The preseason AP Top 25 Poll was released on Monday, and it paints a grueling schedule for the Oklahoma Sooners before things actually start, but will things stand that way?
The preseason ranking had six teams on the No. 10 Sooners' 2026 schedule inside the top 25, including No. 3 Georgia, No. 5 Texas, No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 16 Michigan and No. 25 Missouri. Florida, South Carolina and New Mexico also received votes.
Of the 25 teams in last year's preseason AP Top 25 Poll, 12 finished the 2025 season unranked. That means plenty will fall throughout the season while others will rise. That also means it's extremely unlikely that all six of those top-25 teams are still ranked once they actually play the Sooners.
It's impossible to predict all the chaos, but here's an attempt at projecting where the Sooners' opponents will be ranked once they actually face off during the season.
Projecting Sooners' ranked matchups after preseason AP Top 25 Poll
vs UTEP
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Ranking prediction: Unranked
This is already a guarantee so no actual prediction here. If you want one, though, it doesn't take an expert to project UTEP will also be unranked when the season ends.
at Michigan
Preseason ranking: 16
Ranking prediction: 15
Regardless of what happens ahead of the them, if the Wolverines perform well against Western Michigan Week 1 (which they should), then they will likely see a small bump to enter the top 15 to basically set up a top-15 clash against the Sooners instead of just a top-20 matchup. All it would take is one upset to all but guarantee that of happening.
vs New Mexico
Preseason ranking: Receiving votes
Ranking prediction: Receiving votes
New Mexico will still be undefeated when it visits Norman, but wins over Central Michigan and Mercyhurst won't be enough to impress voters into believing the Lobos belong in the top 25. However, the Sooners can't overlook the undefeated Lobos in the midst of three ranked matchups.
at Georgia
Preseason ranking: 3
Ranking prediction: 3
If OU's biggest rivals could pull off some home upsets Week 2, then Georgia could be the No. 1 team in the country by the time it hosts the Sooners. In Week 2, Texas hosts No. 1 Ohio State and Oklahoma State welcomes No. 2 Oregon to Stillwater. However, if the Longhorns beat the Buckeyes, they should leap to that top spot.
vs Texas
Preseason ranking: 5
Ranking prediction: 5
Per usual, Texas will likely fall short of the hype and lose to Ohio State Week 2. But a loss to the No. 1 team at 3-1 with a win over Tennessee the game before should still have the Longhorns in the top 5 for the Red River Rivalry. If the Sooners beat Georgia, though, then they'd be ranked higher than even a top-5 Texas squad.
Read more: Sooners post-spring 2026 schedule prediction sets up Red River Rivalry revenge
vs Kentucky
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Ranking prediction: Unranked
As great as Will Stein thinks he is after taking over Kentucky, matchups with Alabama, Texas A&M, South Carolina and LSU will have his Wildcats declawed before they even get to Norman.
at Mississippi State
Preseason ranking: Unranked
Ranking prediction: Receiving votes
Mississippi State might not be ranked when it takes the field against Oklahoma, but will be at some point. Don't be surprised when the Bulldogs start out 4-0 with wins over overrated South Carolina and Missouri teams that gets them inside the top 25. Back-to-back losses to Alabama and LSU, though, will have the Bulldogs back to being unranked when they play OU.
vs South Carolina
Preseason ranking: Receiving votes
Ranking prediction: Unranked
The preseason poll could be where Shane Beamer's Gamecocks peak. Before traveling to Oklahoma, South Carolina could already have losses to Mississippi State, Alabama, Florida (at The Swamp) and Tennessee. Four-loss teams fighting to be .500 don't get ranked.
at Florida
Preseason ranking: Receiving votes
Ranking prediction: Unranked
The Gators have to travel to Texas and Georgia right before hosting the Sooners for a brutal three-game stretch. Florida doesn't survive that road trip as a ranked team.
vs Ole Miss
Preseason ranking: 9
Ranking prediction: Unranked
Here's the boldest prediction: a season after making the College Football Playoff, Ole Miss will not be ranked by Nov. 14 when the Rebels travel to Norman under first-year coach Pete Golding. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss might be the best player in college football, but there's not enough talent around him and no Lane Kiffin running the offense. The Rebels' downfall could start as early as Week 1 against Louisville, but then there's also LSU, Florida, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Texas, Auburn and Georgia before even dealing with the Sooners.
vs Texas A&M
Preseason ranking: 8
Ranking prediction: 20
The Aggies don't have another easy schedule to coast through like last year, but they'll still do just enough (with the help of their logo) to stay inside the top 25 almost the entire season. Although still ranked, this could be a three- or four-loss Texas A&M team by Nov. 21.
at Missouri
Preseason ranking: 25
Ranking prediction: Unranked
National media, for some reason, keeps trying to make the Missouri Tigers something in college football. By the final week of the season, those preseason expectations as a top-25 team will be long forgotten.
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