The Oklahoma Sooners are catching some early attention in the SEC projections for the 2026 season, with several college football preview publications placing them as high as third in the conference. This optimism comes despite a bit of a disconnect with the Las Vegas oddsmakers, who have pegged Oklahoma's win total for the upcoming season between 7.5 and 8.5 games. This is surprising given that the Sooners are expected to improve upon last year's 10-win campaign that saw them reach the College Football Playoff.
Oklahoma's offense is anticipated to be stronger, and their defense remains one of the SEC's and the nation's top units. However, the Sooners face a daunting schedule, particularly in the first half of the season.
Their first five games include challenging road trips to Michigan and Georgia, as well as the iconic Red River Rivalry against Texas in Dallas. This tough slate has some analysts worried about the Sooners' ability to replicate or surpass last season's success.
Nonetheless, not everyone in the college football media shares this concern.
As the preseason buzz builds, major sports media outlets are releasing their rankings and predictions, fueling fan excitement for the upcoming season. Here's a look at where some of the top publications see Oklahoma stacking up in the SEC:
ESPN places Oklahoma as the sixth-best team in the SEC. The Sooners ended last season in a three-way tie for fifth. With quarterback John Mateer returning from injury and a bolstered supporting cast, the big question is how much the offense will improve and whether the defense can maintain its high level of play.
USA Today is more bullish, projecting Oklahoma to finish third in the SEC, trailing only Texas and Georgia. Paul Myerberg highlights the Sooners as a team to watch, especially with a defense that's already among the league's best. The return of senior quarterback John Mateer, along with new transfer receivers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone, adds depth and excitement to the offense.
CBS Sports predicts an eight-win season for Oklahoma, tying them with Texas A&M and Tennessee for sixth place in the SEC. Each team is expected to post a 5-4 record in conference play.
Athlon Sports echoes the sentiment of a third-place finish in the SEC for Oklahoma, behind Georgia and Texas. Steven Lassan points out that the Sooners' defense, which carried the team last year, will have more offensive support in 2026. The offense is expected to thrive with a more settled John Mateer and key additions at receiver and tight end.
Sporting News ranks Oklahoma as the tenth-best team nationally to start the season and fourth in the SEC, trailing Georgia, Texas, and Ole Miss.
As the Sooners gear up for their third full season in the SEC, the blend of returning talent and new additions has the potential to make a significant impact. While the road won't be easy, especially with a tough early schedule, Oklahoma is poised to be a formidable contender in one of college football's most competitive conferences.
In Other News...
Kip Lewis Is Already Fueling Buzz Around Two Oklahoma Transfers
Oklahomas push toward the 2026 season is already taking shape after a 10-3 run and a College Football Playoff trip in 2025, and the Sooners transfer class is a big part of the conversation. They brought in 16 transfers this cycle, and defensive leader Kip Lewis has quickly pointed to a pair of newcomers who are drawing early attention on each side of the ball.
The names to watch are EMarion Harris and Trell Harris, two additions Lewis singled out as the kind of players who can make an immediate impression once the season starts. EMarion Harris arrives from Arkansas with the look of a plug-in starter at right tackle, while Trell Harris comes over from Virginia with a chance to help a receiver room that could use more production, leaving Oklahoma with plenty of reason to keep tracking how fast both players settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Fans Will Have Strong Opinions On This Big 12 Starting Five
The latest wave of Big 12 NBA talent only sharpens the debate about how deep the league has become since the conferences modern era began in 1996. With nine players going in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, a conference record, there is no shortage of recent proof that Big 12 programs keep producing pros, and that context helps frame any conversation about the best players the league has ever sent to the next level.
A recent all-time Big 12 starting five built around NBA careers leans into that history and is bound to stir up arguments across the league footprint. The picks include stars from Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, with names like Blake Griffin, Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant giving the list both instant credibility and plenty of room for disagreement, especially once fans start comparing college impact with what each player became in the NBA. [Read more 🡒]
Brent Venables Is Closing In On Another Future Freak In The Secondary
Brent Venables and Oklahoma have been putting together a 2027 secondary that already looks built around length, versatility and upside, and Jaiden Fields fits that mold as well as anyone in the class. The highly ranked athlete from the 2027 cycle plays both wide receiver and safety, giving the Sooners a chance to keep adding the kind of defensive back who can help in coverage, tackle in space and bring value on both sides of the ball.
Fields wrapped up his final official visit at Oklahoma last weekend after trips to SMU, Texas A&M, TCU and Stanford, and the Sooners now appear to be in position to land another important piece for a class that is already drawing plenty of attention nationally. He would join defensive backs like Bode Sparrow and Jaylen Scott in a group that has helped give Oklahoma one of the top recruiting hauls in college football, with the focus clearly on building a deeper, more athletic back end for the future. [Read more 🡒]