. A talented group for sure. I think we’re ready for a good game. Prepare every week like it’s the same thing. The biggest game of the year is next,” the offensive lineman said. Heath Ozaeta.

“I mean, it’s the same thing. We break it down every week. We defend the standard. We’re going to give everybody our best and we know everybody’s going to give us their best,” the nose guard said. Da’Jon Terrywho spent a few years in the Vols squad.

Their indifference could be seen as dismissive or strategic. But deep down, it’s a hammering routine — because it doesn’t get any easier after Tennessee. In the grand scheme of this season, No. 6 Tennessee East just another week.

“We just focus on wash, rinse, repeat. Back to basics. Mental Monday, then we roll the rest of the week. We focus on getting better and getting ready for Saturday,” Roberts said.

Quarterback Jackson Arnold He provided more information, but even he was hard to decipher.

“I don’t know when the last time was College GameDay in Norman, it’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere. The fans are going to be really loud, even on game night. It all adds up to a fantastic night,” Arnold said. “For us, it’s been the same for the last few weeks: focusing on what’s going on in the locker room. You have a bunch of external factors that can really affect your mind and your state of mind throughout the week, but I think for us, it’s about focusing on ourselves in the locker room and working on that and getting along with each other throughout the week and really focusing and polishing our game plan.”

It may be an exciting time for OU fans, but anxiety about what’s to come must be building in its locker room. After back-to-back wins over Houston and Tulane that were admittedly uninspiring for long stretches, what other reasonable approach can this team take to a schedule that includes five games against top-seven teams in the next eight weeks?

Linebacker Danny Stutsman doesn’t mind Oklahoma being considered an underdog for once.

“I mean, the mentality is already to try to win the game,” Stutsman said. “So they set the line like, OK, now we have to win the game even more? I mean, I think that’s not really the way to think about it. You have to approach every game like it’s the most important thing, because it kind of is, you know? If we lose to Temple, it’s a pretty big game if you lose that one. I think every game you play here and there, I mean, it’s huge. You have to win every opportunity that comes your way.”

To be fair, Arnold made a statement that sounded more like gratitude for the opportunity than fear. That mentality may be more valuable than any other as the SEC’s tough days approach.

“It’s awesome,” Arnold said. “No matter what happens, this game will go down in history as Oklahoma’s first SEC game. And it’s really special to be a part of it.”