The Oklahoma Sooners established themselves as the premier program in the Big 12 for over more than two decades. During that span, Oklahoma captured 14 Big 12 championships and regularly competed for national titles.
However, the program entered the SEC after going three consecutive seasons without a conference championship. In its first two SEC seasons, Oklahoma has yet to finish higher than No. 5 in the conference standings, even after returning to the College Football Playoff in 2025.
Brent Venables and the Sooners believe this year's team has what it takes to return to the conference championship conversation. During SEC media days, ESPN analyst Roman Harper expressed confidence that Oklahoma can contend for the SEC title this season.
"I can
go on and on about you guys and this defense," Harper told News 9. "I love this team. I'm a really big fan of Oklahoma. I think they're a team that has an opportunity to be in the SEC championship this year. I said that earlier, and I still stand by those words. I really, really like this team. The schedule is going to be tough."
Oklahoma entered the SEC with the expectations of eventually competing for conference championships, not simply earning winning seasons. Last year's College Football Playoff appearance showed the Sooners are moving in the right direction, and Harper believes they have the roster to take another step in 2026.
A difficult schedule will provide plenty of challenges, but if Venables' team lived up to its potential, Oklahoma could find itself playing for an SEC title much sooner than many expected.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Can the Sooners win the SEC? College football analyst weighs in
