Longtime CFB analyst has bold expectations for the Oklahoma Sooners in SEC play heading into 2025
Things didn't go as planned for the Oklahoma Sooners in their first season in the SEC. Amid injuries, an abysmal quarterback situation, and an offensive scheme that seemed more confused than complete, the Sooners won just 6 games in a thorough disappointment. However, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Sooners' chances […]
Things didn't go as planned for the Oklahoma Sooners in their first season in the SEC. Amid injuries, an abysmal quarterback situation, and an offensive scheme that seemed more confused than complete, the Sooners won just 6 games in a thorough disappointment.
However, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the Sooners' chances this season, and expectations are relatively high among Oklahoma fans right now.
One prominent analyst, however, might even be more optimistic than several fans of the Sooners. In his predictions for the SEC, longtime CFB analyst Phil Steele predicted that the Sooners would finish tied for fourth in the SEC, finishing alongside LSU but behind Georgia, Texas, and Alabama.
After finishing just 2-6 in SEC play last season, this would be quite a jump for the Sooners. However, it's a reasonable expectation, especially if Oklahoma's offense can bounce back after last season and stay on pace with the numbers new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle produced last season at Washington State.
This would be an encouraging outcome that would save Brent Venables' job. After two six-win seasons (while neither is entirely his fault), the pressure is on Venables to deliver in 2025. If things go poorly again, he might be on his way out the door.
The good news for Oklahoma is that they have just three true road games in SEC play this season. The bad news is that two of those three are at Tennessee and Alabama, two of the toughest places in college football. However, they get a neutral site Texas game (as per usual), as well as Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri, and LSU at home, with the season ending with back-to-back home games against the Tigers.
If Oklahoma can win at least three of their four home games (which they've often done), and win at least one game on the road, they will have already doubled their SEC win total from last season.
There's a path forward for the Sooners. Time will tell if they can accomplish it.
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