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- [00:00]
Chris
The 2026 season for the Oklahoma Sooners is just around the corner. Brent Venables looking to navigate Boomer Sooner back to the College Football Playoff. This is our official team preview of OU guys before we dive into this year, this season, this team, if you will, upcoming for the 2026 season. Let's first talk briefly 2025, how they got here, how it's setting the stage for what to come. Because ironically enough, as we sit here on the week of SEC media days, I remember the big question last year and the big conversation being about Brent Venables. Is he the guy? He was one of the coaches on the short list of hot seat. You might recall there was a lot of pressure and expectation on last year, especially after you added John Matier via the transfer portal and some others. Well, Oklahoma parlayed that into a 103 overall season, 6 and 2 in conference play. Most importantly making the College Football Playoff and hosting a College Football playoff game. Now of course they fell to Alabama on their home field. But guys, let's talk about it. The 2025 season, I mean I think it has to be labeled as a wild success. But you could also argue, ironically enough it has only created more pressure because of the expectations for what's to come in 2026. Once you get a taste of playoff football, you don't want to go backwards. And we know about the history, the tradition and how much press pride there is in that Oklahoma football program. So I think what that season does last year, successful season, but now if you're Brent Venables and company, how do you build off of it? Was that a. Was that the exception or is that more so the rule moving forward for Boomer Sooner?
- [01:41]
Dimitri
Yeah, I think also the fact that you got to 10 wins, you got to a playoff bid and it was so obvious what was wrong. Right. Like coming in this year, Matier is going to assume, assumedly be more healthy. The running game has to be better. Right. Like Chris, you talk about adding pressure. I think everybody just assumes because of the portal. Now it is so easy to immediately correct all of your problems. I would be shocked if there is not. I don't know about full on revolt or anarchy, but there will certainly be some dissatisfaction in Norman if they do not get back to the playoff this year. Because in a fan's mind it's so easy.
- [02:25]
Cole
Yeah. Well, how did Oklahoma get there last year? Pretty simple. They had the best defense in the SEC and one of the best defenses in college football, headlined by one of the best defensive minds in the Sport. I mean, how many times do we look back at an iconic moment by Robert Spears Jennings or R. Mason Thomas or what you had the linebacker play. Somebody just deliver in the crushing hit that made it such an impactful play that, that shifted momentum over to Oklahoma because frankly put even when John Matier was on the field for the first half of the season, he was winning with his legs. He still was 50, 50 with the passing attack and he was the only runner. But every single day the defense showed on up. And I think that the thing that we can hold our hats on is you talk about Oklahoma. Oklahoma did something that feels improbable in the SEC and, and truly in college football. Have one of the toughest schedules and pretty much go nearly unscathed. I mean, like that is I think, where you look at Oklahoma and say to yourself, well, why would I doubt this roster? When you look at everything that they did last season and maybe this offense is going to be better a year later. Like, yeah, they lost some defensive pieces. They didn't lose all of them. Yeah, they lost some names to the Portal. They brought in some names that are actually better. I, I mean, like, it's just like at a point of where last season the pressure I think is on for a guy like Brett Medals because, well, the stage was set where you did everything possible and then some and playoffs and had all American talent and a great special teams with mediocre quarterback play. And instead of going out to the Portal, you kept the same offensive identity and it's probably a lot healthier and it's probably in a really good spot and the defense is not going away quietly, which means if you were able to have the number one toughest schedule and now you have the third toughest schedule, we already had number one and you got to 10 and two. Why should we expect anything less?
- [04:19]
Chris
On the note of Brent Venables, guys, let's move into that really quickly before we dive in this 2026 football team year five upcoming for BV six and seven, 10 and three. Six and seven, 10 and three. Those are his four seasons in Norman.
- [04:36]
Cole
So I'm ready for the roller coaster. Let's go back down, guys.
- [04:39]
Chris
Come on. That is the big question. And we all know obviously it's a what have you done for me lately Business. And the narrative on you, it can change that fast. One moment you're, you're living in the penthouse and the next moment you're in the doghouse and you're on the hot seat.
- [04:52]
Dimitri
So I.
- [04:53]
Chris
It's interesting when it comes to Venables because, I mean, obviously, I do believe he earned a lot of goodwill last year. I mean, again, they.
- [05:02]
Dimitri
They met.
