Sooners proved they belong in the College Football Playoffs in two very different ways that really no one else can claim

Sooners beat another AP team in the toughest way possible

No one else is doing what the Oklahoma Sooners are doing — beating really good teams on the road, without their offense performing the right way. In other words, this isn’t even the best version of this team that we have seen. When the offense finally starts to click, as it has improved every single game, it could be dark for other teams. In this one, they had to win almost strictly on their defense, and, as we mentioned, no one is doing that. 

According to Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports, Oklahoma's 212 yards against Alabama on Saturday is the fourth-fewest yards by an FBS team in a win against a top-5 team since 2000. Coincidentally, 2000 was a pretty good year for the Sooners, as they won the National Championship.

Some will see that stat and say that means they’re a one-sided team who wouldn’t do well in the College Football Playoffs. I see that, and I’d argue that the Sooners are getting better on offense. 

Marcello also tweeted out that Oklahoma is now tied with none other than Alabama for the most wins against AP-ranked teams this season, with four. That alone is a stat that proves they are ready for the CFP. We discussed all preseason long how the Sooners had the toughest schedule in the country. Sure, it got easier, but they handled the games they were supposed to handle.

Oklahoma isn’t winning pretty, but it’s winning.

window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll && event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-1538').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-1538').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*');

This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Nov 16, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.