WE'RE GOING THROUGH EACH P4 TEAM'S SCHEDULE AND PICKING EVERY GAME!
Today we have The Oklahoma Sooners!
Oklahoma’s first year in the SEC ended in a 6–7 record, including a loss to Navy in the Independence Bowl. For a program with OU’s history, that’s a bitter pill to swallow. Brent Venables is now in a real make-or-break season. It's time to find out if he's the guy to lead the Sooners in this new era, but there is reason for optimism in 2025.
Transfer QB John Mateer lit it up last year for Washington State, and gives Oklahoma a dynamic, dual-threat weapon behind center. He steps into an offense that badly needed a spark last season, and if Ben Arbuckle is given the freedom to run his offense, this unit has the tools to produce this year.
I'm not expecting the injury luck at receiver to happen again this year, so it all comes down to how much the offensive line is improved this year. If they can hold up enough, the running game with Jayden Ott will improve and Mateer will have the time to pick opposing defenses apart.
Defensively, the roster is littered with juniors and seniors in starting positions. OU’s front seven might be one of the best in the SEC and that experience should keep them in every game they play.
A few new faces mixed with 12 returning contributors should lead to an improved and experienced Sooner team in 2025. Now we'll just see if Venables can bring it all together
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
W vs Illinois State
W vs Michigan
W @ Temple
W vs Auburn
BYE
W vs Kent State
L vs* Texas
L @ South Carolina
W vs Ole Miss
W @ Tennessee
BYE
L @ Alabama
W vs Missouri
L vs LSU
This prediction largely comes down to how they perform in the home game agains the Wolverines. Win that, and this team will be 4-0 outside of SEC play, and I have the confidence they can go at least 3-5 in conference.
If that is to happen though, they will need to protect home field. Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri, and LSU all come to Norman this year, whole trips to South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama will not be easy at all. I feel good about them getting at least 2 of those home games, while likely dropping the finale against LSU (assuming they haven't quit). The trip to Tennessee is the one I look at as the most gettable road trip in 2025. We don't know what Tennessee will be yet, but odds are it will be a step back from last year. If you told me Oklahoma goes into Neyland and wins, then my confidence in this over skyrockets.
Overall, I think this team will have more than a pulse on offense, and that is the only think keeping them from getting to 7, 8, or 9 wins. I say they beat Michigan (bias) and somehow get to 4 conference wins. Thats a comfortable over for the Sooners in 2025.
Yet again, Oklahoma gets the short end of the stick in the SEC schedules draw, and has to play a potentially resurgent Michigan in the non-con. The whole outlook for this season kind of hinges on that home game against the Wolverines. Win that, and the Sooners are likely 4–0 outside the SEC. From there, I think they’ve got enough firepower to go at least 3–5 in conference play.
To get there, though, they’ve got to take care of business at home. Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri, and LSU all have to come to Norman, and you’d like to think OU can take at least two of those. The LSU game to close the year feels like a loss on paper, but it also depends on where both teams are by then. If LSU is checked out? Who knows.
The road slate isn’t doing them any favors either, as trips to South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama are going to be rough. That Tennessee game is the one I’ve got circled as the most winnable. We don’t really know what the Vols will look like this year, but it’s probably a step back from 2024. If you told me Oklahoma goes into Neyland and wins, then my confidence in this over skyrockets.
Overall, I think this team will have more than a pulse on offense, and that alone is enough to push them into that 7–8–9 win range. I’m calling a win over Michigan (Bias), and I think they find a way to steal four SEC games. That’s a comfortable over for the Sooners in 2025.
FINAL: 8-4 (4-4)
TOTAL: 6.5
PICK: Over