- [05:03]
Chris
You're Oklahoma. You expect to win national championships and be in position to win national titles again. You go there, guys, and I mean, I don't have to tell y', all, but I got to experience Norman first time ever in person last year. Like, the history just jumps off the page at you. I mean, it's. Oklahoma was the standard of college football for a very, very, very long time. So this is not a program that, you know, they're just not going to be like, oh, it's okay, we'll go 75 this year. It's fine. They, they just, they don't, they can't do that. They can't compute that. So I do think it is important for bv, even if you don't reach that double digigit win mark. I mean, there's got to be some level of consistency shown this season. From the standpoint of even if we were to take a slight step back, it's not some gargantuan step. We, hey, we're either going to win 10 games or have a losing record. You know what I mean? Like, there's got to be some, some level of, hey, even when we have a quote unquote down year, we're still at least in the hunt, right? So I think the other big question for Brent Venables is, you know, your, your calling card's been the defense. I even see some people in the comments talking about it was, you know, did the defense bail you out at times? Did you get quote unquote lucky to win some games? Can you, can you keep cheating? Death is what it almost feels like in games like that where you're like the Bama game in Tuscaloosa, you're severely outgained, but thank God for turnovers and defense. You found a way to win. I'm not taking anything away from you, but it's like, can you keep going back to the well on that? So I, you know, I'm not sitting here saying like we were last year, where it's like, hey, man, this is. This might be make or break and his job's in the line, but it's another important year for Brent Venables. I think just showing more consistency is really important.
- [06:46]
Dimitri
Yeah, I, I think, Chris, to your point, yes, Oklahoma was the standard of the sport for a really long time, but at this point, that was a really long time ago. Right? I mean, Oklahoma fans, even in the days of Lincoln Riley consistently putting them in the four team playoff. Oklahoma fans haven't believed they had a shot at a national championship since the days of the bcs. I think you look at this roster and I talked about the perceptions of how easy it is to change the offense on defense. Yes their, their game changing star is gone to the NFL. But there was so much talent and vocal leadership in those second two levels of the defense and all those guys are back, man. Like I, I don't think there is anything that Brett Venables could do short of lose 12 games that would end with him not being in Norman next year. But I could understand why if it is a roller coaster, the dip cannot be tolerated this year based on what it is this team should be able to do.
- [07:51]
Cole
So yes, I do think that because of what you bring back defensively there is a certain degree of like you feel confident in where you are and what and what they did at the end of the last season. I don't think enough people paid attention to the offensive line. I think it started really find its footing for a lot of the young guys. Here's where I will fight back Oklahoma standard regardless of what conference they play in regards of who is their head coaches. We're winning national titles and you're right
- [08:15]
Dimitri
maybe they haven't had has anyone told them that
- [08:20]
Cole
that's but that's their standard and I and I will and I and I applaud them for going down that pathway because if that's what they're all about is we are supposed to be a team that is viewed as a blue blood no nonsense easily forefront of the conversation. Everything runs through Norman and and I think that they've earned the right in terms of the. We know what the expectation is internally now the question is can it all come together on the field. But for me Brett Venables is one to me Brett Benables is a year ahead of of of what Shane Beamer is because Shane Beamer falls in the same category of the roller coasters of hey six and six, nine and three, six and six, eight and four and it's like the difference is Oklahoma with Brett Venables has a playoff appearance. Shane Beamer doesn't. So I'm talking about right now when I look at Oklahoma and he's not in jeopardy of being fired. But I think that there is a little bit of not nervousness but concern of is this going to be once again a 6 and 6 season and a wasted year? Because what I would really I'd Much rather see you. If I'm an Oklahoma fan, I would much rather live in a world of I'm a player two away from missing the playoffs, but I go nine and three and it's another year of consistent success. Then wonder about, okay, now we're back at 4 and 8 or I mean we're back at 6 and 6 and we go into the portal and here we are once again in 2028 having the same conversation of, well, you went 10 and 2. Like, I'm kind of tired of being on this teeter totter. I'd much rather have a year of stability and continuity and consistency, believing that we're going to be a team that will be competitive year in and year out rather than one year we're really hot and then next year we're back to being mediocre.
