User:Dcheagle/OU season/2017

The 2017 Oklahoma Sooners football team represents the University of Oklahoma in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 123rd season of Sooner football. The team is led by Lincoln Riley, who is in his first year as head coach, after the retirement of Bob Stoops in June 2017. They play their home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They are a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.

Previous season
The Sooners finished the 2016 season 11–2, 9–0 in Big 12 play to win their 10th Big 12 Championship. By winning the conference championship Oklahoma was selected to play in the Sugar Bowl where they defeated Auburn 35–19.

Coaching staff
On June 7, 2017 Bob Stoops announced his retirement after 17 seasons as head coach. Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley was promoted to head coach. On June 14, Riley hired former ECU head coach Ruffin McNeill to coach defensive tackles. With the offensive coordinator positions vacant Riley promoted Cale Gundy and Bill Bedenbaugh as co-coordinators, but Riley will continue to call plays for the season.

Schedule
Oklahoma announced their 2017 football schedule on December 13, 2016. The 2017 schedule consists of 6 home games, 5 away games and 1 neutral-site game in the regular season. The Sooners will host two non-conference games against UTEP and Tulane and travel to Ohio State. Oklahoma will host Iowa State, Texas Tech, TCU, West Virginia and travel to Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State in regular conference play. Oklahoma will play the Texas Longhorns in Dallas, Texas at the Cotton Bowl stadium on October 14 for the Red River Showdown, the 112th game played of the series.