Lincoln Riley was 33 when he took over. Think about that. Most guys that age are just hoping their car starts in the morning or trying to figure out how to get a promotion to mid-level management, but Riley was handed the keys to a Ferrari. Bob Stoops stepped down in June 2017, shocking basically everyone in Norman, and suddenly the 2017 OU football roster wasn't just a collection of players; it was a championship-or-bust mandate.
It worked. Mostly.
That team was a statistical fever dream. They didn't just win games; they dismantled defenses with a clinical, almost cruel efficiency. If you look back at the names on that depth chart, it’s actually kind of absurd how many of those guys are still playing on Sundays. We’re talking about a roster that featured a Heisman winner, a Biletnikoff winner, and a litany of offensive linemen who now pull in eight-figure salaries in the NFL. It was the perfect storm of Stoops’ recruiting grit and Riley’s schematic wizardry.
The Baker Mayfield Factor and the 2017 OU Football Roster
Everything started with Number 6.
Baker Mayfield in 2017 was a force of nature. He wasn't just a quarterback; he was a walking, talking psychological operation against opposing defensive coordinators. By the time the season ended, he had thrown for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns with only six interceptions. His passer efficiency rating of 198.9 set a FBS record at the time, breaking his own record from the previous year. He was the heartbeat of the 2017 OU football roster, a former walk-on playing with the chip of a thousand rejected recruits on his shoulder.
He had weapons. Oh, did he have weapons.
Mark Andrews was a mismatch nightmare at tight end. You couldn't put a linebacker on him because he was too fast. You couldn't put a safety on him because he was 6'5" and 250 pounds. He finished that year with 958 yards and eight touchdowns. Then you had CeeDee Lamb as a true freshman, already showing the body control that would make him a star for the Dallas Cowboys. And Marquise "Hollywood" Brown? He was the lightning. If Baker saw a single high safety, it was over. Brown would just run past people. It was track meet stuff, honestly.
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The Offensive Line: The Unsung Wall
People talk about the skill guys, but that offensive line was disgusting. It was coached by Bill Bedenbaugh, who is arguably the best in the business. Look at the names: Orlando Brown at left tackle, Ben Powers, Erick Wren, Dru Samia, and Bobby Evans.
They were huge. They were mean.
Orlando Brown was a unanimous All-American. He stood 6'8" and weighed about 345 pounds, a literal mountain protecting Baker’s blind side. Because that line was so dominant, the running game thrived even after Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine left for the NFL. Rodney Anderson stepped up and became a star, especially in the second half of the season. He put up 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. When Anderson was rolling, this offense was literally unstoppable. They averaged 579 yards per game. That is not a typo. They were gaining over half a football field every time they stepped on the turf.
Defensive Struggles and the Rose Bowl Heartbreak
We have to talk about the defense. It’s the elephant in the room whenever anyone brings up the 2017 OU football roster.
Mike Stoops was the defensive coordinator, and while they had some NFL talent—guys like Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, who had eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss—the unit as a whole was inconsistent. They’d look like world-beaters against Ohio State in Columbus, then give up 52 points to Oklahoma State in Bedlam. They were 67th in the nation in total defense.
"Bend but don't break" only works until you meet a power run game like Georgia’s.
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The Rose Bowl. It still hurts for OU fans. January 1, 2018. Oklahoma had a 31-17 lead at halftime. They were 30 minutes away from a National Championship appearance. But the defense couldn't stop Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Georgia just kept pounding the rock. The game went to double overtime, and a blocked field goal eventually sealed OU’s fate. 54-48. It was a classic, sure, but for Sooners fans, it was a missed opportunity of historic proportions. That offense deserved a ring.
Breaking Down the Key Starters
It helps to see how the talent was distributed across the field. This wasn't just a one-man show.
- Quarterback: Baker Mayfield (Senior). The Heisman winner. Enough said.
- Running Backs: Rodney Anderson, Abdul Adams, and a young Trey Sermon. It was a "by committee" approach that turned into the Rodney Anderson show by November.
- Wide Receivers: Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb. One of the best duos in school history.
- Tight End: Mark Andrews. The safety valve who caught everything.
- The "Bookend" Tackles: Orlando Brown and Bobby Evans. They made life easy for Baker.
- Defense: "Obo" Okoronkwo and Kenneth Murray. Murray was just a freshman but you could tell he was going to be special.
- Special Teams: Austin Seibert. He handled punting and kicking, which is rare at this level of play.
The sheer density of future NFL players on this list is what makes the 2017 OU football roster so legendary. When you watch a Sunday afternoon game now, you’re almost guaranteed to see someone from this specific squad.
Why This Team Still Matters in Norman
The 2017 season was a turning point. It proved that Lincoln Riley’s offensive system wasn't just a Big 12 gimmick; it could work against the elite of the elite. Winning at Ohio State early in the season was a statement. Baker planting the flag at midfield of the Horseshoe? That was the moment Oklahoma felt like "OU" again.
It also set the stage for the "Transfer U" era. Baker was a transfer (from Texas Tech). The success he had paved the way for Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts to follow. It changed the recruiting pitch. Suddenly, every elite QB in the country wanted to play in Norman.
But there is a "what if" factor. If that defense had been even just "top 40" instead of "top 70," would they have beaten Alabama in the final? Most experts think so. The offense was that good. It was arguably the most efficient offense in the history of college football to that point.
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Lessons from the 2017 Season
If you're looking at the 2017 OU football roster as a blueprint for success, there are a few things that stand out.
First, the importance of an elite offensive line. You can have all the 5-star wideouts you want, but if your QB is running for his life, it doesn't matter. Bedenbaugh’s unit gave Baker the time he needed to let plays develop.
Second, the power of momentum. That team played with an edge. They were aggressive, sometimes to a fault. They embraced the "villain" role that Baker Mayfield cultivated. In the modern era of NIL and the transfer portal, finding that kind of cohesive team identity is getting harder. The 2017 squad had it in spades.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the 2017 Ohio State game tape. If you want to see a masterclass in play-calling and quarterback precision, that’s the one. It’s the definitive performance of that roster.
- Track the NFL careers. Follow guys like Mark Andrews, Orlando Brown Jr., and CeeDee Lamb. Their longevity in the pros is a testament to the development they received at OU during this window.
- Evaluate the "Riley Era" fairly. While it ended poorly with his move to USC, the 2017 season represents the peak of his offensive innovation at Oklahoma. It’s worth studying how he used RPOs (Run-Pass Options) to manipulate linebackers.
- Acknowledge the Defensive Gap. Use this season as a case study for why "great offense wins games, but defense wins championships" still carries weight. The 2017 Sooners are the ultimate example of a world-class offense being held back by a porous defense.
The 2017 OU football roster remains a high-water mark for the program in the post-Stoops era. It was a team that captured the imagination of the college football world, led by a quarterback who refused to be ignored. While they didn't bring home the crystal football, their impact on the school and the way the game is played today is undeniable. It was a wild ride, a lot of points, and a whole lot of "Boomer Sooner" echoing across the country.
Next Steps for Deep Research:
To fully understand the impact of this roster, you should compare the 2017 offensive metrics against the 2018 Kyler Murray-led offense. While Murray was more athletic, the 2017 unit with Mayfield is often cited by film grinders as having better overall chemistry and "on-field IQ." You can find these granular stats on sites like Football Outsiders or through the NCAA's official archive databases. Additionally, looking at the 2018 NFL Draft results will show you exactly how much the league valued the talent on this specific Oklahoma depth chart.