The Oklahoma Sooners closed out their 2025 campaign ranked No. 13 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll - their highest finish since 2021, which also marked the end of the Lincoln Riley era in Norman. For head coach Brent Venables, this is another solid step forward in his tenure, as it's now the second time in three seasons his team has landed in the final Top 25. His 2023 squad finished No. 15, and this year’s group climbed two spots higher.
The Sooners began the season ranked No. 18, but they didn’t waste much time making noise. By Week 6, they had surged to No. 5, riding a wave of early-season momentum that had them firmly entrenched in the national conversation. They spent six weeks in the top 10 and never dropped out of the Top 25 all season, finishing with a 10-3 record that included a berth in the expanded College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma entered the postseason ranked eighth and earned the No. 8 seed in the CFP. But a first-round home loss to Alabama knocked them down five spots in the final rankings - a tough ending to an otherwise strong season. The drop landed them just behind Notre Dame, which didn’t make the playoff and declined a bowl invitation altogether.
Still, the Sooners’ consistency this season - staying ranked throughout, climbing into the top five, and securing a playoff spot - is a clear sign of progress under Venables. While the early playoff exit stings, the foundation being laid in Norman is showing real signs of stability and growth.
Looking at the bigger picture, the 2025 season ended with a historic moment: Indiana, yes, Indiana, finished No. 1 after completing a perfect 16-0 season and capturing its first-ever national championship with a win over No. 2 Miami. The Hoosiers' Cinderella run was the story of the year, shaking up the college football hierarchy in a way few saw coming.
Rounding out the top five were Ole Miss, Oregon, and Ohio State, with Georgia, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Alabama, and Notre Dame filling out the top 10. It was a strong showing for the SEC once again, with seven teams in the final Top 25 - all of them landing in the top 15. The Big Ten wasn’t far behind, placing six teams in the final poll.
For Oklahoma, the 2025 season was a mix of promise and pain - a reminder of how close they are to breaking through, and how small the margin for error is at the top. But with another top-15 finish under Venables, the Sooners are trending in the right direction.