Some fans are too hung up in the past to clearly see the promise of the future. That's why there are skeptics around who believe Oklahoma football has seriously underperformed in two of Brent Venables' three seasons as head coach, and because of that, there is little reason to believe they won't do so again this fall.
We've written previously about several national college football experts who believe the major offseason moves Oklahoma made on the offensive side of the ball will get the Sooner offense back in winning form in 2025, including offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and his prized pupil QB John Mateer, who were together last season at Washington State and led the Cougars to the sixth-best scoring offense and 17th in total offense nationally, will get Oklahoma's offense back in winning form in 2025.
Combined with a Venables-led defense that also ranked in the top-25 nationally a year ago, there is also good reason to believe that the Sooners could be one of the big surprise teams next season. That's clearly what Sooner fans are hoping, and recently, On3 college football analysts Ari Wasserman and Andy Staples voiced support for that notion.
"People have left Oklahoma and Brent Venables for dead. They stunk last year, so there's no question they'll stink again, right? Wrong," Wasserman said. "Oklahoma brought in the single most influential transfer in the 2025 portal cycle in quarterback John Mateer, along with Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle."
Andy Staples, Ari Wasserman expect Sooners to shock college football
There is no question this is a critical season for both Venables and the Sooners. The last time an Oklahoma football team suffered three losing seasons over a four-year stretch was almost three decades ago.
There is no doubt that Venables is one of the best defensive coaches in college football -- he's proved that in spades everywhere he's been and twice at OU -- but the jury is still out on whether he is the right fit as a head coach.
Together at Washington State, that duo of Arbuckle and Mateer fueled an offense that ranked sixth among FBS teams in scoring and 17th in total offense. And now that same system is in place at OU and with a better supporting cast.
"The Sooners also added California running back Jaydn Ott into the mix," Wasserman added. "If the offensive line is improved, and Venables cooks up a good defense like he always does? Look out."
It certainly doesn't help matters that the Sooners play in the best conference in college football where practically every conference game is against a top-25 opponent. Oklahoma will again play one of the most difficult schedules in the coming season.
The Sooners' strength of schedule for the coming season -- and likely for the immediate future -- can be both a blessing and a curse. The difficult schedule guarantees few wins. In fact, you've got to be pretty good just to break even. On the other hand, an especially tough schedule, as Wasserman pointed out, offers the opportunity for a number of quality wins.
Earlier this spring, Wasserman had this to say about the addition of Mateer to lead the Oklahoma offense: "There is a legitimate chance that this is the guy holding up the Heisman Trophy at the end of the year, and I don't say that lightly. There is a legitimate chance that Oklahoma is a (College Football) Playoff team because of this guy next year (meaning the 2025 season)."
The College football Playoff seems to be a stretch, but if the 2025 edition of Oklahoma football could get to as many as eight or nine wins with the schedule as it currently stands, the Sooners deservedly should be considered playoff contenders.
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