Oklahoma Plummets in ESPN’s Updated College Football Rankings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Oct 26, 2025 10:19 AM ET

The Oklahoma Sooners faced the Ole Miss Rebels in Week 9.

Brent Venables' team entered with a 6-1 record, having lost their only game to Texas. Their wins this season were over Illinois State, Michigan, Temple, Auburn, Kent State and South Carolina.

The game against Ole Miss was a big one, not only for the race to the SEC Championship Game but also for the College Football Playoff.

It was a close game throughout, but in the end, Lane Kiffin's offense proved to be the difference. Ole Miss won 34-26 to improve to 7-1.

On Sunday, ESPN updated its computer-generated Football Power Index (FPI).

The FPI is a system that ranks every team in college football based on strength of schedule, offensive and defensive efficiency and more.

Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) is brought down by Ole Miss Rebels defensive end Da'Shawn Womack (15).© BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As for the Sooners, they took the biggest tumble in the top 25. They fell four spots from No. 14 to No. 18.

Meanwhile, Ole Miss somehow dropped one spot from No. 11 to No. 12 after the Utah Utes jumped it.

Oklahoma has an FPI rating at 15.5, which is the same as the Vanderbilt Commodores.

The Sooners' path to the College Football Playoff still remains, as they still have four teams that were ranked coming into Week 9 still on the schedule.

@ No. 17 Tennessee
@ No. 4 Alabama
vs. No. 15 Missouri
vs. No. 20 LSU

John Mateer and the Oklahoma offense will have to be better than they were against Ole Miss. On the season, Mateer has 1,790 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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