Oklahoma opened the preseason AP Top 25 at No. 10 on Monday, putting the Sooners one spot behind where they landed in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll released Aug. 4.
The ranking places Oklahoma in the middle of a loaded SEC field. The Sooners are one of five league teams in the top 10 and one of nine SEC programs in the full top 25.
At the top of the poll, Ohio State claimed No. 1 with 40 of the 63 possible first-place votes. Oregon checked in at No. 2 with 14 first-place votes, followed by Georgia at No.
3, Notre Dame at No. 4 and Texas at No. 5.
Indiana, the defending national champion, drew eight first-place votes but was ranked No. 6.
Oklahoma’s early-season schedule is packed with ranked opponents. The Sooners are set to face six teams in the preseason AP Top 25, plus Florida, which landed at No. 27 and received the second-most vote points among the teams outside the poll.
The first major road test comes in Week 2, when Oklahoma heads to Ann Arbor to face No. 16 Michigan.
Two weeks later, the Sooners travel to Athens for a matchup with No. 3 Georgia.
In Week 6, Oklahoma will meet No. 5 Texas.
That means the Sooners will be dealing with three top-16 road games in the first half of the season, all away from Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. If Oklahoma can get through its first six games at 4-1 or better, the setup for the rest of the season could be huge.
Here’s how the full preseason AP Top 25 shook out: Ohio State at No. 1, Oregon No.
2, Georgia No. 3, Notre Dame No.
4, Texas No. 5, Indiana No.
6, Miami No. 7, Texas A&M No.
8, Mississippi No. 9 and Oklahoma No. 10.
LSU, Texas Tech, Alabama, BYU, USC, Michigan, Washington, Penn State, SMU, Tennessee, Utah, Iowa, Houston, Louisville and Missouri rounded out the rest of the poll.
Teams receiving votes included Clemson, Florida, Boise State, Arizona, TCU, Navy, South Carolina, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, UNLV, New Mexico, Georgia Tech, Louisiana, James Madison, Auburn, Memphis, California, Liberty, Western Michigan, Tulane and Virginia.
In Other News...
Oklahomas Rushing Turnaround May Depend On One Freshman Running Back
Oklahomas push to fix its ground game has become one of the clearest priorities of the offseason after the Sooners finished near the bottom of the sport in rushing last year. A combination of new coaches, transfer additions and the return of Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson has given the room a different look, but the storyline around the position has started to center on a freshman who arrived with plenty of physical tools and has already drawn attention in camp.
Jonathan Hatton Jr. has stood out for his size and speed, traits that have made him an intriguing piece in a backfield still trying to establish its identity. The buzz around him has only grown after encouraging scrimmage work, and as Oklahoma searches for a more reliable running attack, the development of its youngest back could end up being one of the more important details to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Offensive Line Plan Just Hit A Major Early Test
Oklahomas offseason pitch on the offensive line was built around continuity, but that plan has already been tested before the season can really settle in. Center Jake Maikkula is expected to miss an extended stretch after a knee injury, creating an immediate change in the middle of a group the Sooners had hoped would grow together and stay stable as the schedule tightened.
Redshirt junior Caleb Nitta looks like the next man up, while freshman Noah Best is also in the mix for the center job. However Oklahoma sorts out the spot, the timing is far from ideal with Michigan ahead on the schedule, and the Sooners now have to make the kind of adjustment teams usually hope to avoid until much later in the year. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Emerges In Key Transfer Battle Around Josh Hubbard
Tavion Banks has become one of the more interesting names on the transfer market for programs still looking to add a versatile piece, and Oklahoma is in the mix as his next stop takes shape. The Iowa guard-forward is not returning there, and his next season is now drawing interest from a group that also includes Gonzaga, LSU and Mississippi State, with each school offering a different path and a different kind of roster fit.
For the Sooners, the appeal is obvious enough: Banks brings a multi-position profile that can help fill needs as Oklahoma continues sorting out its backcourt and wing rotation. LSU and Mississippi State are being viewed as especially open doors because of the roles available, which makes this one worth watching closely as the competition for Banks narrows and the Sooners try to stay firmly in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]