- [10:07]
Chris
He feels like he's reaching some Gus Malzon territory where it's like every other year we're like, all right, he's on the hot seat again. You just like make a living on the hot seat, then you do just enough every other year to to stay off it. That being said, though, you mentioned this 2026 football team in Cole. There's a lot to be excited about, a lot of reason for optimism as we start on the offensive side of the football. Ben Arbuckle of course is back for year number two at offensive coordinator. John Matier is back at QB1. Most notably of course you might recall and I mean credit to them for last year, still getting the 10 wins and still making the College Football Playoff. Even with John Matier's thumb injury and what he dealt with from an injury standpoint, it's expected he is healthy, good to go. Interestingly enough guys, the thumb injury, the surgery if you will happen end of September. Oklahoma offensively did not eclipse 4, 400 yards of offense post thumb injury and they still won 10 games. So you know the defense was absolutely elite. We'll get into that more in just a moment. But John Mateer is back, expected to make a step forward. Obviously needs to improve from a decision making standpoint, but has all the talent in the world. They returned three starters on the offensive line. That has been the probably the biggest issue for them over the last couple years. But three starters back looking to improve on that 3.5 yard per carry mark from a season ago. Tori Blaylock, Xavier Robinson lead the rushing attack at the running back spot. Specifically again, of course John Matier is going to be a massive part of the running game, but can they get More out of the running back position last year of course, very disappointing. They had the kid whose name is honestly escaping me because he did nothing. The the cow transfer that we all Jade not absolutely nothing. Nothing for them. Isaiah Satania, third back at wide receiver. They picked up Parker Livingston from Texas and Trell Harris from Virginia Tech via the portal. Two guys they're expecting to make big contributions. The tight end position is one that they are really excited about. Hayden Hansen from Florida, Rocky Beers who has the best name or one of the best names.
- [12:14]
Dimitri
His brother Rowdy Beers though that's a
- [12:17]
Chris
hell of a household. I hope they live up to those names. Either way, Rocky Beers from Colorado State and Jack Van Dorslair from Tennessee. They man a flipped tight end room. I was actually talking to one of our good Oklahoma friends this morning, Travis Davidson and the point that he wanted to make to me. We can talk about this. Hayden Hansen apparently said in the spring game or not spring, I mean his spring availability quote, I'm here to fix the run game. End quote. They measure 240, 270 and 256, 568 and 64 in that tight end room. So they're expecting the tight ends to be a big part of helping fix the rushing attack from a conventional run game standpoint. So again I say all that guys. I'll kick it over to y' all expectations for this Oklahoma offense. I feel like as you go through it, especially if Matier makes the improvements, raises the floor a little bit. There's a lot to be excited about here.
- [13:10]
Dimitri
Yeah, I love the addition of Harrison Livingston as the wide receivers particularly because
- [13:18]
Chris
Parker Livingston, but yes, Parker Livingston.
- [13:20]
Dimitri
Yeah, no, I'm sorry. Harris and Livingston.
- [13:22]
Chris
Oh, gotcha, gotcha, gotcha.
- [13:23]
Dimitri
Yeah, yeah, I am sorry. I lost my train of thought. Both of those dudes way outperformed their expectation last year. So going into a place where they are going to get more focus and expect expected to catch more balls, I'm very interested in. I'm also interested in the strategy behind who they grabbed out of the portal for the tight end because a lot of these dudes were. I don't know if underutilized is is the right way to think about it. I mean, you know this will shock nobody. I am not an expert on Colorado State tight end usage but you have a lot of dudes that were either, the number two tight end or the blocking specialist. It seems very methodical to as. As you just said, Chris, fix the run game. Like these guys are going to be other options but they are big bodies to get one more dude in there to turn 3.5 yards of carry into 3.6 and then into 4.6 and so on and so forth.
