After Josh Heupel's departure from the University of Oklahoma, head coach Bob Stoops made a significant decision regarding the offensive coordinator position. He chose to hire Lincoln Riley, who had previously been the offensive coordinator at East Carolina, to take over the role. This move was part of Stoops' strategy to revitalize the Sooners' offense, which had been underperforming. While the defense ranked 55th in the nation, allowing an average of 25.9 points per game, Stoops decided to retain his brother, Mike Stoops, as the defensive coordinator. This decision reflected Stoops' confidence in Mike's ability to improve the defensive unit while bringing in fresh ideas and energy to the offense through Riley's innovative coaching style. Riley's hiring marked a pivotal moment in Oklahoma's football program, as he would later go on to become one of the most successful head coaches in college football.