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The Oklahoma Sooners had an incredible bounce-back season in 2025 in their second year in the SEC.
In Year 1, Oklahoma went 6-7 and was a major disappointment. However, in Year 2, the Sooners went 10-3 and returned to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2019.

Year 3 is about Oklahoma taking a step forward and being a legit national championship contender. Because while last season was a good year, the standard at Oklahoma is championships. Nothing less.
College football analyst Aaron Murray appeared on “The Hard Count,” where he detailed what Oklahoma needs to do to become a championship contender in 2026.
“They may be a great team,” Murray said. “And yeah, they may be competitive in the SEC and make the playoff. But if you are going to win a championship, your quarterback has to go into every single game without fear of making mistakes.”
That is the standard Oklahoma is trying to meet with quarterback John Mateer. Murray’s point centers on consistency at the most important position on the field, especially in high-leverage games.

Mateer must return to his pre-injury, fearless form if Oklahoma is going to take another step forward. If he does, it raises the ceiling of the offense significantly. If he does not, the Sooners could struggle to build on last season’s playoff appearance.
Returning four of five starters on the offensive line, along with a revamped run game, should ease pressure on Mateer and create more balance on offense, making Oklahoma a dangerous team in 2026.

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Apr 18, 2026; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) hugs linebacker Kip Lewis (10) before the Oklahoma Spring Game at Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
(Kevin Jairaj, Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Aaron Murray on Oklahoma’s championship ceiling and QB standard
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