- [14:24]
Cole
So I think the comments are right. There are four returning stars on the offensive line. One's a part time starter, but still he had first team reps last season. So there's continuity in the offensive line. I think that is such a selling point if you are an Oklahoma fan. Especially knowing that they were starting to find their groove late last season. Fechi Wiwu, I know was a name that went off to the NFL draft and that was like the main asset that they lost. But everyone else is back and a lot of these guys were so young last year learning underneath Bill Beatonbow and they were replacing a lot of the offensive linemen from the season before where they went 6 and 6. So we're talking about now there being a good clear identity. In my opinion the most important position for Oklahoma to be successful. Because the bottom line is I don't think anybody here is saying Oklahoma needs to have a top 10 passing attack or a top F4, a top 20 rushing attack. They need to be the second best team inside of red zone efficiency. They need to be elite on fourth down guys. They had an elite defense and returned so many of the same pieces. We're just asking for the offense to have a freaking pulse like 90% of the time. And if you do that, what's the question mark at this point? You have stability in the offensive line with the same offensive line coach. You have a legit number one wide receiver that does not get talked about enough in the top line of conversations with Isaiah Satanga. You bring on in Trella Harris who was the number one receiver from Virginia. You bring in Parker Livingston. You have death at wide receiver. Demetri brought this up. There is a role for every single tight end. We want to run 12 personnel where we have a blocker and a receiving threat. We got the dudes we want to run more spread option. Cool. We got the dudes at the position. So it's just like all we're asking for is the ability to run the football at an efficient rate. If you give me 4.4 to 4.8 yards of play, you can live in that world and and function in that world. And we know this because of last year. You had a 3.5 dead last among SEC teams and still made the playoffs where you're leading rusher by a significant amount. Felt like John Mateer, just give him something to where he does not have to be your first, second, third, fourth and only option when you decide to go ahead up the middle. That's all we're asking for. I think if you're an Oklahoma fan,
- [16:42]
Chris
I think we're to a point where the offensive line this season could actually be a strength for Oklahoma. I do all the returning production and you know the emphasis in that building is on physicality and creating push in the run game. And Brent Venables talked about it at SEC media days that you know, they want their identity to be running the football like it's, it's, it is ingrained in them. I'm sure to a point where I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't get a breakout season from Oklahoma on the ground. We talk a lot about the thumb injury with John Mateer. Glad he's going to be healthy. What do we get get from John Mattier from a decision making standpoint? 11 interceptions last year. I just, you know, I was at that Texas game and that was the one right after the thumb surgery. And I'm, I'm, I totally understand. Obviously he's, he's dealing with, with the thumb problem. But the thumb injury at times did not make you throw in a triple coverage. Yeah, the point Dimitri made earlier, like you, you've got to be better from a, from a. And he talked about this actually in his media availability. But as far as scheme and reading defenses and understand what's going on and, and the whole like it's a great quote about hey, see an open guy and throw it. But so he's a guy that's going to let it rip. But at times last year he just let it rip, just carelessly. And the ball was picked off 11 times. So I cut those turnover numbers in half. Don't throw your team out of a football game. I understand at times he was trying to play hero ball because it was all on him and I think taking some of the load off him from the rushing game perspective and putting him in some more advantageous positions to be successful again. If you have a running game, it's going to be a quarterback's best friend. But he's got to do a better job of taking care of the football for this offense. That many chance.
- [18:22]
Dimitri
Yeah, I agree with you. And it's not even just the 11 interceptions. It is the 25 sacks including those five that he took against Texas. And look, let's be fair. Texas is the one game that he absolutely should not have been playing. Right. That's the one where he very clearly rushed himself back. But the offensive line is going to be asked to do a lot this year. And this year it's not work miracles, right? It is about keep this guy on his feet long enough to find his receivers, keep this guy upright when the play breaks down, when the coverage breaks down or the route breaks down, and let him do a little more. And then at the end of the day, does the run game support the passing game at least a modicum more than it did last year? Certainly that would make things better.
- [19:13]
Chris
And I think Matier is a guy that you, you have to live with some of the bad to get all the good that he provides. You know, he's, he's a gunslinger type. He's a, you know, it's just the way he plays. I, I'm just saying, just let's raise the floor a little. You know, let's raise the floor a little because, I mean, I agree with you, Demitri, like, I, I do think the offense should be able to do a much more effective job of complimenting what the defense is going to do. But so much of it obviously falls on the quarterback. You're not going to ask him to not be himself. Like for example of what a South Carolina did where they essentially took all the good things away that made Lenora Sellers who he is while trying to eliminate some of the bad. You got to let him play free and be himself. But he's got to have the wherewithal to, to not try to hit the home run every play. Nothing wrong hitting a single, you know, fine, like 1,000%.
- [20:05]
Dimitri
Look, this is where the offensive line and the tight ends come into play. All three of Oklahoma's losses last year, Matier was sacked at least three times. His three highest or I guess the offensive lines three highest sack totals for the season. That's, that's not a coincidence for me.
