The 2025 college football season wrapped up in dramatic fashion Monday night, with Indiana capping off a remarkable run by taking down Miami, 27-21, in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. With that, the curtain falls on another thrilling campaign-aside from a few all-star showcases still to come-until we kick things off again on Saturday, August 29th for Week 0 of the 2026 season.
For the Oklahoma Sooners, 2025 marked a return to national relevance. After a few years on the outside looking in, OU punched its ticket back to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019.
That alone signals progress, but the Sooners are aiming higher in 2026. They closed the year ranked No. 10 in the final US LBM Coaches Poll and came in at No. 13 in the AP Poll-solid placements that reflect both the strides made and the room left to grow.
Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find the Sooners landed at No. 14 in ESPN’s final SP+ rankings, compiled by Bill Connelly. That’s a few spots behind teams like Notre Dame, Utah, Vanderbilt, Iowa, and Washington-programs that didn’t even make the playoff field. It’s a reminder that while OU made the dance, the analytics still see some gaps to close before they’re considered among the elite.
Still, in the context of the SEC-a conference that remains as deep and unforgiving as ever-Oklahoma held its own. The Sooners were the fifth-highest ranked team from the league in the SP+ rankings and one of nine SEC programs to crack the top 25.
They trailed Georgia (6th), Ole Miss (7th), Texas A&M (10th), and Vanderbilt (11th), but finished ahead of Texas (17th), Tennessee (19th), Alabama (20th), and Missouri (21st). That’s a crowded neighborhood, and OU has shown it can survive-and thrive-in it.
The journey through 2025 was anything but linear for Brent Venables' squad. The Sooners opened with a strong run, notching wins over Illinois State, Michigan, Temple, and Auburn before their first bye week.
A victory over Kent State kept the momentum going, but a rivalry loss to Texas brought them back to earth. True to form, they responded with a win over South Carolina, only to stumble again against Ole Miss.
But the resilience was there-OU bounced back yet again, this time with a win over Tennessee heading into another bye.
From there, the Sooners found their groove. They closed out the regular season on a tear, taking down Alabama, Missouri, and LSU in succession. That late-season surge locked up a playoff berth, with Oklahoma earning the No. 8 seed and hosting a first-round CFP matchup-a rematch with Alabama.
But this time, the Crimson Tide got their revenge. Alabama ended OU’s postseason run in that opening round, sending the Sooners into the offseason with both pride in what they accomplished and a clear sense of unfinished business.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma opens its 2026 campaign at home in Norman on Saturday, September 5th against the UTEP Miners. With momentum from a resurgent 2025 and a roster that’s tasted the playoff stage, the Sooners are poised to take the next step. Whether that means a deeper playoff run or a shot at the title remains to be seen-but make no mistake, OU is back in the national conversation, and they’re not looking to leave it anytime soon.