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SEC Powerhouse With $3 Million QB Snubbed From Preseason Top 25 College Football Rankings

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kevin Borba | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 3:05 PM ET

After months of waiting and speculating about just how good the 2025 college football season will be, we are officially a little over two weeks away from the first action of the season.

On Monday, the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll was released as coaches from across college football attempted to rank the top 25 teams in the country before even having seen any of them play yet. The coaches are chosen at random from a pool of American Football Coaches Association applicants who have volunteered to participate.

While the SEC led the way with nine teams in the top 25, the Oklahoma Sooners did not make the cut despite their offseason filled with massive additions.

Notable SEC Program On The Outside Looking In

This year's rankings featured a bit of history as the Texas Longhorns came in as the No. 1 team for the first time in the history of the poll, according to ESPN. Joining them in the top five were the expected heavy hitters, as seven of the top 10 teams made the College Football Playoff last season.

However, the Sooners came in at No. 26, receiving 221 votes, which came 25 short of Boise State, who ranked at No. 25.

BREAKING: College Football Preseason Coaches Pollhttps://t.co/UOHDaVDFxk pic.twitter.com/ouboz88vXu
— On3 (@On3sports) August 4, 2025

A surprising development considering the Sooners added Washington State's elite dual-threat quarterback transfer John Mateer, who ranked as the No. 6 player in the portal and No. 3 quarterback overall.

Along with landing Mateer, who inked an NIL deal worth around $3 million, the Sooners also hired Washington State's offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, and also landed Cal running back Jadyn Ott, who ranked as the No. 3 running back in the portal.

Why Oklahoma Could Struggle

Despite adding Mateer, who threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns, while also rushing for 826 yards and 15 scores in 2024, the Sooners will not have an easy path to contention.

Coming off a season that saw them finish 6-7, Oklahoma has an absolute gauntlet of a schedule. ESPN's FPI views them as having the No. 3 most difficult schedule in college football, as nine of their 12 games are against opponents that rank within the top 25 of ESPN's FPI.

If the Sooners have another uninspiring season in 2025, head coach Brent Venables could be shown the door. However, if Mateer lives up to his billing, the Sooners may be able to make a College Football Playoff return.

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

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