- [20:26]
Cole
And I'm not trying to defend John material because if I did enough of that last season, I do need to see a little bit more from him. But I'm not going to put it all on him because of, I think that the weaponry last season was underwhelming outside of Isaiah Satenga. Now, that's not to say that Jaren Cannock and that Dion Burks and several other names weren't options. But I look at a guy like Trell Harris coming on in who was a legit number one receiver at Virginia, I feel better about him. Now adding in another gauge to this offensive personnel. I look at a guy like Parker Livingston and Livingston, while he was a wide receiver number three at Texas still found the end zone six times. I mean, how many times when you look at Oklahoma's offense, you only had I think eight other touchdowns outside of Isaiah Zatanga. So you automatically are looking at that being a lot better. Hayden Hansen is a guy that you can target inside the red zone. What they got with the Tennessee transfer, what you bring in with Rocky Beers as being a receiving threat. It feels like that the supporting cast around John Mater is going to be a lot more promising to where that decision making it still needs to be corrected. But how much of that was on? Well, wide receiver made a wrong cut because. Because we always love to blame the quarterback with this and it's warranted because of the quarterback is the one making the final call. But when you go back and you watch the film and you ask and you ask questions inside the locker room, hey, what happened on this play? There's about a 50, 50 shot of where a receiver ran a wrong route or he cut too early which led to a defensive back jumping the route. I feel better about the security and the supporting cast outside of Isaiah Satanga and then the relationship of Isaiah Satanga and John Mater having a full year and a full offseason, building that rapport as being legit wide receiver 1 and QB1 to where it feels like that this will be a lot more relaxed for a guy playing in his second season in the sec. It doesn't take away from the turnovers, it doesn't take away from the decision making. I will say that I feel better about where is the rest of the group around Jameteer this season than I did last season.
- [22:27]
Chris
Guys, let's get to the bread and butter for Oklahoma. Brent Venables football team as we know it starts with a defensive side and there's a lot of reason yet again to be really excited. This was a deep defense last year, guys. It was one of the best in all of college football. Like we mentioned, you can almost argue single handedly won Oklahoma a couple of those games last year. Taylor Wine anchors the defensive front at defensive end. Jaden Jackson, David Stone are back on the interior as well. They also picked up Kenny Ozawalu and Bishop Thomas from the portal. That's four and a half sacks right there in 2025. Your leading tackler, Kip Lewis is back at linebacker. Owen Heinecke back at middle linebacker as well. Dimitri mentioned earlier this secondary is stacked. Cortland Guillory, Peyton Bowen, Eli Bowen, they're all back in that secondary. In the defense, guys, as we know, it has been a strength under Brent Venables, essentially his entire tenure there in Norman. There's some key guys to replace for sure, some guys that went off to the NFL, but doesn't it kind of feel like Brent Venables and company, They've sort of earned the benefit of the doubt from the standpoint that you can bet there's some young guys waiting in the wings who are extremely talented. And with the mastermind that is Brent Venables, they should be. That should be a strength for them yet again on the defensive side.
- [23:42]
Dimitri
Yeah, Lewis, Heinecke and Wine, you almost don't need anything else, right? Like Taylor Wine last year, 37, almost 37% of his tackles were tackles for loss. Like, that's a crazy stat. He is kind of where it all begins for this team, getting that push into the backfield to create a either quarterback hurry situation or a situation where the running back has to make his best move before he even gets past the line of scrimmage. You're dead on, Chris. It's how they won games down the stretch on the way to the playoff,
- [24:20]
Cole
even with all the question marks of new position players joining the crew. You're right. I just, I. I can't doubt Brent Venables. He finds a transfer, he finds a freshman, and he turns him into a name that's eventually going to be playing on Sundays. And that's gonna be the case again. You return six starters, but honestly, with how many times you rotate in on that defensive line, what you rotate in at the linebacker spot, you got like nine guys who have, who have immediate playing experience, extensive playing experience. And the crazy part is why I don't know if this will be the most complete defense in terms of quality of product. They may have the best player in the SEC at every single position. Taylor Wine absolutely could be. And I'm talking about this from a defensive end, not an outside edge rusher. So I want to preface this, but Taylor Wine absolutely could be the best defensive end in the sec. I think David Stone is the best defensive tackle in the sec. Kip Lewis could easily be competing for the Buckets award as the best linebacker. What they have with Gill, a Gill at cornerback, what he did last season as a true freshman, like literally going up against some seniors and making plays. What you got with Pton Bowen, I mean, like, literally they have guys at every single spot that can alter the pathway of a game. And I think that's what makes them so dangerous, is that while the younger guys are getting caught up to speed while guys who are now getting adapted into playing full time reps. You have a dude that can go ahead and say no bro, I, I got this. Like I, I will handle this play for now. That way you get acclimated.
- [25:49]
Dimitri
So Cole, one of the things that I wanted to point out because I was thinking about this with Wine, but you mentioned it with Guillory too. Like I think one of the great testaments to just how good Brett Venables is at the job of teaching X and O defensive football is Wine was a red shirt freshman not asked to do a ton of his true freshman year. Guillory as a true freshman, like when he puts those dudes on the field, he puts them on the field when they are ready to make an impact. It does not matter the age. Once they get on the field they are expected to and usually able to be a difference maker for Oklahoma's defense. That that doesn't happen for every coach.
