How should we evaluate Quinn Ewers and Sam Pittman, and how will Oklahoma football perform in the SEC?
The SEC does not currently have divisions; that is, until its membership reaches about 28 teams, at which point the conference determines that divisions are once again required and people start to ask, Wait a minute, why don’t we just go back to having the Southwest Conference, the SEC from the 1990s, the ACC…
What did we say? Yes, the SEC is no longer divided into divisions, but sometimes old habits die hard, and you may have noted that the previous week’s mailbag had more of an SEC East vibe. We will venture further west this week, stay put for one more inquiry, and then address some conference-wide queries.
Oklahoma is a noteworthy newcomer to the SEC since it is a blueblood program that not many people are aware of. Texas seems to have a stacked squad that will enable them to start the conference season strong, casting a shadow over the Sooners.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma nearly stumbles into the season with Venables at 16-10 in his first two years, along with two new coordinators and a quarterback.
The Sooners’ future as head coach is still out in the air, and detractors may speculate that after they join the Big Ten, they’re going to become another Nebraska. As one doubter replied to this inquiry,
However, this is Oklahoma, a program that has achieved far greater success recently than Nebraska. The Sooners won four straight from 2017 to 2020, whereas the Cornhuskers’ last Big 12 title came in 1999.
Joe Castiglione, the longtime athletic director, leads a capable administration, and it seems like they won’t allow the program to deteriorate. Venables, who went from six to ten victories, is likewise on the rise.
Naturally, the SEC will operate differently, and the schedule for this year appears to be somewhat demanding. A few months ago, when I made my game-by-game predictions, I predicted Oklahoma to finish 7-5 overall and 3-5 in
Jackson Arnold’s performance at quarterback will play a big role in this, but given the schedule and the new coordinators, I don’t think Oklahoma will be a College Football Playoff contender.
In the long run, I think this program’s strength will allow it to maintain its competitiveness in the SEC. In terms of recruiting, this isn’t Nebraska; it’s more remote geographically and depends more on its moniker.
Oklahoma can now expand its name into other regions while maintaining easy connection to Texas. The Sooners are sixth in the 2025 class, despite it being early, and ended eighth in the 2024 class, per the 247Sports Composite.