Oklahoma has already climbed out of one hole. Dan Wetzel thinks the Sooners might be ready for another jump - all the way to the top of the SEC.
Wetzel, speaking on the "College GameDay Podcast," said he sees Oklahoma not just as a playoff team, but as a team that could land as the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff.
"My other surprise is I've got Oklahoma as, like, the three seed," Wetzel said via the 'College GameDay Podcast.'"I think they're going to win the SEC, and most people don't."
That is a much bolder read than the one most people have on Brent Venables' team. Oklahoma is generally viewed as a squad that can get back into the playoff mix, but not one that is usually mentioned alongside Georgia and Texas when the conversation turns to the SEC's top dogs.
Wetzel's take goes a step further. He is not just projecting another postseason appearance. He is calling for Oklahoma to run through the league and finish as the conference champion.
The case starts on defense, where the Sooners have the kind of foundation that can support a serious run. The real swing factor is the offense and whether John Mateer can bring enough steady production to turn that defensive strength into wins.
If Oklahoma does end up with a top-three playoff seed and an SEC title, the program's storyline changes fast. It would mean the Sooners did more than rebound from 2025. It would mean they became one of the teams setting the pace in the SEC.
That is a huge leap from where Oklahoma stood two years ago, and it's the leap Wetzel is willing to bet on.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Just Got Dragged Into An SEC Fight Fans Need To See
A federal judges preliminary injunction has suddenly put roster rules back at the center of the college football conversation, and the SEC is not happy about it. The ruling blocks conferences from punishing teams simply for carrying former professional players, which opened the door for LSU to add former NFL players DaeQuan Wright and Zxavian Harris ahead of its season opener against Clemson.
The conference is opposing the decision and could appeal, while Louisiana officials have voiced support for the ruling, setting up a familiar kind of late-summer legal standoff with real football consequences. For Oklahoma and the rest of the SEC, it is one more reminder that the leagues path to opening weekend may still run through a courtroom before anyone gets to the field. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Face A Looming 2026 Problem In Ben Arbuckles Offense
Ben Arbuckles first Oklahoma offense offered enough clues this fall to make the long view worth taking seriously. A look at his play-by-play tendencies, compared with what he ran at Washington State in 2024 and then with John Mateer directing the Sooners in 2025, shows an offense that leaned more heavily on the pass in key spots, especially on third down, while the ground game never gave it much balance. When the run game isnt threatening, the sequencing gets easier to read, and the data from this season suggested Oklahoma spent too much time in that exact trap.
The bigger concern is what that means when the Sooners eventually move past Mateer and into 2026. Arbuckles scheme still has the shape of something dangerous, but the numbers point to fewer explosive passing plays than he produced before, dropping from 35% to 25% in the comparison the article examined. If the running game remains ineffective, the offense could become increasingly predictable at the very moment Oklahoma needs it to stay ahead of defenses that will have a full year of tape on how Arbuckle wants to build drives. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma May Be Closer To Another Proven Defensive Line Boost
Oklahomas defensive line for 2026 may be gaining another proven piece, with former Boise State tackle Braxton Fely cleared by a Cleveland County District Court order to enter the transfer portal and potentially suit up for the Sooners next season. Fely spent four seasons at Boise State and finished with back-to-back All-Mountain West Second Team nods in 2024 and 2025, which makes him the kind of experienced interior presence Oklahoma has been looking to stack around its returning talent.
Braxton Felys situation also adds another layer to a defensive front that already looks like one of the more promising parts of Oklahomas roster outlook. The Sooners were already expecting a strong 2026 line, and Felys availability now comes alongside the possibility of fifth-year lineman Danny Saili, who is dealing with eligibility issues, giving Oklahoma a chance to deepen a unit that could shape the defense for next season. [Read more 🡒]