- [26:32]
Chris
Guys, let's move to special teams. Show some love to the specialists. Oklahoma specifically is one. You got to spend a little more time talking about them because Tate Sandel is officially back after his all American season. He went 24 of 27 on field goals. I mean specifically noted. Who can forget that game against Tennessee. He essentially won him that football game in Knoxville. Grayson Miller's back at punter. Isaiah Satanga, dynamic player in the return game for them guys. Thoughts on the specialist? And again it should be and it is Tate Sandell who gets all of the accolades and all the attention. I mean you think about it, especially if you're relying on your defense again, you're probably in a lot of close ball games having a guy like Tate Sandella, especially if you're having struggles on offense. Like, I mean this dude was really good from long range. You don't have to get like inside the 20 for him to make a field goal. Like, this is a, this is a dude. I know we kind of light heartedly talked about it a few weeks ago and it almost felt like a joke. But this dude's for seriously is a weapon for them in special teams.
- [27:35]
Dimitri
They're going to the big house, they're going to Georgia. Don't you feel so much better with a guy that can do what Tate Sandel does from distance than you would otherwise?
- [27:46]
Cole
I mean when you, when you have the Lou Grozer award winner and a guy who was a big time reason why you got to the playoff last year. Yeah, I want to have him on my team for another season. Like it's a, it's a blessing that we get to have him back. Just don't have a performance like he did against Alabama and we'll be in a good spot. Just don't have that performance. If you do that, you're once again riding your way all the way to a 10 win campaign.
- [28:08]
Chris
Yeah, I think he'll be prom for another big year. I think the only question do we get the return of the the biker shorts? Are we going longer? Longer pants for Tate Sandel this, this season? We'll have to wait.
- [28:18]
Cole
Man, if it gets you another Lou Grozer award, nobody's complaining about it.
- [28:21]
Dimitri
Got to be free. Gotta free up the legs.
- [28:24]
Chris
Exactly, exactly. Make you more aerodynamic. Guys. As we take our overall outlook at Oklahoma really quickly, our friends over at Kalshee, here's what they have to say about the Oklahoma Sooners when it comes to percentage chances and win totals. Kalshee gives Oklahoma an 87 chance to win 5 or more games, 84 chance to win 6 or more 78 chance to win 7 or more. Here's where you start to see some of the dips. 61 to win eight or more, 44 to win nine or more, 32% to win 10 or more, 12% to win 11 or more or 7% to win 12. So really starts to dip right in that I'd say eight and a half total number is kind of where you start to see the real again. 61 to 44 again. Take it for what it's worth. Oklahoma via Cali has a 35% chance to make the College Football Playoff and the Sooners in regards to chances to win the national championship, Oklahoma has a 3% chance via the folks at CalShe. A number of talented starters return for Oklahoma. Guys, let's take a look at the schedule for this upcoming season. As we all know, do you have a schedule conducive to big time success and winning at a high level and get into a college football playoff? As we talked before, Oklahoma navigated one of the toughest slates in the entire country. To that a season ago. You take a look at what faces them and let's talk about the schedule here briefly. They open up in non conference play UTEP at home. That game has actually been moved to Friday. Very strategic by the Sooners because the following weekend they travel to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines. Then you get New Mexico at home in non conference and then you jump into SEC play when you travel to Athens, Georgia to take on the Georgia Bulldogs to close out the month of. Of September, bye week going into October. Then you get the Red River Shootout against Texas, Kentucky at Mississippi State, South Carolina to close out October at Florida Ole Miss, Texas A M at Mizzou to close out the season. So, guys, it's another daunting schedule. If Oklahoma is going to get back to the College Football Playoff, they're going to have to earn their way. And there is no question because this one's as challenging as any SEC slate out there.
- [30:51]
Cole
There.
- [30:52]
Dimitri
Yeah, you're probably going to start the first five games of the season. I mean, it's not crazy to think you're going to start that two and three, right? Maybe. Maybe three and two. Either way, you are looking at having to be flawless down the back stretch to get into the playoff.
