The Sooners enter year two of their SEC experience hopeful that a new QB, a healthier WR corps and an already strong defensive line will improve their chances against the same murderer’s row conference schedule in 2025.
It will be an important test for head coach Brent Venables who is on the hot seat in his fourth year at Oklahoma, after a disappointing 6-7 record last year and managing to win only two conference games.
Certainly the second game of the season at home against Michigan will set an early tone for OU; but, the real test comes in October when the Sooners face No. 3 Texas, go on the road against a stout No.13 South Carolina and then return to Norman to face No. 24 Ole Miss.
Meanwhile, the Texas Longhorns bring a team loaded with talent into its second SEC cupcake schedule, a fact that may irk Sooner fans, but there is nothing that can be done about it.
Last year’s 6-7 record seems to be a negative image the Sooners will have to shake early on, as the pre-season coaches poll didn’t even put OU in the Top 25. The Sooners’ second opponent this season, Michigan, is ranked No. 14 in the initial Coaches Poll.
Conference opponents are ranked, however. Texas is ranked No. 1, Alabama is No. 8 and LSU No. 9. South Carolina is 13 and Ole Miss is No. 15. Tennessee made the coach’s preseason poll at No. 18 and Texas A&M is No. 21.
Seven SEC coaches voted in this poll: Kalen DeBoer of Alabama, Eliah Drinkwitz of Missouri, Mike Elko of Texas A&M, Hugh Freeze of Auburn, Billy Napier of Florida, Kirby Smart of Georgia and Mark Stoops of Kentucky.
Oklahoma’s strength in 2025 will again be its defense, led by linebacker Kip Lewis, who is on the Butkus Award watch list, and a defensive line predicted by SEC sports writers to be the best in the conference.
Lewis has definitely taken on the role of leader of the D.
“I would say this year, I’m leading more vocally. Usually I would lead with my play, with my actions. This year, I want to emphasize being more vocal to the guys and being a voice they can depend on,” Lewis said.
Better offense needed to get more wins
There is little debate Oklahoma has a top tier defense, but questions remain on the offense.
Transfer QB John Mateer comes to Norman with former Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle doing the play calling. Mateer was named to the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watch List.
Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns last year at Washington State, completing 64.6 percent of his passes, with only seven interceptions. He also ran for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns.
“We have high expectations. There’s no limit on what we think we can do,” Mateer said.
Former California RB Jaydn Ott transferred to Oklahoma and he is already turning heads in pre-season camp.
Ott rushed for almost 2,600 yards and had more than 700 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns in his three years at California. He squats 485 pounds and bench presses 370 pounds.
The strength and conditioning staff measured Ott’s propulsion force as more than three times his body weight. That puts him as No.55 on Bruce Feldman’s “Freak List.”
But the biggest key to offensive success in 2025 may be the offensive line, which was an inconsistent group last year as some of the players were hobbled with injury.
A core group of experience returns in the OL, led by Troy Everett at center. High profile freshman MIchael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje also did well in the spring and may crack the starting lineup in September. If the line can stay healthy they should be a much improved unit this year.
“Everyone that was hurt, nicked up last year, they all get full offseasons to go out there and really show what we can do,” Everett said.
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