Oklahoma is being treated like a real playoff threat again.
Athlon Sports slotted the Sooners into Tier 2 of its SEC preseason breakdown for 2026, a group labeled “Playoff Contenders.” That puts Oklahoma right behind only Georgia and Texas in the league pecking order, and ahead of a crowded pack that includes Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama and Tennessee.
That placement says plenty about where the Sooners stand heading into their third season in the SEC and their fifth under Brent Venables. The program has lived a roller-coaster run with Venables at the controls: 6-7 in 2022, then 10-3 in 2023, back to 6-7 in 2024, and then another 10-3 finish in 2025 that carried Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff for the first time in Venables’ tenure.
Now the challenge is to avoid another dip and push from good to great in 2026.
Athlon’s Steve Lassan ranked Oklahoma eighth nationally to start the season, which makes the Sooners the third-highest SEC team behind Georgia and Texas. He also put OU at the top of his second tier.
“This tier showcases the depth of the SEC. Six teams outside of Georgia and Texas should be playoff contenders, including four - Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Alabama - that earned a spot in the 12-team field last season ... Will Oklahoma’s offense take a big step forward with a healthy John Mateer returning at quarterback?" - Steve Lassan, Athlon Sports.
That offensive question is the one hanging over the Sooners. With defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ side of the ball looking ready to hunt again and special teams production returning, Oklahoma’s ceiling will come down to what happens on offense. Much of that responsibility falls on offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, quarterback John Mateer and the rest of the unit.
The stakes are straightforward: if the offense takes the expected step, Oklahoma has a path back to the playoff and a chance to improve on last season’s first-round exit. If it doesn’t, the Sooners could slide out of the CFP race and back into the kind of inconsistency that has marked too much of the Venables era.
Athlon Sports SEC preseason rankings
- Georgia Bulldogs (2nd overall)
- Texas Longhorns (3rd overall)
- Oklahoma Sooners (8th overall)
- Texas A&M Aggies (9th overall)
- LSU Tigers (10th overall)
- Ole Miss Rebels (11th overall)
- Alabama Crimson Tide (15th overall)
- Tennessee Volunteers (21st overall)
- Florida Gators (26th overall)
- South Carolina Gamecocks (28th overall)
- Missouri Tigers (29th overall)
- Auburn Tigers (34th overall)
- Mississippi State Bulldogs (44th overall)
- Vanderbilt Commodores (45th overall)
- Kentucky Wildcats (49th overall)
- Arkansas Razorbacks (55th overall)
In Other News...
Oklahoma Faces A Defensive Depth Dilemma Brent Venables Cant Ignore
A federal court ruling in Colorado has opened the door for the high school class of 2022 to gain an extra year of NCAA eligibility under the new 5-for-5 rule, and that arrives at a moment when fall camps are beginning to put roster management under a brighter light. For Oklahoma, the timing matters because defensive depth is one of the areas Brent Venables and his staff have to weigh carefully, especially with the chance to add experienced help without waiting for the usual long runway of a season to play out.
The conversation around the Sooners has centered on whether former players could be brought back into the mix, giving the defense more proven bodies as the staff sorts through performance grades and depth concerns. There is an obvious upside to adding a familiar piece at this stage, but there is also a consequence for current players and the roles they are trying to claim, which is why this is shaping up as a roster decision worth watching rather than a simple reunion. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma's Offense Has One Urgent Fall Camp Problem To Solve
Fall camp has given Oklahoma a chance to sort through a lot of moving parts on offense, and the most important one starts at quarterback. John Mateer is back healthy after a thumb injury, which gives the Sooners a much clearer starting point as they prepare for the 2025 season. Around him, though, the picture is still being shaped, with open battles at running back, wide receiver, offensive line and tight end as new coaches and transfers try to settle into place.
The urgency only grows because so many roles still need to be defined before the season opener against UTEP. Oklahoma is working through rotations and trying to find the right combinations up front and in the skill positions, and the running back competition is one of the key spots to watch. Xavier Robinson, Tory Blaylock and Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant are in the mix, giving the staff options but also leaving plenty to decide before the offense can start to feel settled. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Tight End Overhaul Could Change Brent Venables Entire Offense
Brent Venables spent the offseason reshaping one of the most intriguing spots on Oklahomas roster, and the changes go beyond just adding bodies. The Sooners are looking at a fresh approach at tight end after bringing in a new voice in the room, one with a long NFL rsum, while also turning to the transfer portal to deepen a group that has become more important to how the offense can function.
Hayden Hansen, Rocky Beers and Jack Van Dorselaer give Oklahoma a different mix of options, and ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic recently noted that the collection should help bring more versatility and consistency. For a team trying to settle into a cleaner offensive identity, the real question is how quickly that overhaul translates from personnel changes into actual production on the field. [Read more 🡒]