- [31:09]
Cole
I still view this team right now as. Why would I doubt that they can't get the 10 wins. I'm. I'm sorry. Like, why would I. You. I understand that you're adding in a ninth conference game and you still have to face off against Michigan and this Michigan team will be different than the one that we saw last year because it's a new staff. Same pieces, but it's a new staff and in my opinion, a frankly better staff. But I've already watched Brent Venables go into every location and be able to find ways to win. He went to Tuscaloosa and got a win. He went to Tennessee and got a win. He beat lsu, which again, it still is lsu. So it's like, okay, when I go ahead and fortify this, I still view them as a team that has already shown me with a functioning offense, they can get 10 wins. You're supposed to have a better offense. You're not going to have a bad defense. Why is anything less than 10 wins not supposed to be expected out Norman this year?
- [32:03]
Chris
Yeah, I, I do think, Demetri, to your point, you would be very well served. Or what's the phrasing I'm looking for? You'd be doing yourself a favor, if you will, to steal one of those at Georgia or to Texas.
- [32:15]
Dimitri
Yep.
- [32:16]
Chris
As I experienced with Cole, last year was my first ever Red River Shootout game. That, that game in itself is. It feels like it's a season not to do the whole coach speak thing, but it's probably. It might be the most unpredictable football game on the schedule every year.
- [32:29]
Dimitri
History says you're right. Like, we don't have to call it coach speak. History says that's a fact, that that
- [32:35]
Chris
game just stands alone. Right. So you, you're right though because you know, Michigan's got a lot of turn. You know, going to the big House will be challenging with Michigan with a lot of turnover. I know winning in Athens is really, really difficult, but you know, I mean, hey, you want to be the man, you got to beat the man, if you will. There's people talking about this team could win the SEC championship. Well, here's your first real big test. And then again the Red River Shootout because you look down the stretch, I mean, got to go to the Swamp, got to play Ole Miss, got to play A and M, that three game stretch in November right there. You know, you go into that with two losses, boy, it's going to be really tough to navigate that at 3, 0. So you, you'd be doing yourself quite the service and quite a favor if you can get to that with just one loss and give yourself that. You know, close your ears. If you hate where we are in college football, give yourself that layup where you can afford to lose a game and you're still sitting at 10 wins. So. And I mean I, guys, I think this is a schedule at 9 and 3. You could argue Oklahoma, you could still look at it and say yeah, they deserve to be, be in the college ball playoff. I, it's, I really do.
- [33:39]
Dimitri
It's one of the few, right? It's one of the few where they have the luxury of the strength of schedule that if they drop a third, as long as it's the right third, right. As long as it's not a matter of you come through and you have stolen not one, but two of those tough three games in, in the first half, you know, it's, you can't be dismissed, right. Like, and I'm, I'm not maybe I'm a little bit higher on Michigan than you guys are. I'm not dismissing that. That could be a problem for Oklahoma.
- [34:08]
Chris
No, I have the, I was going to say, Cole, the irony of this would be what if Oklahoma is in a position like last year Texas was in when, when. When Texas beat Oklahoma but went 9 and 3 because of the big non conference game on the road against a big tin foe and. But then they lost to say a Florida who Oklahoma travels to, right? Like the, the ironic part of potentially that rearing itself with, you know, that that could be, could happen even with this schedule will be something certainly very interesting to keep an eye on. But yeah, it's a, it's a tough slate for sure.
- [34:41]
Cole
Call me bold. I don't really care if John Mateer can live up to the standard. Oklahoma can win a national championship this year. I like them that much, I really do. I think that their offensive line is going to be massively improved. I think their run game will be sufficient. I think they will have stability at wide receiver and that defense once again is going to be the standard of the sec. So if you add in the fact that they will be battle tested playing in every single environment, having a neutral site game that is literally 50% home and 50% away regardless of where you are and they get better quarterback play, what's the point of saying that this team can't go on a run? Like everyone looks at Oklahoma because of how bad John Mateer played last season and said there's no shot that they can be in the running. Well, I hate to break it to you, yes they can. They could also be one of the biggest boomer bus teams in college football. But absolutely they could easily punch their way through, make it to Atlanta, win the SEC and have a clear cut path to go to a national title. Like, you can go ahead and call it crazy and this may end up being a dumb take by the time that we get to the season's end. But right now I, I see no reason why Oklahoma standard should not be. We are good enough to go to a championship and play our way into a national title of appearance because they got the talent and they got the coaching staff. The only question is, do they find a way to shoot themselves in the foot too early to where it's too late to recover?
- [36:03]
Chris
No, I, I, Cole, I don't think you're crazy. I actually agree with you. I think when you make the short list of teams in the SEC that can win. Because I think if you say a team can win the SEC championship, you also are effectively saying they can win the national championship. I just think to, to me maybe that's SEC bias that goes hand in hand in my opinion. Georgia, Texas, we know about those two.
