Oklahoma Football’s Too-Early 2025 Season Preview
Oklahoma’s inaugural SEC season started with high hopes but quickly unraveled, turning an initially optimistic outlook into a chaotic roller coaster ride that ultimately came to a halt for maintenance.
Injuries decimated Oklahoma’s offense from the jump. All five starting wide receivers- Farooq, Gibson, Anderson, Anthony, and Burks- missed most or all of the season before SEC play even started. The offensive line wasn’t spared either, as key linemen such as Hatchett, Hickman, Taylor, and Everett all missed significant time.
Throughout these setbacks on the offensive side of the ball, HC Brent Venables faced unwarranted scrutiny, with some questioning his ability to maintain a program at the Head Coach position.
Given the circumstances, the Sooners’ 6-7 2024 inaugural season in the SEC should be viewed with context. Narrow losses to Ole Miss, Missouri, and Navy were all games within one possession for the majority of the game. Each game was winnable, and without the wave of injuries, the season’s narrative may’ve unfolded differently. Holding a record of 9-4 sure sounds a lot more appetizing than 6-7.
Looking ahead, Brent Venable’s foundation on defense remains strong. According to PFF, the Sooners ranked in the top 25 nationally in multiple defensive metrics last season. Despite the offense being depleted for almost the entirety of the 2024 season, Oklahoma finished as the 10th most efficient defense on ESPN’s CFP Power Index.
Even though the Sooners lost Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman to the NFL, Venables still returns most of his defensive production from last season. The imbalance between Venable’s offense and defense is exactly why he hit the transfer portal aggressively this offseason.
Oklahoma now brings in quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State to inject tempo and new profound efficiency into the offense. Arbuckle’s attractive, high-powered air raid system should maximize the skill sets of Oklahoma’s newest additions on the offensive side of the ball. Oklahoma’s newest additions include WR JaVonnie Gibson and RB Jaydn Ott.
Gibson transferred from Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 2 years of eligibility remaining. In his sophomore season, Gibson earned FCS All-America honors. from the Associated Press. He played in all 12 games, leading the team with 70 receptions, 1,215 receiving yards (101.3 YPG), and nine touchdowns.
Jadyn Ott was an absolute workhorse for three seasons with the California Golden Bears. In his three years there, he totaled 531 carries for 2,587 yards and 24 touchdowns. In the backfield, he can also pose as a valuable receiver, where he totaled 96 receptions for 739 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. At 6’0 210 pounds, Ott is a force to be reckoned with to bring down.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle plans to quickly build around Jaydn Ott’s dynamic skill set, using him as both a downhill runner and a receiving threat. JaVonnie Gibson’s vertical ability fits perfectly into Arbuckle’s tempo-driven attack, giving Oklahoma a true playmaker on the outside. With these two—and several other key additions and returns—Oklahoma’s offense is primed for a sharp resurgence heading into 2025.
Oklahoma’s non-conference schedule features home games against Illinois State, Kent State, and Michigan, with an away trip to Temple on September 13th. A matchup against Michigan in week 2 could put some worry in Sooner fans’ heads, but Michigan will be without their Head Coach, Sherrone Moore, for the game in Gaylord Memorial Stadium due to a two-game suspension to start the season.
SEC home games for the Sooners in 2025 include Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri, and LSU. As for SEC away matchups, Oklahoma will be traveling to South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.
With the firepower Oklahoma’s added on offense and a defense that’s already proven reliable, I’m predicting a 9–3 finish for the Sooners in 2025. That includes key revenge wins over both Texas and Ole Miss, two games that slipped away last season. The biggest hurdles will be surviving a hostile trip to Tennessee and keeping Alabama from returning the favor at Bryant-Denny. If this team stays healthy, however, Oklahoma is poised to reassert itself as atrue SEC contender.
