Oklahoma’s preseason reputation is as sturdy as ever. The Sooners came in at No. 10 in the Associated Press preseason top 25, extending a run that now reaches 27 straight seasons in the AP’s preseason poll.
The AP released the rankings Monday morning, and Oklahoma collected 1,047 points while entering its fifth season under head coach Brent Venables. That 27-year streak is the second-longest active one in the country, trailing only Ohio State’s 38. It’s also the 68th time Oklahoma has shown up in the AP preseason poll, which ranks second all-time behind Ohio State’s 73 appearances.
The numbers around Oklahoma’s preseason history are eye-catching, too. The Sooners’ all-time average preseason AP ranking is 7.12, best in the nation.
Alabama sits second at 7.18. And out of those 68 preseason appearances, Oklahoma has landed 20th or better 66 times.
That has been the case in each of the last 27 preseason polls.
At the top of this year’s list, Ohio State claimed the No. 1 spot with 1,672 points. Oregon checked in at No. 2, followed by Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, Miami (Fla.), Texas A&M and Ole Miss to round out the top 10.
Oklahoma is one of nine SEC teams in the preseason AP poll. LSU is No.
11, Alabama is No. 13, Tennessee is No. 20 and Missouri is No.
- The Sooners’ schedule is loaded with those ranked opponents, too.
Oklahoma is set to face four of the AP preseason top 10 and six teams in the top 25: Georgia on the road, Texas at a neutral site, Texas A&M at home, Ole Miss at home, No. 16 Michigan on the road and Missouri on the road.
The Sooners also will play Florida on the road, South Carolina at home and New Mexico at home, and all three received votes in the preseason poll.
Oklahoma was ranked No. 9 in the preseason USA Today Sports AFCA Coaches Poll and was picked seventh in the SEC preseason media poll.
The Sooners open the 2026 season on Friday, Sept. 4, against UTEP at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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 🡒]