- [36:27]
Cole
I have Oklahoma State.
- [36:28]
Chris
The next one up is Oklahoma. I think they're on the short list of the teams that realistically can, can compete for the SEC title and win the whole thing. Now again, like everybody else, some things have gotta, some questions have got to work out in the positive. Some guys have got to play the best football their career. A guy like John, you know what the offensive lines got to do, what John Matier's got to do, what, you know, the, the weapons. If you, but you know, I, I think Oklahoma's got the recipe too. They are on the short list of SEC teams that realistically can win the SEC championship, therefore can win the national title.
- [37:01]
Cole
See, Dimitri, let me ask you this. I could see Oklahoma having an Alabama season this year where what I mean is they lose the non conference game, but they only lose one conference game, therefore they're at 10 and 2 but playing in Atlanta. Because if I am high on Michigan, I like Michigan a lot. I think they could easily go into Ann Arbor and get Molly whopped, but then figure out a way to be able to respond in the rest of the season and lose one random game to whoever that is. A and M, Florida, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Texas and Red River. But because of they have that one conference loss, they're good. Like, I really do see that scenario because I like, I like Michigan this year.
- [37:38]
Dimitri
So I, I just kind of think the schedule is so front loaded that they would have to shift into a different gear, right? Because I think those two losses would have to happen very early on. Now if that happens and they have shifted into this different gear like Alabama did until they ran into Oklahoma in the regular season, then they're undeniable, right? Like, I have them just a tick down from where you guys do. I think Georgia and Texas are the class of this conference. I think Alabama and A and M are those next two teams and I have Oklahoma right below that. Now, that being said, you know, to your point, Cole, if they lose to Michigan and they lose at Georgia, I would actually feel better than if you're telling me they lose to Texas because I think Red River. Going back to your point, Chris, we have seen over and over again, it's somewhere where anything could happen that you tell me that Oklahoma comes into that game three and two and Texas comes into that game five, zero. I could absolutely see Oklahoma still walking out and still being alive in that scenario.
- [38:51]
Chris
I want to end it with this, guys, and I hate to end it on a sour note for Oklahoma fans, but I have to, I have to ask this question. What will it say to y'? All? And I guess you could. I, I could also couple with what will have happened. We have seen again 6 and 7, 10 and 3, 6 and 7, 10 and 3. If they take a step back, I'm not even saying they go 6 and 7, but let's say they revert back to say 7 and 5. What do we leave the 2026 season? What, like what, what is the. How do you even categorize? Or how do you think about Brent Venables and his Oklahoma program? And like, what went Wrong. Because again, history has shown us it has been a roller coaster. So it's not, you're not crazy if you think that, I mean 8 and 4 would be a massive disappointment for them after, after last year. It's not crazy to think they take a step back, especially with his schedule. What went wrong? And like how will you compartmentalize Oklahoma football if they're, if they're to do this again and it truly does become this, they are just the definition of this up and down roller coaster.
- [39:55]
Dimitri
I think you would be thinking about Brett Venables as like the bizarro version of Lane Kiffin's first go round as a head coach. A guy that is so laser focused on on his side of the ball, he hasn't quite mastered how to lead a program yet. Now I don't think that's what's going to happen. Right. But I think if we are looking for what the narrative will be, I think that's it. Because the defense has never been a question. The defense has always been full of talent and has performed. The question will be did he bet on the right offensive coordinator? Did he bet on the right package right of offensive coordinator and quarterback which is such a common thing now does he know or does he have the right person guiding him in personnel selection?
- [40:39]
Cole
Yeah, I mean really for me what I think you would look at is even though it is still you, you, you had the ability last season to win with arguably college football's toughest schedule, you still have a tougher schedule. And let me also add on in your non conference game against Michigan could end up being a top 15 team and you also add in another SEC game to that schedule. So what's just simply we didn't have enough Jimmies and Joes to run the X's and O's that we properly thought of. My bigger question comes down to do you have enough in play to where you're still in the running and you're not going to finish with a 6 and 6 record and fight for that opportunity to go above.500 to where the last few years you've had the 6 and 6 record after going 10 and 2.
- [41:26]
Chris
A lot of optimism, a lot of excitement as the Oklahoma Sooners again look to get back to the College Football Playoff and who knows, maybe even make a deep run all the way to the national championship. Only time will tell guys. We love to hear your thoughts, your expectations, your predictions for Oklahoma football as they head into another season under Brent Memphis.
- [41:51]
Cole
Sa.
- [42:17]
Dimitri
It.