With a freshman quarterback and a plethora of new players on defense, Oklahoma was supposed to take a dip last season. Not under coach Bob Stoops’ watch.

The Sooners suffered a couple of tough losses but still carved out an 11-win season and reached a BCS bowl game for the sixth time in eight years.

Now the national championship talk is everywhere in Norman and Stoops’ crew is more than capable of bringing home the hardware.

OFFENSE

The Sooners will return eight starters from a unit that scored 42.3 points per game, the fifth most in the nation.

As a freshman, Sam Bradford put up video game-type numbers while directing the Oklahoma offense. He completed 70 percent of his passes for 3,121 yards.

The video game part? Bradford threw 36 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Before he’s done, Bradford will likely re-write all of Jason White’s school passing records.

Also returning in the backfield is sophomore running back DeMarco Murray. Last year, Murray was Allen Patrick’s backup but averaged more yards per attempt (6.0 to 5.8) and scored more touchdowns (13 to 8).

“DeMarco is an explosive, exciting player,” Stoops said. “He’s one of those special athletes that everyone sees the great speed and the moves he has, but he’s a physical guy, too.”

His numbers could have been even better, but Murray missed the last three games of the year because of a knee injury. Stoops said Murray is at full strength, but if the knee causes a problem there is another back ready to step in.

Junior Chris Brown amassed 611 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in third string duty and filling in for Murray at the end of the season.

No matter who’s carrying the ball, they’ll do so behind a beastly offensive line. Oklahoma brings back five senior starters who average about 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds. It will be a disappointment if OU doesn’t average more than 200 rushing yards per game.

A pair of seniors who helped their young quarterback mature return at wide receiver. Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson have as much to do with Bradford’s success as he does, the trio should all help each other out this year.

DEFENSE

At least one of Oklahoma’s players in each defensive unit could be considered the best player in the Big 12 at his position.

Defensive end Auston English, middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds and strong safety Nic Harris are all elite playmakers and lead the Sooner defensive attack.

Oklahoma’s defensive line is its best unit, and English is the best one among them. A speedy pass rusher, English led the league with 9.5 sacks last season.

The linebackers are young (freshman Travis Lewis is a projected starter) and Reynolds has fought injuries throughout his career. However, he’s looked strong and sharp in practice, and he said he knew his leadership was needed following Curtis Lofton’s graduation.

In the secondary, Harris’ violent hitting should help ease the loss of corner back Reggie Smith.

Harris is versatile and could play any position in the secondary, as can free safety Lendy Holmes. Stoops will have to rely on these two experienced players to guide his otherwise youthful secondary.

SEASON OUTLOOK

Stoops was probably searching for the reset button a few times last season.

Despite all of the talent they put on the field, the Sooners often looked uninterested in what they were doing. The consequence of which was a tough loss at Texas Tech and embarrassing defeats at Colorado and against West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl.

In any other season, Oklahoma’s 27-24 loss in Boulder would have been the upset of the year. Fortunately for Stoops, 2007 was the year of upsets, and his team was able to slip under the radar and back into the national picture.

This year the expectations in Norman are Big 12 and national championships or bust.

Oklahoma will be favored in every game it plays and should Missouri advance out of the North, Bradford and crew will have plenty of confidence after winning both contests last year.

Injuries to a few key players or another case of not taking every game seriously could be a problem, but all of the pieces are in place. The only Big 12 team that could get in their way is themselves.

PREDICTION

13-0,

BCS National Championship