Could the Oklahoma Sooners be a top 10 team again in 2026?
OU could be in for another top 10 finish this season, if they get a few breaks.
The Oklahoma Sooners made the College Football Playoff last year as an eight seed, earning the right to host a first round game. Though that crazy night in Norman didn't go OU's way, the 2025 season was still a massive improvement over the previous season, and it was a big step in the right direction towards defending the standard that has been set at Oklahoma. Since that CFP game, the Sooners have lost and gained players, and they've seen many decide to return to OU as well.
With spring practices and roster construction mostly set around the country, many believe that Oklahoma could be a top 10 team again this year. That's the case at USA TODAY Sports, where Eric Smith and Paul Myerberg unveiled their too-early top 25 rankings following spring practice . They had OU at No.
7, good for third in the Southeastern Conference . That ranking is actually a one-spot drop, as the Sooners were ranked sixth in January. "The emphasis in spring practice was improving the mechanics of quarterback John Mateer and getting better play from the offensive line – two significant hurdles in last year’s three losses.
The results of that work will likely dictate whether the Sooners are playoff contenders or potentially title contenders because the rest of the skill positions should be productive. The defense got a major boost with linebacker Owen Heinecke earning an extra year of eligibility. It has tackles David Stone and Jayden Jackson anchoring the middle and a veteran secondary that might be the best in the SEC.