Oklahoma’s season-opening blowout wasn’t enough to keep the Sooners in the AP top 10.
Despite rolling past UTEP 51-0 in Week 1, OU slipped to No. 11 in the latest AP Top 25, which was released Tuesday. The Sooners stayed at No. 10 in the Coaches Poll.
Oklahoma made quick work of the Miners in its 2026 opener on Friday. The Sooners were up 27-0 at halftime and never let the game get close. Quarterback John Mateer was sharp, throwing for 225 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense completely smothered UTEP and allowed just 198 total offensive yards.
AP voters, though, gave LSU the bigger boost after the Tigers’ 51-10 win over Clemson in the first game under coach Lane Kiffin. LSU climbed three spots from No. 11 to No. 8 and moved ahead of Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
The SEC’s opening weekend was overwhelming from top to bottom. The conference went 16-0 in Week 1 for the first time since 1997, and that showed up in the rankings.
Nine SEC teams landed in the top 25: Georgia at No. 2, Texas at No.
4, LSU at No. 8, Ole Miss at No.
9, Texas A&M at No. 10, Oklahoma at No.
11, Alabama at No. 12, Tennessee at No. 19 and Missouri at No.
Florida, South Carolina, Auburn and Vanderbilt were also listed in the “others receiving votes” section.
Oklahoma’s next opponent, Michigan, is out of the rankings after opening the year at No. 16 in the preseason poll. The Wolverines barely survived Western Michigan at home, pulling out a 13-12 win on a Bryce Underwood Hail Mary to JJ Buchanan. Underwood’s earlier deep shot looked like it had fallen incomplete as time expired, but Big Ten officials said one second was still left, giving Michigan one more play and one more chance to win it.
Michigan is now the third team outside the top 25 and received 69 votes.
The Sooners beat Michigan 24-13 in Norman in 2025, a win that helped their College Football Playoff case, and they’ll try to complete the home-and-home sweep in Ann Arbor. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.
In Other News...
Baker Mayfield Just Reached A New Level In Tampa Bay
Baker Mayfield arrived at Tampa Bay already carrying plenty of expectations, and the Buccaneers moved to make the relationship a long-term one just before their season opener. NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Mayfield agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension, a deal that puts him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league and underscores how far his career has come since leaving Oklahoma.
For a player whose path has been defined by resets and second chances, the timing matters as much as the money. Tampa Bay clearly believes Mayfield gives them stability at the most important position, but the extension also raises the bar for what comes next, with the pressure now shifting from proving he belongs to showing he can keep the Bucs on that level. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Adds Late Veteran Help Before A Massive Early Test
Oklahoma has quietly strengthened its roster late in the buildup to a major early-season test, with general manager Jim Nagy confirming four additions for the current season. Danny Saili and Braxton Fely are already in place, while DYoni Hill and Jaydon Southard are expected to join soon, giving the Sooners some extra veteran depth at a time when every practice rep matters.
The moves came after eligibility extensions opened the door for a few more experienced bodies, and Oklahoma made sure everything was handled within the rules before proceeding. Now the focus shifts to getting the newcomers acclimated and physically ready, a process the staff is working through as the Sooners prepare for a demanding early stretch that will put the roster under an immediate spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Hayden Hansen Just Gave Oklahoma A Needed Answer Before Michigan
Hayden Hansen gave Oklahoma a useful glimpse of what the passing game can look like when the Sooners need somebody dependable in a tough spot. During the win over UTEP, the tight end turned a third-down throw into a 15-yard gain, moved the chains and reinforced why he can matter as a steady outlet when the offense needs a safe answer.
John Mateer spread the ball around to multiple receivers, and that balance was part of the encouraging takeaway for Oklahoma. But Hansens catch may have been just as important in the bigger picture, because it showed the Sooners have another option they can trust when Michigan starts squeezing the field and every possession gets more valuable. [Read more 🡒]