David Pollack Names 'Most Improved' College Football Team

"OU is the most improved team in the country, and the best investments in the offseason when it comes to OC and DC," Pollack said.

A significant factor in the improvement has been the offense. Last season, Oklahoma had one of the worst offenses in college football, ranking 113th in total offense, 119th in passing offense, 76th in rushing offense and 97th in scoring offense. This poor performance led to the firing of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell during the season, and he was replaced by Ben Arbuckle afterward.

With the arrival of Arbuckle came quarterback John Mateer, who joined through the transfer portal. Together, they have transformed the offense. Oklahoma ranks No. 49 in total offense, No. 17 in passing offense, No. 104 in rushing offense and No. 59 in scoring offense. Mateer has thrown for 1,215 yards, with six touchdowns and three interceptions, while completing 67.4% of his passes. Additionally, he has contributed 190 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

However, the redshirt junior, who has quickly emerged as one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the nation, will be sidelined indefinitely due to surgery on the thumb of his throwing hand. Only time will tell if the Sooners can manage without Mateer during his recovery.

Oklahoma has already proven it can turn things around in a hurry. From one of the worst offenses in college football to a top-five ranking, the Sooners have made believers out of critics and earned praise from analysts like Pollack. But now comes the hard part: sustaining it without their leader.

Mateer’s injury is a twist for a team that had finally started to click, and the rest of the roster will need to step up to keep playoff hopes alive. If Oklahoma can weather this storm, it might cement its status as the true comeback story of the season.

The Sooners will face the Kent State Golden Flashes on Saturday without Mateer at 4:00 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.