For the first time in 25 years, Oklahoma football did not see its name listed when the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll was released.
A streak that began in 2000—the same season Bob Stoops led OU to a national title—has finally ended. Oklahoma was left unranked, sitting at the unenviable No. 26 spot with 221 points, just 25 shy of Boise State at No. 25. In a sport built on tradition, pageantry, and prestige, that kind of snub is hard to ignore.
But maybe being ignored is exactly what the Sooners need.
This Isn’t the Same OU Anymore
Let’s be honest: Oklahoma’s national reputation has been propped up for years by past dominance, not present performance. Since Lincoln Riley’s departure, the Sooners have looked like a program trying to reassemble its identity with mixed results. Brent Venables has had moments of promise—like the 10-3 rebound in 2023—but he’s also had two 6-7 seasons in three years, including last season’s disheartening collapse and a bowl loss to Navy.
Oklahoma’s 2024 campaign was, by all accounts, a disappointment. The Sooners ranked 97th nationally in scoring, were 11th in the SEC in rushing, and couldn’t find consistency at quarterback. Injuries plagued the running back and receiver rooms, the offense sputtered, and the transition into the SEC proved every bit as rugged as expected.
In that context, it’s no surprise that coaches across the country decided to leave OU off their ballots. This poll wasn’t decided by analysts or media voices banking on blueblood clout—it was voted on by actual head coaches, peers of Brent Venables. And those coaches sent a message: tradition no longer buys you respect.
A Fall from Preseason Grace
Since the dawn of the Stoops era, Oklahoma has been a fixture in every major preseason poll. Whether ranked No. 1 or hovering in the mid-teens, the Sooners could count on the benefit of the doubt. But that’s no longer the case.
This year, they’re not even among the top 25 in their own profession’s eyes, despite media outlets and analysts placing them somewhere in the mid-20s. Seven of their opponents in 2025 are ranked—including Texas (No. 1), Alabama (No. 8), and Tennessee (No. 18)—making for one of the toughest schedules in the nation. In fact, OU was picked 10th in the SEC media poll, firmly in the middle of the pack.
That’s not disrespect. That’s reality.
Plenty of Reasons for Optimism
Still, this version of Oklahoma might be better suited to play the role of underdog rather than preseason favorite. And while the coaches aren’t buying the turnaround yet, there’s reason to believe one is brewing in Norman.
The offseason changes were substantial. Venables made a bold and much-needed move by hiring 29-year-old Ben Arbuckle as offensive coordinator. Arbuckle led Washington State to the No. 6 scoring offense in the country last year and brings with him not just schematic innovation, but familiarity with John Mateer, Oklahoma’s new quarterback and one of the top portal additions of the offseason.
Oklahoma also brought in Jaydn Ott, the top running back in the transfer portal and a potential All-SEC performer. If healthy, he gives the Sooners something they haven’t had in two years: a clear RB1. The offensive line has been reinforced, and talented young receivers are stepping into more prominent roles.
Defensively, Venables is going back to his roots, taking over the play-calling after defensive coordinator Zac Alley left for West Virginia. It’s a move that makes sense—OU ranked in the top 20 in total defense last season, and if Venables can build on that while the offense stabilizes, the Sooners may quietly become one of the more balanced teams in the SEC.
There’s a Precedent for This
History has a way of repeating itself. The last time Oklahoma was unranked to start a season? 1999, Bob Stoops’ first year as head coach. That team went 7-5, laying the groundwork for a stunning national championship run the very next season.
It’s worth noting that the preseason Coaches Poll is rarely a perfect predictor of final success. Teams rise and fall every year, and every August there’s at least one program left out of the Top 25 that ends up playing in a New Year’s Six bowl—or even better. Last season alone, Arizona State opened unranked in several outlets and ended the year in playoff. It happens.
What matters more than perception in August is performance in October and November.
So, What Now?
The Sooners have something they haven’t had in a long time: a chip on their shoulder. They’re not expected to win the SEC. They’re not expected to make the playoff. Heck, they’re not even expected to beat Boise State in a poll.
That might be just the motivation Venables and his staff need. It’s one thing to play to meet expectations. It’s another to play to defy them. Oklahoma hasn’t been the hunter in a long time. Now they are.
The SEC won’t do them any favors. The Sooners face road games at Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina. They’ll host LSU, and then there’s the Red River Rivalry. But should they survive that gauntlet—and even go, say, 9-3—OU will force voters to reconsider quickly.
The Verdict
The coaches spoke. Oklahoma isn’t in their Top 25. That hurts for a program with as rich a tradition as the Sooners. But it’s not an indictment—it’s an invitation.
An invitation to prove the doubters wrong.
An invitation to rewrite the narrative.
An invitation to remember what made Oklahoma elite in the first place: hunger, toughness, and relentless belief.
Whether this team is ready to rise to that challenge is yet to be seen. But for the first time in 25 years, we’re going to find out what Oklahoma football looks like when nobody is watching.
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Great article!