Respected college football analyst offers surprising take about the Oklahoma Sooners College Football Playoff hopes in 2025

As bad as last season was for the Oklahoma Sooners, there is plenty of reason to be bullish on the Sooners heading into 2025. 

However, one longtime college football analyst is more optimistic than I have ever seen. Phil Steele, who owns the premier college football magazine, has been evaluating rosters and producing his magazine since the 1990s (before I was even born). 

In his column evaluating surprise teams that could make the College Football Playoffs this season, no team was ranked higher than the Sooners for Steele. 

"This year, my #1 Surprise Team is the Oklahoma Sooners! Ironically, it was an Oklahoma team that inspired this article way back when. Oklahoma is off a 6-7 season and will not be in anyone's top ten except for mine. As I type this, I estimate the Sooners will open the year at #24, but my magazine does have some influence, so they could crack the top 20 potentially.

Nothing was wrong with the Sooners' defense last year except it got left on the field too long. They held foes to 96 YPG below their average (fourth-best). Last year, they lost all five starters on the OLine and they had 5 OL get injured and started seven different lineups. The WR Corps was devastated by injuries, at one point missing the top five WR's. Both of those units are vastly improved and they bring in Wash St's OC and QB. After going over the entire roster with coach [Venables], my conclusion is this is a playoff-caliber roster! The schedule remains tough, but last year they had just 3 SEC home games. This year, they will have just three true SEC road games. Coming off a losing season, they could recapture their magic of 2000."

Steele nailed all of the reasons for optimism regarding the Sooners next season. They've upgraded all across the roster, particularly at quarterback, and return a boatload of talent on both sides of the ball. The offensive line is much more settled than it was at this point last offseason, and there's so much more confidence surrounding John Mateer under center than there ever was in Jackson Arnold last year. 

Adding players like Jaydn Ott, Marvin Jones Jr., Javonnie Gibson, Kendal Daniels, and Derek Simmons out of the transfer portal has infused critical areas of need with some star potential. 

While we can never say anything with certainty in college football, there is much more optimism surrounding the program than there ever was at this point last offseason. If Brent Venables takes the Sooners to the College Football Playoffs this season though, it feels safe to say his job is safe for the foreseeable future.