I dunno, I've thought a lot about this.
I randomly saw a Pruitt :vomit: clip on social media. The clip in question was Guarantano's fumble at the 2 yard line in a play that would have brought us to 28-20 at Bama.
This was 2019, well into the peak dominance for them and we were a 2-5 football team.
Bama was conservative most of that game because they didn't need to be flashy. Tua was 11/12 for 155 yards and an INT. Bama only put up 373 yards, only 119 total in the 2nd half.
Point is, it was a very similar game to the Bama staff that I think this OU game was to the Tennessee staff. They looked across the field and weren't worried. The players got a little sloppy but weren't worried either.
Also in that game we benched JG for Maurer who was 5/7 for 62 yards. Cries of "yeah what if we were playing our backup that Bama didn't scheme for all game, what then?" which were nothing but cries of coping.
While Bama scoop/scored that fumble for a TD and went up 35-13 instead of a tight 28-20 game I see some parallels. I think we just have to realize that Heupel, unlike the last 3-4 coaching staffs and especially Head Coaches is competent.
And he doesn't seem worried, he seems deservedly confident. And his team is with him.