The Oklahoma Sooners first year in the SEC was as close to a disaster as we've seen in recent memory for the program. The team limped to a bowl game at 6-6 and ended up losing the game to Navy 21-20, leaving them 6-7 to finish the season.

A resurgent, elite defense was wasted by a complete disaster of an offense. Quarterback Jackson Arnold failed to live up to the five-star billing, turning the ball over frequently and setting the Sooners' back with multiple taken sacks. The offensive game plans were ineffective (and sometimes downright stupid). When combined with a slew of injuries at wide receiver and on the offensive line, the offense was the worst product Oklahoma has put on the field in some time.

However, 2025 brings a new season, and with it, new expectations. We can't expect everything to go right for Oklahoma next season despite the changes. Attrition at multiple points of the roster will diminish some positions moving forward.  

With a new roster in town, what positions could the Sooners be worse at in 2025? 

Positions Oklahoma Sooners could regress at in their 2025 season

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Tight End

While I truly think that the Sooners' tight end room was the worst room on the entire roster last season, I don't have a lot of optimism about the way it currently is either. I think the position is led by the worst coach on staff and the talent in the room seems far from the standard Oklahoma has grown accustomed to with the likes of Mark Andrews, Grant Calcaterra, and Brayden Willis. 

Davon Mitchell could be the next man up, but I'm not confident in the coach mainly responsible for developing him. Behind Mitchell are transfers from Pittsburg State, Kennesaw State, and players who have been on the roster for multiple years without an impact. As bad as they were in 2024, it's entirely possible they could be worse in 2025, a scary thought. 

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Linebacker

While I believe in Kip Lewis, the Sooners sustained multiple losses to the talent of the room in the offseason. Superstar Danny Stutsman graduated, Lewis Carter and Dasan McCullough transferred, and Jaren Kanak has reportedly switched positions. 

What was once a position group that was six or seven players deep suddenly feels worryingly thin. They are still well-coached and talented, but expecting a slight drop-off here feels realistic. 

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Safety

Billy Bowman Jr. was one of the most impactful Sooners of the last several years, and Oklahoma's defense will miss his presence on the backend. His range and ball skills discouraged teams from throwing deep and he was terrific at taking away matchups. 

Robert Spears-Jennings is a fantastic blitzer and box player and Payton Bowen is evidently talented, but the team doesn't have a player quite the same as Bowman. It's tough to expect this room to be the same caliber as last season without a breakout performance from one of the younger talents. 

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Cornerback

I'm of mixed opinion on the cornerback position for Oklahoma next year. Truly, I could see this one going either way. Eli Bowen is a budding star, but the rest of the position feels wide open. Gentry Williams has battled injuries, while Jacobe Johnson, Devon Jordan, and Jeremiah Newcombe are all unproven young players.  

The Sooners could settle some nerves by attacking this group in the spring portal, but as it stands right now, it's fair to think there could be some regression with the youth in the room. 

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Punter

Luke Elzinga was a superstar punter for the Sooners this season and he played an underrated part in Oklahoma's defensive success. Elzinga was terrific in all facets, with a good hangtime, yards per attempt, and punts put inside the 20. 

The Sooners pulled punter Jacob Ulrich from Kennesaw State, who has a big leg, but little of the finesse Elzinga had. Ulrich's hangtime is worse and he lacked the consistent placement game-to-game the Sooners were accustomed to with Elzinga. Maybe he can learn that under STC Doug Deakin, but given that the man coached Matt Araiza to simply kick the ball far, I'm not entirely confident in that happening just yet.