What's going to hurt OU is the impending move to the SEC. I absolutely believe that factored into Riley's decision to leave. They will not shine in the SEC like they have in the Big 12. That's just a given. They're going from an overall weak conference to the hardest conference in all of college football. Saying that, they are still a blue blood program, BUT the job of coaching there is about to get a helluva lot harder.
I know Bob is coming out of retirement to coach the bowl game, do you think he may stick around, or is this a one-time thing? Some of the people they are rumored to be targeting is ridiculous. Like Kingsbury. Why would a guy who is currently succeeding in the NFL leave for OU? Not happening IMO. Personally, I think they should try to be the team to finally sway Matt Campbell to leave Iowa State. He's struggled some this year, but I still think he's a good coach.
OU also has to contend with LSU searching for a coach as well. I think Riley may have screwed them over as well. They were convinced he was their next coach, so much so that behind-the-scenes rumors said he had already agreed to a deal. Then Saturday he came out and said he wouldn't be their next coach, and that apparently caught many down there by surprise.
Now, of course, we get to hear all the Heupel to OU rumors, but no way do I think that happens.