Oklahoma’s path to a national title starts with one simple hurdle: getting back to the College Football Playoff.
That was the point ESPN’s Greg McElroy drove home when talking about the Sooners, who are aiming for their first national championship since the 2000 season. McElroy didn’t hold back on his belief in the program.
"I think Oklahoma can win the national championship; I really believe that," McElroy said on "Always College Football.""But in order to win the national championship, you must first get to the College Football Playoff."
The Sooners have already taken a major step by reaching the playoff for the first time since the 2019 season. Brent Venables guided a rebound after Oklahoma stumbled to 6-7 in 2024, its first season in the SEC. The turnaround produced a 10-2 record, though the run ended with a first-round loss to Alabama despite Oklahoma carrying a 17-point lead in the first half.
Now the conversation shifts to whether this team can take the next step. Oklahoma is being viewed as possibly the most talented group of the Venables era, and the biggest swing factor is how well the offense can match what the defense brings against the SEC’s top competition.
John Mateer gives the Sooners a real chance to raise that ceiling. The quarterback has the talent to lift the offense, but his health and his consistency matter just as much after an injury affected his 2025 season.
McElroy’s view is clear: Oklahoma does not need to prove it belongs in the title race in September. It needs to survive a demanding schedule, get into the CFP, and then put itself in position to make a run when December arrives. If that happens, he believes the Sooners have enough to finish the job.
In Other News...
OU Is Forcing A Tough Stadium Tradeoff Fans May Hate
The long-discussed reshaping of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is no longer just a concept, with Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny confirming that the planned reduction of roughly 7,000 seats is moving ahead. The final design is still being evaluated, but the direction is clear enough to have stirred concerns among longtime season-ticket holders who know exactly what a move in the stadium can mean.
Denny said the athletic department is working to make sure every season-ticket holder still has a place in the building, even if that place is not where it used to be. It is the kind of tradeoff that tests fan patience because it touches tradition and comfort at the same time, but Oklahoma is treating the project as an economic necessity to keep the football program competitive in the long run. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Legend Faces Health Scare As Fans Await Word On Recovery
Jamelle Holieway, one of the most beloved quarterbacks in Oklahoma football history, is dealing with a health issue that has drawn an outpouring of support from Sooners fans. The former national champion shared on Facebook that he is resting at home and on the road to recovery, a reassuring update for a fan base that still holds him in high regard for what he meant to the program.
Holieway also thanked everyone for the prayers and well wishes coming his way, and the response has reflected the place he still occupies in Oklahoma lore. For a program with deep history and plenty of icons, this is the kind of news that reminds people how much the bond between a Sooners legend and the community can still matter when something serious comes up. [Read more 🡒]
OU Fans Need To Know What Changed Before The Home Opener
With the home opener approaching, the University of Oklahoma Athletics department is rolling out a fresh set of game day driving maps and traffic protocols aimed at easing the crush around Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Working with Norman police and OU police, the school is asking fans to plan ahead and rely on the official routing maps rather than GPS, a reminder that the usual shortcut on game day may not be the best route at all.
The message is straightforward: leave early, have a parking plan, and expect delays near campus. Officials are also urging fans to carpool, follow posted traffic guidance and keep vehicle security in mind, part of a broader push to make the first home crowd experience safer and smoother for everyone headed to Norman. [Read more 🡒]