Predicting the 2025 Alabama Football Season: Oklahoma Sooners

Ninth installment of wild blind dart-throwing predictions takes us to that state that is shaped like a cooking pot.

GAME 10, Nov 15: OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Coach: Brent Venables (22–17 in three seasons, , SEC 2–6 one season)

2024 Okie record: 6–7 (2-6, 13th in SEC; Armed Forces Bowl loss to Navy)

CB 2024 Prediction: 7-5

Looking Back: After thumping Temple, the Sooners barely escaped Houston 16-12 and struggled with Tulane. Tennessee brought Okie down to terra firma with a loss in Norman. A win at Auburn was followed by three straight SEC losses

(Texas, SC, @OM). A cupcake win and a defeat at Mizzou put the Sooners back on the winning side but still in some dire straits at 5-5 with Bama and LSU remaining. Then the Crimson Tide inexplicably played one of the most godawful games of recent memory. The Sooners went back to normal the next week and got routed at LSU and then fell to Navy in the bowl on a failed two-point conversion with 6 seconds to go.

Returning Starters: 3* on offense, 5* on defense

Key Losses: S Billy Bowman (Round 4, Falcons), LB Danny Stutsman (Round 4, Saints), EDGE Ethan Downs (grad), OL Michael Tarquin, DL Da’Jon Terry, DL Trace Ford, QB Jackson Arnold (xfer to Auburn), TE Jake Roberts (grad), TE Bauer Sharp (LSU), WR Brenen Thompson (Mississippi State), WR J.J. Hester (Kentucky), RB Gavin Sawchuk (FSU)

Top Returnees: DL Mason Thomas, WR Deion Burks, RB Jovantae Barnes, RB Taylor Tatum, CB William Gentry, LT Jacob Sexton, C Troy Everett, NT Damonic Williams, S Robert Spears-Jennings, WLB Kip Lewis

Top Newcomers: QB John Mateer (Washington State), offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle (Meteer’s OC at Wazzu), RB Jaydn Ott (Cal), WR JaVonnie Gibson (1215 yds, 9 TD at Ark-Pine Bluff in 2024), TE Will Huggins (395 yards at Pittsburgh State), DE Marvin Jones Jr. (UGA>FSU), WR Elijah Thomas (FR), P Jacob Ulrich (Kennesaw State, 45.4 ypp), PK Tate Sandell (UTSA, 19-23, three of four misses came on attempts longer than 50 yards)

Of Note: Former Bama DE and team captain Todd Bates is Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator for the Sooners.

* Questionable: WR Deion Burks missed eight games in 2024 due to injuries. DB/LB-hybrid Kendel Dolby started three games before a season-ending injury. CB William Gentry started all 10 games in 2023. He sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in Game 2 in 2024. These three were not included among the returning starters above, but are projected to be so.

Strengths: Upgrade at quarterback… Venables brought in only two transfers on a defense that was top 20 last year. All of the rest are returning players… DE Mason Thomas (9.0 sacks, 12.5 TFL, 11 QBH, 2 FF in 2024) is back… Experienced secondary…

Weaknesses: Receivers are a little lacking… OL returns three starters, but they were not the greatest last year… Running backs are a little questionable…

Outlook: When Venables was hired at Oklahoma, the knock on him was that he was a defensive genius who lacks skill in coaching the other side of the ball. Last season’s results did not do much to dispel that label. This season, he again has a strong defense. But again, the offense is a little questionable. John Mateer is a promising QB but he has not competed at the SEC level. The cast of characters around him are unproven. Venables picked up a fair share of players from the Transfer Portal with some impressive stats. However, most of them are from FCS or non-Power teams. This may be a crucial season for the Sooners head man.

Oklahoma Win Total Per FanDuel

Over 7.5 +106 (bet $100 to win $106)
Under 7.5 -128 (bet $128 to win $100)

2025 OKLAHOMA SOONERS SCHEDULE:

Sat, Aug 30 vs Illinois State – W
Sat, Sep 6 vs Michigan – W – This could be a toss up, but go with the home team.
Sat, Sep 13 @ Temple – W – What is Okie gaining by playing this road game?
Sat, Sep 20 vs Auburn – W – Home
Sat, Sep 27 bye
Sat, Oct 4 vs Kent State – W
Sat, Oct 11 vs Texas (in Dallas, TX) – L
Sat, Oct 18 @ South Carolina – L – Roadie
Sat, Oct 25 vs Ole Miss – W – It feels like Ole Miss takes a step back this year.
Sat, Nov 1 @ Tennessee – L
Sat, Nov 8 bye
Sat, Nov 15 @ Alabama – L
Sat, Nov 22 vs Missouri – W – Could go either way.
Sat, Nov 29 vs LSU – L

Several of the members of the national media are high on the Sooners, evidenced by the No. 18 ranking. The Coaches Poll is more onboard with us. They do not have OU ranked at all. 7-5 feels about right.