​The Oklahoma Sooners were among the biggest surprises in college football during the 2025 season, finishing with a 10-3 record after a 6-7 campaign the year before and navigating one of the toughest schedules in the nation. They earned a coveted spot in the College Football Playoff despite closing the year with a demanding sequence of games that included road tests against the Tennessee Volunteers and Alabama Crimson Tide, as well as home confrontations with the Missouri Tigers and the LSU Tigers. Entering that demanding stretch, few forecasts favored Oklahoma to sweep all four contests, yet the Sooners accomplished exactly that and secured hosting duties for a playoff showdown.
Even with their playoff appearance, Oklahoma settled at No. 5 in the SEC standings. Nevertheless, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy views the Sooners as a potential major riser in the conference this season, thanks in large part to the return of John Mateer and a crop of key contributors. “We know Oklahoma got the whole band back,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “John Mateer is back, and he’s healthy. When you go back to the tape from September last year, before the thumb surgery, he was a Heisman contender—at one point the Heisman favorite. He wasn’t merely riding along; he was a driver. So the risers are real.”
Oklahoma currently sits tied for No. 12 in returning production for the upcoming season. The Sooners bring back not only Mateer but also their top two rushers, their leading receiver, four of five offensive linemen, and several key veterans on defense. This combination bodes well for the program as they head into the 2026 season, giving Brent Venables a roster that blends health, continuity on offense, and experience on defense.
With momentum and proven production on its side, Oklahoma could ride the duo of a healthy Mateer and an experienced defense to take another step forward in the SEC. If the Sooners can capitalize on last season’s breakthrough, they have the potential to transform from a surprising playoff participant into a formidable conference and national championship contender.
For ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions, follow Sooners Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like the page on Facebook. You can also follow Jaron on X at @jaronspor. This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire and discusses Greg McElroy’s view of Oklahoma as a potential SEC riser.