🏈 College Football
Oklahoma Sooners 2025 Season Preview
It’s a 10-win roster with a 6-win schedule. If Mateer’s upright in November, Oklahoma’s still swinging. If not? Another season of what-ifs.
No Excuses. No Room for Error.
🧠 Key to the Season:
Protect the Backfield, Protect the Dream
Oklahoma’s got one of the best backfields in college football: John Mateer at QB, Jadyn Ott at RB. Legit. Dangerous. Built to win.
But last year?
The O-line gave up nearly 4 sacks a game and let defenses live in the backfield. That ain’t gonna cut it in the SEC.
If OU wants to make real noise, the line has to give Mateer time and let Ott get downhill. No more 3rd and 14s. No more blown assignments. Handle the trenches, and this team can play with anyone.
💪 Key Player:
John Mateer, QB (Senior)
This offense goes as far as Mateer takes them. He’s got the arm, the frame, and the poise — now he needs the protection and a clean bill of health.
If Oklahoma’s going to punch with Bama, LSU, and Texas, Mateer needs to play like a Heisman finalist. No way around it.
🔁 Top Transfer In:
Jadyn Ott, RB (Senior)
This man is built like a feature back and plays like a cheat code.
He stacked over 2,000 yards and 20 TDs at Cal and has 95 career catches. He’s the ultimate checkdown, outlet, and pressure reliever for Mateer. If he stays healthy, Ott’s gonna be a problem in the SEC.
📤 Biggest Transfer Loss:
Nic Anderson, WR (Junior)
Big-play machine, averaged 21 yards per catch in 2023, then got hurt and never regained his rhythm. Now he’s at LSU, and OU’s receiver depth will get tested. Losing him hurts more than folks realize.
📆 Key Game:
Michigan – September 6
Forget history. This one’s about setting the damn tone.
Oklahoma and Michigan have only played once. The 1976 Orange Bowl. OU won it 14–6.
This year, it’s early September in Norman, and the Sooners NEED a signature win before diving into an SEC meat grinder. Beat Michigan, and everything opens up. Lose it, and you’re behind the 8-ball before conference play even starts.
🔟 Top 10 Sooners to Watch:
- John Mateer, QB – The whole season rides on him.
- R Mason Thomas, DE – Top dog off the edge.
- Jadyn Ott, RB – Offensive MVP material.
- Kip Lewis, LB – Quiet assassin in the middle.
- Eli Bowen, CB – Young, twitchy, nasty.
- Robert Spears-Jennings, S – Brings the boom.
- Damonic Williams, DT – Big boy in the trenches.
- Deion Burks, WR – Need him to rise.
- Derek Simmons, OT – Pass pro under pressure.
- Gracen Halton, DT – Glue guy, sneaky impact.
📊 Fun Stats from 2024:
- Fumbles: 26 (lost 15) — clean it up.
- Sacks Allowed: 50 (!!!) — secondaries didn’t even break a sweat.
- Scoring Dropoff: 105 pts in Q2 → just 43 in Q3 — yikes.
🧨 Unc’s Outlook
Let’s call it what it is:
This is a 10-win roster stuck in a 6-win schedule.
After a few tune-ups (Kent State, Temple, Illinois State), it’s hellfire:
- Michigan
- Auburn
- @ Tennessee
- Texas
- Ole Miss
- @ South Carolina
- @ LSU
- Missouri
- @ Alabama
If OU can split that stretch, they’ll be in the SEC title hunt. Go 3–1 in November? They’re in the Playoff convo. But the margin is microscopic.
The line has to protect. The defense has to show up late. And Mateer has to be him.
🎯 The Call:
Win Total Projection: 8.0
Predicted Record: 9–3
Statement Season. Not Perfect — But Progress.
🟢 Game Buckets:
Likely Wins:
- Kent State
- @ Temple
- Illinois State
Toss-Ups (50/50):
- Michigan
- Auburn
- vs Texas
- @ South Carolina
- @ LSU
- Missouri
- Ole Miss
- @ Tennessee
Likely Losses:
- @ Alabama