OU Ranked No. 1 by Rivals

Rivals.com ranks OU as its preseason No. 1 team heading into the 2011 season. Here’s their overview of the Sooners:

“The Sooners have made four BCS national-championship game appearances in 12 seasons under Stoops. That's one every three years. This will be the Sooners' third season since facing Florida in the '08 championship game, so history says they're due. Lewis' injury and Box's death are significant blows to a defense that needs improvement. But OU's strength unquestionably is an offense that has the ability to score 40 points per game. If the offense can carry the Sooners through early games against Florida State and Missouri until Lewis' expected return on Oct. 8 against Texas, Oklahoma could be on the way to another BCS championship game appearance. But unless the defense makes marked improvement over its 2010 performance, the going will be tenuous, especially against explosive offensive opponents Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.”