The Oklahoma Sooners did not have a great inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference. Plagued by offensive issues (especially up front and at receiver where essentially most of the room was injured), Oklahoma went 6-7 overall and finished with a 2-6 mark in the league. Those two wins were memorable, though. OU won an improbable game at Auburn, 27-21, thanks in no small part to its big-play defense. Then, in November, the Sooners tattooed Alabama, 24-3, in Norman. That loss knocked the Crimson Tide out of the College Football Playoff.
Other than that, not much from Brent Venables team last year.
Heading into 2025, though, on paper the Sooners have fixed some of their issues. There is a new quarterback and offensive coordinator as John Mateer (player) and Ben Arbuckle (coach) arrive from Washington State. The offensive line figures to be better as it likely cannot get worse. The receivers are talented and healthy. Also, Oklahoma should have one of the better defenses in the conference.
College football expert Phil Steele believes that there could be a stunning turnaround in Norman this season.
The Sooners again have a difficult schedule (much more difficult than traveling partner and rival Texas does, for example) this season, so a playoff run may be a bit too much. But remember that Missouri came into the league from the Big 12 in 2012 and struggled, going 5-7. The next season was pure magic as the Tigers won the SEC East and played in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
So there is some precedent. With Michigan and Auburn coming to Norman in September, we will find out pretty quick.
