Sooners Report Card: Grading the surprises, standouts, and disappointments from the first half of the 2025 season
The Oklahoma Sooners are 5-1 through half of the 2025 season, and now report cards are out.
The Oklahoma Sooners are 5-1 after the Red River Rivalry, which is a good spot to be in despite the fans feeling like the world is about to end. However, there are both good and bad things about this team, and now that it’s the halfway point of the season, we know who and what this team is.
So, let’s get into the halfway point report card.
Offensive superlatives (AJ)
MVP: QB John Mateer
There’s nobody else to really choose here, is there? Mateer has been the engine of the offense game in and game out. Even with a bad game against Texas, Mateer is still far and away the most valuable player on the offense and team.
The Sooners go as Mateer goes, and if they want a shot at the College Football Playoff, Mateer has to bounce back and improve moving forward.
Glue guy: RG Febechi Nwaiwu
I considered a few players, like Deion Burks or even Isaiah Sategna, but Nwaiwu deserves a shoutout for his play. Despite all the turnover on Oklahoma’s offensive line, Nwaiwu has remained steadfast at right guard and has been superb up front for the Sooners.
Despite some tough matchups against Michigan, Auburn, and Texas’ defensive fronts, Nwaiwu has allowed just two pressures all season and zero sacks. He isn’t the biggest road grader in the run game, but his stout presence up the middle has been appreciated.
Biggest surprise: TE Jaren Kanak
I mean, come on, who else would be here? I don’t think anyone expected the former linebacker turned tight end to catch fire like Kanak has so far this season.
Kanak is one of the most productive tight ends in the country and has NFL scouts buzzing about his potential. There’s a potential path for Kanak to be a finalist for the John Mackey Award for best tight end in the country at the rate he is producing.
Biggest disappointment: RB Jaydn Ott
Ott’s arrival out of the spring transfer portal was supposed to be a game-changer for the Sooners and give them a 1-2 dynamite punch with Mateer. Instead, Ott has been a total no-show for the Sooners. He looks almost unplayable at times for Oklahoma and has been passed on the depth chart by multiple running backs.
It’s been a total flop for the Sooners and Ott, who have seemingly never been on the same page all year.
Turning point of the last six weeks: Red River Rivalry loss to Texas Longhorns
This will be the turning point for the offense. The offense has to play better than it did against Texas, and play better than it has all year. With the offensive line starting to get healthy again and Mateer back to practicing normally, there are no excuses.
It simply cannot be blanked again like it was by the Longhorns, especially with key games against Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri, and LSU ahead. If the offense can average even just 24 points per game moving forward, the defense will win them the game, but they have to see significant improvement to keep that up in the games ahead.
Oklahoma vs. Texas updated stats
- Texas leads all-time series 65-51
- There have been five ties between these two teams
- Oklahoma has the largest margin of victory, winning by 52 points in 2003
- Texas has the longest all-time win streak at eight wins in a row over OU from 1940-1947
- Oklahoma has dominated the series since 2000: 17-10
Overall Grade: C+
Oklahoma Sooners News
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Defensive superlatives (Justin)
MVP: DT Jayden Jackson
You don’t often see a player who plays the position and role he does be as disruptive across all areas of the defense. Not only does he play maybe the biggest role on the run defense, but he is also second on the team in sacks, which is crazy when you think about all of the spots on the interior he lines up at.
Glue guy: LB Owen Heinecke
This is a guy you can tell the team rallies around. He is always making the smart play, even if it doesn’t end in a tackle for him, and he doesn’t always play the most.
It’s hard enough to get on the field as a linebacker when you have Kobie McKenzie, Kip Lewis, and Sammy Omosigho in your room, but Heinecke finds a way.
Biggest surprise: DT David Stone
I know what everyone is thinking: how can a former five-star recruit be the biggest surprise? Well, if you have followed David Stone and his journey with the Sooners, you know last year was not easy for him. This year, he’s a completely different player and is the second-best defensive tackle behind Jackson, and soon he will be fighting for that No. 1 spot.
Oh, and he’s doing all that as a backup, not even a starter. He’s second on the team in tackles.
Biggest disappointment: CB Eli Bowen
This one isn’t because of his play. Last season, as a true freshman, Bowen finished as the best cornerback on the roster. He didn’t play until two weeks ago against Kent State, and then just played Texas. When he’s played, he’s been good, but he hasn’t gotten many reps at all, which has been disappointing. However, that’s opened up opportunities for guys like true freshman Courtland Guillory to show what he can do.
Overall Grade: A
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Jaydn Ott has been nothing but a disappointment so far for the Oklahoma Sooners.
