That famous interlocking O and U logo is winning back the same respect it's always had before.
Coming off a 42-3 blowout of Temple, the Oklahoma Sooners rose to No. 11 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 and are now considered a top-10 team by college football experts around the country in their own personal rankings. The Sooners also jumped six spots from No. 16 to No. 12 in the Coaches Poll.
Oklahoma just outside top 10 of AP Top 25
BREAKING: College Football AP Poll🚨https://t.co/VpfSabgEZN pic.twitter.com/ZVWRGKTOFR
— On3 (@On3sports) September 14, 2025
The Sooners have risen in rankings every week while starting 3-0 as it seems like other contenders around the country continue to crumble early. OU was barely included in the preseason AP Top 25 at No. 18, then jumped inside the top 15 of the poll last week after beating then-No. 15 Michigan.
Now, the Sooners are just outside the top 10, and many around the country would even argue OU deserves to be firmly inside the top 10. Kelley Ford put the Sooners at No. 8 in his Week 4 rankings and FOX Sports' RJ Young put OU almost in his top 5 at No. 6.
🚨Week 4 KFord Ratings Top 30🚨 pic.twitter.com/OAsFl5f7st
— Kelley Ford (@KFordRatings) September 14, 2025
It’s time for @RJ_Young's Week 4 Top 25 🔥
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 14, 2025
Do you agree with his rankings? pic.twitter.com/W6wVWoGuEg
Many experts also believe the Sooners are among the early leaders in the toughest conference in college football. Nearly every SEC power ranking released since Saturday night has included OU within the top three teams.
SEC Network's Dari Nowkhah and Benjamin Watson both had the Sooners at No. 2 after Georgia in their SEC power rankings, while Chris Doering had OU at the top of the conference during Saturday night's SEC Now show. Michael Bratton, host of "that SEC podcast," also had the Sooners as the second-best team in the SEC after Georgia.
Do you agree with the SEC Now crew's Top Five Teams list? 🗒️ pic.twitter.com/v6gR1MB7DS
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) September 14, 2025
Week 4 SEC Power Rankings pic.twitter.com/DstmzZsP3N
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) September 14, 2025
Based on the latest AP Top 25, the Sooners would be fifth in the SEC. However, recent voting has proven the AP Top 25 certainly isn't the best assessment of who the best teams in college football are.
The most recent AP Top 25 also solidified another top-25 clash for the Sooners on Saturday, when quarterback Jackson Arnold and the No. 22 Auburn Tigers get to Norman. Based on current rankings, OU's season opener against Illinois State and a future date with Kent State will be the only time this season that the Sooners host an unranked squad.
If the Sooners take care of business again on Saturday against Auburn, then they should be considered a top-10 team no matter who's voting.
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