re: Landing the big fish is all about timing...

Yeah it was more about their realistic potential to win a national title under Stoops. There came a point somewhere around 2010 or so that they were no longer looked at as a serious player that could realistically win the whole thing like they were in the 2000’s. The program certainly didn’t tank or anything or even slip much, but their own fans were kind of tired of yeah we’re really good but we know the season doesn’t end with a national title, those days have passed…if that makes sense. The SEC’s best team (whoever that was ina given year) basically took Oklahoma’s place as the “team to beat” on a path to a title. The rise of the SEC to prominence in a way dethroned Stoops and Oklahoma as the big dog.

The argument could be made that still holds true under Riley.