The talking season is officially over.
On Tuesday afternoon, Oklahoma officially turned the page toward the 2026 football season as Brent Venables, his coaching staff and several players gathered for the Sooners’ annual media day inside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Twenty-four hours later, Team 132 will hit the practice fields for the first official workout of fall camp, beginning a three-and-a-half-week sprint toward the season opener against UTEP on Sept. 4.
The atmosphere surrounding the program feels different than it did a year ago.
Coming off a 10-3 season and a trip to the College Football Playoff, Oklahoma enters camp ranked No. 9 in the preseason coaches poll and carrying expectations that extend far beyond simply competing in the SEC. For the first time since joining the conference, the Sooners aren’t viewed as a rebuilding team or a program trying to prove it belongs. Instead, they’re a legitimate contender expected to challenge for championships.
But if media day revealed anything, it’s that nobody inside the Switzer Center believes last season’s playoff appearance guarantees anything in 2026.
From fixing an offense that ranked near the bottom of the country in several categories to rebuilding depth along the defensive line and navigating one of the nation’s toughest schedules, Oklahoma enters camp with plenty to prove.
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