Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley made some puzzling decisions in Saturday’s College Football Playoff and was roundly criticized for it on Twitter.
On two occasions — once in the second half and another in the third — Riley opted to kick a field goal at the Alabama nine-yard line instead of trying to score a touchdown. Both kicks came with the Sooners behind by 21 points, making little dent in the lead, and it came in spite of the fact the Oklahoma’s shaky defense struggled to keep Alabama from scoring.
Twitter couldn’t figure out why Riley would be so conservative inside the Alabama 10.
That FG attempt is Lincoln Riley showing NFL teams he’s ready.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 30, 2018
Lincoln Riley's choice of field goals indicates a faith in his defense that its season-long performance hasn't justified.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 30, 2018
These Lincoln Riley decisions to kick field goals make so much sense when you consider the fact that this Oklahoma defense is …
Wait, wut?
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) December 30, 2018
Boy, I don't get what #LincolnRiley is doing…..you have to score TDs, not FGs.
Your odds aren't good either way but give yourself at least a glimmer of hope.
A field goal does little to give yourself a prayer of winning this game.#OrangeBowl https://t.co/VeLhIFR3Sw— Michael Hagood (@mlhagood) December 30, 2018
Hope you NFL folks drooling over Lincoln Riley are enjoying him kicking a field goal to get a 3-score game down to a 3-score game. Twice
— Nathan Gerdts (@nlg2013) December 30, 2018
The good news for Lincoln Riley is those stupid field goal decisions wouldn't have mattered anyway.
— Jim Young (@RealJimYoung) December 30, 2018
Oklahoma may well have lost the game either way, but they were never going to beat Alabama by kicking field goals. Riley did his best to keep his team pumped up, but his playcalling left something to be desired.
