The Oklahoma Sooners took care of New Mexico, but the 14-6 result did little to calm the nerves around this offense. That showing cost them in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, where Oklahoma slid three spots after Week 3 and landed at No. 24.
The bigger issue is what the Sooners look like on offense right now. The source of the concern is clear: this unit is being described as the worst of the Brent Venables era, even with the injury-hit 2024 season in the conversation.
Oklahoma finished 6-7 that year and changed offensive coordinators afterward, but the questions have only gotten louder. With Georgia and Texas coming up next on the schedule, the Sooners are staring at a stretch that will demand answers fast if they want to stay in the top 25.
The rest of the poll stayed largely stable at the top. Texas remained No. 1 after earning 46 first-place votes, while Georgia held at No. 2 with 16 first-place votes. Notre Dame, Indiana and Miami rounded out the top five.
Ole Miss made the biggest move near the top after beating LSU in Oxford, climbing three spots to No. 6.
LSU, meanwhile, dropped to No. 11.
The SEC remains heavily represented in the rankings, with 10 teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Mississippi State was the next-highest SEC team outside the rankings, coming in second among those receiving votes. With wins over Minnesota and South Carolina, the Bulldogs were described as deserving a spot.
For Oklahoma, the path ahead is not gentle. The Sooners have five games left against teams currently ranked in the top 25, and the first of them comes next Saturday in Athens against Georgia.
Full US LBM Coaches Poll
Published September 20, 2026
Rank Team Record PTS 1st Prev
1 Texas Longhorns 3-0 1807 46 1
2 Georgia Bulldogs 3-0 1742 16 2
3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 3-0 1636 2 3
4 Indiana Hoosiers 3-0 1613 9 4
5 Miami (FL) Hurricanes 3-0 1552 1 5
6 Ole Miss Rebels 3-0 1501 0 9
7 Ohio State Buckeyes 2-1 1473 0 6
8 Alabama Crimson Tide 3-0 1309 0 10
9 BYU Cougars 3-0 1089 0 13
10 Texas Tech Red Raiders 3-0 1079 0 12
11 LSU Tigers 2-1 1067 0 7
12 USC Trojans 4-0 1057 0 11
13 Tennessee Volunteers 3-0 833 0 14
14 Penn State Nittany Lions 3-0 814 0 15
15 Utah Utes 3-0 743 0 17
16 Oregon Ducks 2-1 594 0 18
17 Iowa Hawkeyes 3-0 580 0 20
18 Michigan Wolverines 3-0 545 0 19
19 Louisville Cardinals 2-1 519 0 NR
20 Texas A&M Aggies 2-1 447 0 8
21 Missouri Tigers 3-0 382 0 22
22 Florida Gators 3-0 370 0 NR
23 Washington Huskies 3-0 251 0 24
24 Oklahoma Sooners 2-1 213 0 21
25 SMU Mustangs 2-1 162 0 16
Schools Dropped Out
No. 23 Houston; No. 25 Virginia;
Others Receiving Votes
Houston 116; Mississippi State 114; Duke 70; West Virginia 55; Kentucky 54; Oklahoma State 36; Pittsburgh 35; Virginia Tech 30; Vanderbilt 29; Boise State 29; Tulsa 20; UCLA 18; Kansas State 18; Western Michigan 17; Nebraska 11; North Dakota State 8; Northwestern 4; Clemson 3; Massachusetts 2; James Madison 2; Arizona 1;
In Other News...
Kirby Smart Just Put Oklahomas Brent Venables Defense In The Spotlight
Ahead of a matchup that already carries plenty of weight, Georgia coach Kirby Smart made sure to put Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables in the conversation for all the right reasons. Smart pointed to Venables reputation as a top-tier defensive mind and the history between the two coaches from Venables Clemson days, a reminder that this meeting is as much about elite game-planning as it is about the records each team brings in.
For Oklahoma, that kind of public praise only adds to the spotlight on Venables unit, which will be tested by one of the sports most familiar and demanding opponents. The Sooners have a chance to show that their defense can travel against a Georgia program that expects to dictate terms, and the buildup only sharpens the significance of whats coming next. [Read more 🡒]
John Mateer Heard The Boos With Georgia Up Next
John Mateer didnt need anyone to explain the frustration inside the stadium Saturday. Oklahomas quarterback said he heard the boos after two early interceptions against New Mexico, and while the Sooners still came away with a 14-6 win, the first-year signal-caller clearly knows the margin for error shrinks fast when the competition gets better. He settled in enough to finish with a 76% completion rate, 238 yards and two touchdowns, but the early mistakes were impossible to ignore.
Now the attention turns quickly to a much bigger test with No. 2 Georgia coming to town. For Oklahoma, the win over New Mexico was enough to survive, not enough to feel comfortable, and Mateers ability to clean up the giveaways will loom large against a defense that wont be nearly as forgiving. The Sooners got the result they needed, but the next one is where the conversation gets serious. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Defense Is Carrying A Problem Sooners Fans Cant Ignore
Brent Venables has done exactly what Oklahoma hired him to do on the defensive side, turning that group into a far more reliable unit and pushing the Sooners up the national rankings in points allowed. It has given Oklahoma a sturdier identity and a chance to stay in games even when things get messy, which is a major shift from the recent past.
The problem is the other side of the ball has not kept pace. Since offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and quarterback Dillon Gabriel moved on, the Sooners have had trouble finding the same rhythm, and the imbalance is becoming harder to overlook. For a program built to contend, the question now is whether a defense this good can keep carrying the load while the offense searches for answers. [Read more 🡒]