The Oklahoma Sooners could go an entire month, and maybe even more, without playing an unranked team, at least based on the new preseason AP Top 25.
The Sooners were at No. 18 in the preseason AP Top 25, which was released Monday, but the preseason poll also confirmed what many have been saying all offseason about the strength of OU's 2025 schedule. On3's Brett McMurphy pointed out that the Sooners will at one point in their season play five teams in a row that were included in the preseason AP Top 25. Only South Carolina has a comparable stretch.
Preseason AP Top 25 confirms OU will run into most brutal stretch in nation
OU's daunting stretch starts on Oct. 11 against No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry. A week later, OU will travel to No. 13 South Carolina, which will also be enduring a five-game stretch of ranked opponents.
The Sooners will finally return to Norman on Oct. 25 to host No. 21 Ole Miss. That will be OU's only home game during the five-game gauntlet. OU will then head to No. 24 Tennessee on Nov. 1. OU will finally get a break with a bye week before hitting the road again against No. 8 Alabama on Nov. 15.
That's five straight games against presumably five ranked teams, and with only one in Norman. Although some of those teams are sure to slip and not be ranked by the time they meet OU, the road against ranked teams could also get paved even longer.
After playing Alabama, the Sooners will host Missouri and LSU to conclude the regular season. LSU was ranked No. 9 in the preseason AP Top 25, so if the others stay intact and Missouri, which received votes, sneaks into the top 25, OU could very well play seven straight games against ranked teams.
Overall, the Sooners will play seven teams in the preseason AP Top 25, including No. 14 Michigan Week 2. Auburn also received votes alongside Missouri, so with a strong start and easy early schedule, Auburn could also be undefeated and another ranked team added to OU's full plate in the Sooners' SEC opener on Sept. 20.
The SEC was supposed to mean more challenges, but if this schedule holds up to preseason expectations, even Vanderbilt will have to feel sorry for the Sooners.
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